Sunium, a promontory of Attica, about 45 miles distant from the Piræus. There was there a small harbour, as also a town. Minerva had there a beautiful temple, whence she was called Sunias. There are still extant some ruins of this temple. Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 7.—Strabo, bk. 9.—Pausanias, bk. 1, ch. 1.—Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 7, ltr. 3; bk. 13, ltr. 10.
Suovetaurilia, a sacrifice among the Romans, which consisted of the immolation of a sow (sus), a sheep (ovis), and a bull (taurus), whence the name. It was generally observed every fifth year.
Supĕrum mare, a name of the Adriatic sea, because it was situate above Italy. The name of Mare Inferum was applied for the opposite reasons to the sea below Italy. Cicero, For Aulus Cluentius, &c.
Sura Æmylius, a Latin writer, &c. Velleius Paterculus, bk. 1, ch. 6.——Lucius Licinius, a favourite of Trajan, honoured with the consulship.——A writer in the age of the emperor Gallienus. He wrote a history of the reign of the emperor.——A city on the Euphrates.——Another in Iberia.——A river of Germany, whose waters fall into the Moselle. Ausonius, Mosella.
Surēna, a powerful officer in the armies of Orodes king of Parthia. His family had the privilege of crowning the kings of Parthia. He was appointed to conduct the war against the Romans, and to protect the kingdom of Parthia against Crassus, who wished to conquer it. He defeated the Roman triumvir, and after he had drawn him perfidiously to a conference, he ordered his head to be cut off. He afterwards returned to Parthia, mimicking the triumphs of the Romans. Orodes ordered him to be put to death, B.C. 52. Surena has been admired for his valour, his sagacity as a general, and his prudence and firmness in the execution of his plans; but his perfidy, his effeminate manners, and his lasciviousness have been deservedly censured. Polyænus, bk. 7.—Plutarch, Crassus.
Surium, a town at the south of Colchis.
Surrentum, a town of Campania, on the bay of Naples, famous for the wine which was made in the neighbourhood. Mela, bk. 2, ch. 4.—Strabo, bk. 5.—Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 17, li. 52.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 15, li. 710.—Martial, bk. 13, ltr. 110.
Surus, one of the Ædui, who made war against Cæsar. Cæsar, Gallic War, bk. 8, ch. 45.
Susa (orum), now Suster, a celebrated city of Asia, the chief town of Susiana, and the capital of the Persian empire, built by Tithonus the father of Memnon. Cyrus took it. The walls of Susa were above 120 stadia in circumference. The treasures of the kings of Persia were generally kept there, and the royal palace was built with white marble, and its pillars were covered with gold and precious stones. It was usual with the kings of Persia to spend the summer at Ecbatana, and the winter at Susa, because the climate was more warm than at any other royal residence. It has been called Memnonia, or the palace of Memnon, because that prince reigned there. Pliny, bk. 6, ch. 26, &c.—Lucan, bk. 2, li. 49.—Strabo, bk. 15.—Xenophon, Cyropædia.—Propertius, bk. 2, poem 13.—Claudian.
Susăna, a town of Hispania Tarraconensis. Silius Italicus, bk. 3, li. 384.