Taurus, the largest mountain of Asia, as to extent. One of its extremities is in Caria, and it extends not only as far as the most eastern extremities of Asia, but it also branches in several parts, and runs far into the north. Mount Taurus was known by several names, particularly in different countries. In Cilicia, where it reaches as far as the Euphrates, it was called Taurus. It was known by the names of Amanus, from the bay of Issus as far as the Euphrates; of Antitaurus from the western boundaries of Cilicia up to Armenia; of Montes Matieni in the country of the Leucosyrians; of Mons Moschicus at the south of the river Phasis; of Amaranta at the north of the Phasis; of Caucasus between the Hyrcanian and Euxine seas; of Hyrcanii Montes, near Hyrcania; of Imaus in the more eastern parts of Asia. The word Taurus was more properly confined to the mountains which separate Phrygia and Pamphylia from Cilicia. The several passes which were opened in the mountains were called Pylæ, and hence frequent mention is made in ancient authors of the Armenian Pylæ, Cilician Pylæ, &c. Mela, bk. 1, ch. 15; bk. 3, chs. 7 & 8.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 27.——A mountain in Germany. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 6, ch. 41.——Of Sicily.——Titus Statilius, a consul distinguished by his intimacy with Augustus, as well as by a theatre which he built, and the triumph which he obtained after a prosperous campaign in Africa. He was made prefect of Italy by his imperial friend.——A proconsul of Africa, accused by Agripina, who wished him to be condemned, that she might become mistress of his gardens. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 12, ch. 59.——An officer of Minos king of Crete. He had an amour with Pasiphae, whence arose the fable of the Minotaur, from the son, who was born some time after. See: [Minotaurus]. Taurus was vanquished by Theseus, in the games which Minos exhibited in Crete. Plutarch, Theseus.
Taxĭla (plural), a large country in India, between the Indus and the Hydaspes. Strabo, bk. 15.
Taxĭlus, or Taxiles, a king of Taxila in the age of Alexander, called also Omphis. He submitted to the conqueror, who rewarded him with great liberality. Diodorus, bk. 17.—Plutarch, Alexander.—Ælian, Varia Historia, bk. 5, ch. 6.—Curtius, bk. 8, ch. 14.——A general of Mithridates, who assisted Archelaus against the Romans in Greece. He was afterwards conquered by Muræna the lieutenant of Sylla.
Taximaquilus, a king in the southern parts of Britain when Cæsar invaded it. Cæsar, bk. 5, Gallic War, ch. 22.
Taygēte, or Taygēta, a daughter of Atlas and Pleione, mother of Lacedæmon by Jupiter. She became one of the Pleiades after death. Hyginus, fables 155 & 192.—Pausanias, in Laconia, chs. 1 & 18.
Taygētus, or Taygēta (orum), a mountain of Laconia, in Peloponnesus, at the west of the river Eurotas. It hung over the city of Lacedæmon, and it is said that once a part of it fell down by an earthquake, and destroyed the suburbs. It was on this mountain that the Lacedæmonian women celebrated the orgies of Bacchus. Mela, bk. 2, ch. 5.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 1.—Strabo, bk. 8.—Lucan, bk. 5, li. 52.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 2, li. 488.
Teānum, a town of Campania, on the Appian road, at the east of the Liris, called Sidicinum, to be distinguished from another town of the same name at the west of Apulia, at a small distance from the coast of the Adriatic. The rights of citizenship were extended to it under Augustus. Cicero, For Aulus Cluentius, chs. 9 & 69. Philostratus, bk. 12, ch. 11.—Horace, bk. 1, ltr. 1.—Pliny, bk. 31, ch. 2.—Livy, bk. 22, ch. 27.
Tearus, a river of Thrace, rising in the same rock from 38 different sources, some of which are hot, and others cold. Darius raised a column there when he marched against the Scythians, as if to denote the sweetness and salubrity of the waters of that river. Herodotus, bks. 4, 5, 90, &c.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 11.
Teātea, Teate, or Tegeate, a town of Latium. Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 522; bk. 17, li. 457.
Teches, a mountain of Pontus, from which the 10,000 Greeks had first a view of the sea. Xenophon, Anabasis, bk. 4.