Ausci, a people of Gaul.
Auser, Auseris, and Anser, a river of Etruria, which joins the Arnus before it falls into the Tyrrhene sea.
Auses, a people of Africa, whose virgins yearly fight with sticks in honour of Minerva. She who behaves with the greatest valour receives unusual honour, &c. Herodotus, bk. 4, ch. 180.
Auson, a son of Ulysses and Calypso, from whom the Ausones, a people of Italy, are descended.
Ausonia, one of the ancient names of Italy, which it received from Auson the son of Ulysses. If Virgil makes Æneas speak of Ausonia, it is by anticipation. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 171.
Decimius Magnus Ausōnius, a poet, born at Bordeaux in Gaul, in the fourth century, preceptor to Gratian son of the emperor Valentinian, and made consul by the means of his pupil. His compositions have been long admired. The thanks he returned the emperor Gratian is one of the best of his poems, which were too often hurried for publication, and consequently not perfect. He wrote the consular fasti of Rome, a useful performance, now lost. His style is occasionally obscene, and he has attempted upon the words of Virgil, what revolts everything against his indelicacy. The best edition is that of Tollius, 8vo, Leiden, 1671; or that of Jaubert, with a French translation, 4 vols., 12mo, Paris, 1769.
Auspĭces, a sacerdotal order at Rome, nearly the same as the Augurs. See: [Augures].
Auster, one of the winds blowing from the south, whose breath was pernicious to flowers as well as to health. He was parent of rain. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 2, li. 58. See: [Venti].
Austesion, a Theban, son of Tisamenus. His son Theras led a colony into an island which, from him, was called Thera. Herodotus, bk. 4.—Pausanias.
Autobūlus, a painter. Pliny, bk. 35.