Agna, a woman in the age of Horace, who, though deformed, had many admirers. Horace, bk. 1, satire 3, li. 40.
Agno, one of the nymphs who nursed Jupiter. She gave her name to a fountain on mount Lycæus. When the priest of Jupiter, after a prayer, stirred the waters of this fountain with a bough, a thick vapour arose, which was soon dissolved into a plentiful shower. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 31, &c.
Agnodĭce, an Athenian virgin, who disguised her sex to learn medicine. She was taught by Hierophilus the art of midwifery, and when employed always discovered her sex to her patients. This brought her into so much practice, that the males of her profession, who were now out of employment, accused her, before the Areopagus, of corruption. She confessed her sex to the judges, and a law was immediately made to empower all free-born women to learn midwifery. Hyginus, fable 274.
Agnon, son of Nicias, was present at the taking of Samos by Pericles. In the Peloponnesian war he went against Potidæa, but abandoned his expedition through disease. He built Amphipolis, whose inhabitants rebelled to Brasidas, whom they regarded as their founder, forgetful of Agnon. Thucydides, bks. 2, 3, &c.——A writer. Quintilian, bk. 2, ch. 17.——One of Alexander’s officers. Pliny, bk. 33, ch. 3.
Agnonĭdes, a rhetorician of Athens, who accused Phocion of betraying the Piræus to Nicanor. When the people recollected what services Phocion had rendered them, they raised him statues, and put to death his accuser. Plutarch & Cornelius Nepos, Phocion.
Agōnālia and Agonia, festivals in Rome, celebrated three times a year in honour of Janus, or Agonius. They were instituted by Numa, and on the festive days the chief priest used to offer a ram. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 1, li. 317.—Varro, de Lingua Latina, bk. 5.
Agōnes Capitolīni, games celebrated every fifth year upon the Capitoline hill. Prizes were proposed for agility and strength, as well as for poetical and literary compositions. The poet Statius publicly recited there his Thebaid, which was not received with much applause.
Agonis, a woman in the temple of Venus, on mount Eryx. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 1.
Agonius, a Roman deity, who presided over the actions of men. See: [Agonalia].
Agoracrĭtus, a sculptor of Pharos, who made a statue of Venus for the people of Athens, B.C. 150.