P. Gallōnius, a luxurious Roman, who, as was observed, never dined well, because he was never hungry. Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, bk. 2, chs. 8 & 28.
Gallus. See: [Alectryon].——A general of Otho, &c. Plutarch.——A lieutenant of Sylla.——An officer of Marcus Antony, &c.——Caius, a friend of the great Africanus, famous for his knowledge of astronomy, and his exact calculation of eclipses. Cicero, de Senectute.——Ælius, the third governor of Egypt in the age of Augustus.——Cornelius, a Roman knight, who rendered himself famous by his poetical, as well as military talents. He was passionately fond of the slave Lycoris, or Cytheris, and celebrated her beauty in his poetry. She proved ungrateful, and forsook him to follow Marcus Antony, which gave occasion to Virgil to write his tenth eclogue. Gallus, as well as the other poets of his age, was in the favour of Augustus, by whom he was appointed over Egypt. He became forgetful of the favours he received; he pillaged the province, and even conspired against his benefactor, according to some accounts, for which he was banished by the emperor. This disgrace operated so powerfully upon him, that he killed himself in despair, A.D. 26. Some few fragments remain of his poetry, and it seems that he particularly excelled in elegiac compositions. It is said that Virgil wrote a eulogium on his poetical friend, and inserted it at the end of his Georgics; but that he totally suppressed it, for fear of offending his imperial patron, of whose favours Gallus had shown himself so undeserving, and instead of that he substituted the beautiful episode about Aristæus and Eurydice. This eulogium, according to some, was suppressed at the particular desire of Augustus. Quintilian, bk. 10, ch. 8.—Virgil, Eclogues, poems 6 & 10.—Ovid, Ars Amatoria, bk. 3, poem 15, li. 29.——Vibius Gallus, a celebrated orator of Gaul in the age of Augustus, of whose orations Seneca has preserved some fragments.——A Roman who assassinated Decius the emperor, and raised himself to the throne. He showed himself indolent and cruel, and beheld with the greatest indifference the revolt of his provinces, and the invasion of his empire, by the barbarians. He was at last assassinated by his soldiers, A.D. 253.——Flavius Claudius Constantinus, a brother of the emperor Julian, raised to the imperial throne under the title of Cæsar, by Constantius his relation. He conspired against his benefactor, and was publicly condemned to be beheaded, A.D. 354.——A small river of Phrygia, whose waters were said to be very efficacious, if drunk in moderation, in curing madness. Pliny, bk. 32, ch. 2.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 361.
Gamaxus, an Indian prince, brought in chains before Alexander for revolting.
Gamelia, a surname of Juno, as Gamelius was of Jupiter, on account of their presiding over marriages.——A festival privately observed at three different times. The first was the celebration of a marriage, the second was in commemoration of a birthday, and the third was an anniversary of the death of a person. As it was observed generally on the 1st of January, marriages on that day were considered as of a good omen, and the month was called Gemelion among the Athenians. Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, bk. 2, ch. 31.
Gandarītæ, an Indian nation.
Gangama, a place near the Palus Mæotis.
Gangrărĭdæ, a people near the mouths of the Ganges. They were so powerful that Alexander did not dare to attack them. Some attributed this to the weariness and indolence of his troops. They were placed by Valer. Flaccus among the deserts of Scythia. Justin, bk. 12, ch. 8.—Curtius, bk. 9, ch. 2.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 27.—Flaccus, bk. 6, li. 67.
Ganges, a large river of India, falling into the Indian ocean, said by Lucan to be the boundary of Alexander’s victories in the east. It inundates the adjacent country in the summer. Like other rivers, it was held in the greatest veneration by the inhabitants, and this superstition is said to exist still in some particular instances. The Ganges is now discovered to rise in the mountains of Thibet, and to run upwards of 2000 miles before it reaches the sea, receiving in its course the tribute of several rivers, 11 of which are superior to the Thames, and often equal to the great body of the waters of the Rhine. Lucan, bk. 3, li. 230.—Strabo, bk. 5.—Pliny, bk. 6, ch. 87.—Curtius, bk. 8, ch. 9.—Mela, bk. 3, ch. 7.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 9, li. 31.
Gannascus, an ally of Rome, put to death by Corbulo the Roman general, &c. Tacitus, Annals, bk. 11, ch. 18.
Găny̆mēde, a goddess, better known by the name of Hebe. She was worshipped under this name in a temple at Phlius in Peloponnesus. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 13.