Hieronĭca lex, by Hiero tyrant of Sicily, to settle the quantity of corn, the price and time of receiving it, between the farmers of Sicily and the collector of the corn tax at Rome. This law, on account of its justice and candour, was continued by the Romans when they became masters of Sicily.
Hierony̆mus, a tyrant of Sicily, who succeeded his father or grandfather Hiero, when only 15 years old. He rendered himself odious by his cruelty, oppression, and debauchery. He abjured the alliance of Rome, which Hiero had observed with so much honour and advantage. He was assassinated, and all his family was overwhelmed in his fall, and totally extirpated, B.C. 214.——An historian of Rhodes, who wrote an account of the actions of Demetrius Poliorcetes, by whom he was appointed over Bœotia, B.C. 254. Plutarch, Demetrius.——An Athenian set over the fleet, while Conon went to the king of Persia.——A christian writer commonly called St. Jerome, born in Pannonia, and distinguished for his zeal against heretics. He wrote commentaries on the prophets, St. Matthew’s gospel, &c., a Latin version known by the name of Vulgate, polemical treatises, and an account of ecclesiastical writers before him. Of his works, which are replete with lively animation, sublimity, and erudition, the best edition is that of Vallersius, folio, Veronæ, 1734 to 1740, 10 vols. Jerome died A.D. 420, in his 91st year.
Hierophĭlus, a Greek physician. He instructed his daughter Agnodice in the art of midwifery, &c. See: [Agnodice].
Hierosoly̆ma, a celebrated city of Palestine, the capital of Judæa, taken by Pompey, who, on that account, is surnamed Hierosolymarius. Titus also took it and destroyed it, the 8th of September, A.D. 70, according to Josephus, 2177 years after its foundation. In the siege by Titus, 110,000 persons are said to have perished, and 97,000 to have been made prisoners, and afterwards either sold for slaves, or wantonly exposed, for the sport of their insolent victors, to the fury of wild beasts. Josephus, War of the Jews, bk. 7, ch. 16, &c.—Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 2, ltr. 2.—Flaccus, bk. 28.
Hignatia via, a large road, which led from the Ionian sea to the Hellespont, across Macedonia, about 530 miles. Strabo, bk. 7.
Hilaria, a daughter of Leucippus and Philodice. As she and her sister Phœbe were going to marry their cousins Lynceus and Idas, they were carried away by Castor and Pollux, who married them. Hilaria had Anagon by Castor, and she, as well as her sister, obtained after death the honours which were generally paid to heroes. Apollodorus, bk. 3.—Propertius, bk. 1, poem 2, li. 16.—Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 22; bk. 3, ch. 19.——Festivals at Rome in honour of the mother of the gods.
Hilarius, a bishop of Poictiers in France, who wrote several treatises, the most famous of which is on the Trinity, in 12 books. The only edition is that of the Benedictine monks, folio, Paris, 1693. Hilary died A.D. 372, in his 80th year.
Hilleviōnes, a people of Scandinavia. Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 13.
Himella, now Aia, a small river in the country of the Sabines. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 714.
Himĕra, a city of Sicily built by the people of Zancle, and destroyed by the Carthaginians 240 years after. Strabo, bk. 6.——There were two rivers of Sicily of the same name, the one, now Fiumi de Termini, falling at the east of Panormus into the Tuscan sea, with a town of the same name at its mouth, and also celebrated baths. Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 4, ch. 33. The other, now Fiume Salso, running in a southern direction, and dividing the island in almost two parts. Livy, bk. 24, ch. 6; bk. 25, ch. 49.——The ancient name of the Eurotas. Strabo, bk. 6.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Polybius.