[♦] omitted word ‘years’ added
Leontium and Leontīni, a town of Sicily, about five miles distant from the sea-shore. It was built by a colony from Chalcis in Eubæa, and was, according to some accounts, once the habitation of the Lætrygones, for which reason the neighbouring fields are often called Læstrygonii campi. The country was extremely fruitful, whence Cicero calls it the grand magazine of Sicily. The wine which it produced was the best of the island. The people of Leontium implored the assistance of the Athenians against the Syracusans, B.C. 427. Thucydides, bk. 6.—Polybius, bk. 7.—Ovid, Fasti, bk. 4, li. 467.—Silius Italicus, bk. 14, li. 126.—Cicero, Against Verres, bk. 5.
Leontium, a celebrated courtesan of Athens, who studied philosophy under Epicurus, and became one of his most renowned pupils. She prostituted herself to the philosopher’s scholars, and even to Epicurus himself, if we believe the reports which were raised by some of his enemies. See: [Epicurus]. Metrodorus shared her favours in the most unbounded manner, and by him she had a son, to whom Epicurus was so partial, that he recommended him to his executors on his dying bed. Leontium not only professed herself a warm admirer and follower of the doctrines of Epicurus, but she even wrote a book in support of them against Theophrastus. This book was valuable, if we believe the testimony and criticism of Cicero, who praised the purity and elegance of its style, and the truly Attic turn of the expressions. Leontium had also a daughter called Danae, who married Sophron. Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 1, ch. 33.
Leontocephălus, a strongly fortified city of Phrygia. Plutarch.
Leonton, or Leontopŏlis, a town of Egypt where lions were worshipped. Ælian, De Natura Animalium, bk. 12, ch. 7.—Pliny, bk. 5, ch. 10.
Leontychides. See: [Leotychides].
Leos, a son of Orpheus, who immolated his three daughters for the good of Athens. See: [Leocorion].
Leosthĕnes, an Athenian general, who, after Alexander’s death, drove Antipater to Thessaly, where he besieged him in the town of Lamia. The success which for a while attended his arms was soon changed by a fatal blow, which he received from a stone thrown by the besieged, B.C. 323. The death of Leosthenes was followed by the total defeat of the Athenian forces. The funeral oration over his body was pronounced at Athens by Hyperides, in the absence of Demosthenes, who had been lately banished for taking a bribe from Harpalus. See: [Lamiacum]. Diodorus, bks. 17 & 18.—Strabo, bk. 9.——Another general of Athens, condemned on account of the bad success which attended his arms against Peparethos.
Leotychĭdes, a king of Sparta, son of Menares, of the family of the Proclidæ. He was set over the Grecian fleet, and, by his courage and valour, he put an end to the Persian war at the famous battle of Mycale. It is said that he cheered the spirits of his fellow-soldiers at Mycale, who were anxious for their countrymen in Greece, by raising a report that a battle had been fought at Platæa, in which the barbarians had been defeated. This succeeded, and though the information was premature, yet a battle was fought at Platæa, in which the Greeks obtained the victory the same day that the Persian fleet was destroyed at Mycale. Leotychides was accused of a capital crime by the Ephori, and, to avoid the punishment which his guilt seemed to deserve, he fled to the temple of Minerva at Tegea, where he perished, B.C. 469, after a reign of 22 years. He was succeeded by his grandson Archidamus. Pausanias, bk. 3, chs. 7 & 8.—Diodorus, bk. 11.——A son of Agis king of Sparta by Timæa. The legitimacy of his birth was disputed by some, and it was generally believed that he was the son of Alcibiades. He was prevented from ascending the throne of Sparta by Lysander, though Agis had declared him upon his death-bed his lawful son and heir, and Agesilaus was appointed in his place. Cornelius Nepos, Agesilaus.—Plutarch.—Pausanias, bk. 3, ch. 8.
Lephyrium, a city of Cilicia.