Licha, a city near Lycia.
Lichades, small islands near Cæneum, a promontory of Eubœa, called from Lichas. See: [Lichas]. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, lis. 155, 218.—Strabo, bk. 9.
Lichas, a servant of Hercules who brought him the poisoned tunic from Dejanira. He was thrown by his master into the sea with great violence, and changed into a rock in the Eubœan sea, by the compassion of the gods. Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 9, li. 211.
Liches, an Arcadian who found the bones of Orestes buried at Tegea, &c. Herodotus.
Licĭnia lex, was enacted by Lucius Licinius Crassus and Quintus Mutius, consuls, A.U.C. 659. It ordered all the inhabitants of Italy to be enrolled on the list of citizens in their respective cities.——Another, by Caius Licinius Crassus the tribune, A.U.C. 608. It transferred the right of choosing priests from the college to the people. It was proposed, but did not pass.——Another, by Caius Licinius Stolo the tribune. It forbade any person to possess 500 acres of land, or keep more than 100 head of large cattle, or 500 of small.——Another, by Publius Licinius Varus, A.U.C. 545, to settle the day for the celebration of the Ludi Apollinares, which was before uncertain.——Another, by Publius Licinius Crassus Dives, B.C. 110. It was the same as the Fannian law, and further required that no more than 30 asses should be spent at any table on the Calends, nones, or nundinæ, and only three pounds of fresh and one of salt meat, on ordinary days. None of the fruits of the earth were forbidden.——Another, de sodalitiis, by Marcus Licinius the consul, 692. It imposed a severe penalty on party clubs, or societies assembled or frequented for election purposes, as coming under the definition of ambitus, and of offering violence in some degree to the freedom and independence of the people.——Another, called also Æbutia, by Licinius and Æbutius the tribunes. It enacted, that when any law was proffered with respect to any office or power, the person who proposed the bill, as well as his colleagues in office, his friends and relations, should be declared incapable of being invested with the said office or power.
Licĭnia, the wife of Caius Gracchus, who attempted to dissuade her husband from his seditious measures by a pathetic speech. She was deprived of her dowry after the death of Caius.——A vestal virgin accused of incontinence, but acquitted, A.U.C. 636.——Another vestal, put to death for her lasciviousness under Trajan.——The wife of Mæcenas, distinguished for conjugal tenderness. She was sister to Proculeius, and bore also the name of Terentia. Horace, bk. 2, ode 12, li. 13.
Caius Licĭnius, a tribune of the people, celebrated for the consequence of his family, for his intrigues and abilities. He was a plebeian, and was the first of that body who was raised to the office of a master of horse to the dictator. He was surnamed Stolo, or useless sprout, on account of the law which he had enacted during his tribuneship. See: [Licinia lex], by Stolo. He afterwards made a law which permitted the plebeians to share the consular dignity with the patricians, A.U.C. 388. He reaped the benefit of this law, and was one of the first plebeian consuls. This law was proposed and passed by Licinius, as it is reported, at the instigation of his ambitious wife, who was jealous of her sister, who had married a patrician, and who seemed to be of a higher dignity in being the wife of a consul. Livy, bk. 6, ch. 34.—Plutarch.——Caius Calvus, a celebrated orator and poet in the age of Cicero. He distinguished himself by his eloquence in the forum, and his poetry, which some of the ancients have compared to Catullus. His orations are greatly commended by Quintilian. Some believe that he wrote annals quoted by Dionysius of Halicarnassus. He died in the 30th year of his age. Quintilian.—Cicero, Brutus, ch. 81.——Macer, a Roman accused by Cicero when pretor. He derided the power of his accuser, but when he saw himself condemned he grew so desperate that he killed himself. Plutarch.——Publius Crassus, a Roman sent against Perseus king of Macedonia. He was at first defeated, but afterwards repaired his losses and obtained a complete victory, &c.——A consul sent against Annibal.——Another, who defeated the robbers that infested the Alps.——A high priest.——Caius Imbrex, a comic poet in the age of Africanus, preferred by some in merit to Ennius and Terence. His Nævia and Neæra are quoted by ancient authors, but of all his poetry only two verses are preserved. Aulus Gellius.——A consul, &c.——Lucullus. See: [Lucullus].——Crassus. See: [Crassus].——Mucianus, a Roman who wrote about the history and geography of the eastern countries, often quoted by Pliny. He lived in the reign of Vespasian.——Publius Tegula, a comic poet of Rome about 200 years before Christ. He is ranked as the fourth of the best comic poets which Rome produced. Few lines of his compositions are extant. He wrote an ode, which was sung all over the city of Rome by nine virgins during the Macedonian war. Livy, bk. 31, ch. 12.——Varro Muræna, a brother of Proculeius, who conspired against Augustus with Fannius Cæpio, and suffered for his crime. Horace addressed his bk. 2, ode 10 to him, and recommended equanimity in every situation. Dio Cassius, bk. 54.——Caius Flavius Valerianus, a celebrated Roman emperor. His father was a poor peasant of Dalmatia, and himself a common soldier in the Roman armies. His valour recommended him to the notice of Galerius Maximianus, who had once shared with him the inferior and subordinate offices of the army, and had lately been invested with the imperial purple by Diocletian. Galerius loved him for his friendly services, particularly during the Persian war, and he showed his regard for his merit by taking him as a colleague in the empire, and appointing him over the province of Pannonia and Rhœtia. Constantine, who was also one of the emperors, courted the favour of Licinius, and made his intimacy more durable by giving him his sister Constantia in marriage, A.D. 313. The continual successes of Licinius, particularly against Maximinus, increased his pride, and rendered him jealous of the greatness of his brother-in-law. The persecutions of the christians, whose doctrines Constantine followed, soon caused a rupture, and Licinius had the mortification to lose two battles, one in Pannonia, and the other near Adrianopolis. Treaties of peace were made between the contending powers, but the restless ambition of Licinius soon broke them; and after many engagements a decisive battle was fought near Chalcedonia. Ill fortune again attended Licinius, who was conquered, and fled to Nicomedia, where soon the conqueror obliged him to surrender, and to resign the imperial purple. The tears of Constantia obtained forgiveness for her husband, yet Constantine knew what a turbulent and active enemy had fallen into his hands therefore he ordered him to be strangled at Thessalonica, A.D. 324. His family was involved in his ruin. The avarice, licentiousness, and cruelty of Licinius are as conspicuous as his misfortunes. He was an enemy to learning, and this aversion totally proceeded from his ignorance of letters, and the rusticity of his education. His son by Constantia bore also the same name. He was honoured with the title of Cæsar when scarce 20 months old. He was involved in his father’s ruin, and put to death by order of Constantine.
Licīnus, a barber and freedman of Augustus, raised by his master to the rank and dignity of a senator, merely because he hated Pompey’s family. Horace, Art of Poetry, li. 301.
Licymnius, a son of Electryon and brother of Alcmena. He was so infirm in his old age, that when he walked, he was always supported by a slave. Triptolemus son of Hercules, seeing the slave inattentive to his duty, threw a stick at him, which unfortunately killed Licymnius. The murderer fled to Rhodes. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Diodorus, bk. 5.—Homer, Iliad, bk. 2.—Pindar, Olympian, poem 7.
Lide, a mountain of Caria. Herodotus, bk. 1, ch. 105.