A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

METELLUS. METELLUS. 1057
employed in several public commissions. In B. c- related of hisconduct during this campaign; the
201 he was appointed one of the decemviri for severity with which he maintained discipline, the
dividing the public land in Samnium and Apulia humanity which he displayed on one occasion
among the Roman soldiers, who had served in towards the enemy (a rare virtue with Roman
Airica against Hannibal (Liv. xxxi. 4). In B. C. generals!), and the prudence and skill with which
185 he was one of the ambassadors sent to Philip he prosecuted the war, are particularly celebrated
of Macedoniaand to the Achaeans. (Liv. xxxix. by Valerius Maximus and Frontinus. But he
24, 33; Polyb. xxiii. 6, &c., vel Exceempt. Legat. sullied his reputation by the efforts which he used
40, 41; Pans. vii. 8. ~ 6, vii. 9. ~ 1.) The to render his army as inefficient as possible on
name of Metellus also occurs in the debates in the his departure from the province, in order that his
senate in B. C. 193, and his address to the censors successor, Q. Pompeius, whom he envied and hated,
in B. C. 179 is given by Livy. (Liv. xxxv. 8, xl. 46.) might find it difficult to obscure his glory.
3. L. CAECILIUS METELLUS, brother of No. 2, In B. c. 131 Metellus was censor with Q. Pomhad, after the battle of Cannae in B. C. 216, formed peius, the first time that both the censors were
the project, with other noble youths, of abandoning elected from the plebs. In his censorship Metellus
Italy and trying their fortunes elsewhere; but P. proposed that every Roman should be compelled to
Scipio compelled him and his associates to swear marry, for the purpose of increasing the free poputhat they would abandon this design. In conse- lation of the city: the oration which he delivered
quence of his conduct on this occasion the censors on the subject was extant in the time of Augustus;
removed him from his tribe, and reduced him to the and was read by that emperor in the senate when
condition of an aerarian two years afterwards (B. C. he brought forward his law de Maritandis Ordi214), when he was quaestor. Notwithstanding nibus. (Suet. Aug. 89.) Some fragments of it
this degradation he was elected tribune of the are preserved by A. Gellius (i. 6), who, however,
plebs for the following year, and immediately he attributes it erroneously to Metellus Numidicus.
had entered upon his office, he cited the censors be- Metellus during his censorship narrowly escaped
fore the court of the people, but was prevented by death at the hands of the tribune C. Atinius Labeo,
the other tribunes from proceeding in his accusation. whom he had expelled from the senate during the
(Liv. xxii. 53, xxiv. 18, 43; Val. Max. ii. 9. ~ 8, first year of his censorship, and who, in the followv. 6. ~ 7.) - ing year, seized him in the forum and commanded
4. M. CAECILIUS METELLUS, brother of Nos. 2 him to be thrown down the Tarpeian rock: he was
and 3, was plebeian aedile in B. C. 208, the same rescued from death by the intervention of another
year in which his brother Quintus was curule tribune, but Labeo revenged himself by dedicating
aedile, and praetor urbanus B. C. 206, during the the property of Metellus to the gods.
consulship of Quintus. In the following year he It is related of Metellus, that he was a political
was one of the ambassadors sent to king Attalus, opponent of Scipio Africanus the younger, but that
and brought to Rome the sacred stone, which was he conducted his opposition without any bitterness
regarded as the mother of the gods. (Liv. xxvii. or malice, and was one of the first at his death to
36, xxviii, 10, xxix. 11.) recognise and acknowledge his greatness. He
5. Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. L. N. METELLUS MACE- united with the aristocracy in opposing the meaDONICUS, son of No. 2, is first mentioned in B. C. sures of the Gracchi; and the speech which he
168, when he was serving in the army of Aemilius delivered against Tib. Gracchus is referred to by
Paullus in Macedonia, and was sent to Rome with Cicero, who speaks highly of his eloquence, and
two others to announce the defeat of Perseus. In alludes to several of his orations. (Cic. de Orat.
B. c. 148 he was praetor, and received Macedonia i. 49, Brut. 21.) Like the other Roman nobles
as his province, where Andriscus, who pretended of his time, he either had or pretended to have a
to be a son of Perseus, and had assumed the name love of art. He erected a splendid porticus, and
of Philip, had defeated the Roman praetor Juven- two temples dedicated to Jupiter and Juno, which
tius. He was, however, defeated and taken pri- were the first at Rome built of marble; and in
soner by Metellus. After Metellus had concluded front of them was placed the celebrated group of
this war he turned his arms against the Achaeans, horsemen who fell at the battle of the Granicus,
who had insulted an embassy which he had sent which Lysippus executed at the command of
to Corinth, and refused to listen to any overtures of Alexander the Great, and which Metellus carried
peace. At the beginning of B.C. 146 he defeated to Rome, on the conquest of Andriscus in MaceCritolmius, the Achaean praetor, near Scarpheia in donia.
Locris, and subsequently an Arcadian army near Metellus died in B. C. 115, when his son Marcus
Chaeroneia; but he was unable to bring the war was consul, full of years and honours. He is
to a conclusion before the arrival of the consul L. frequently quoted by the ancient writers as an
Mummius, for whom was reserved the glory of sub- extraordinary instance of human felicity. Not
duing Greece. On his return to Rome in B. C. 146, only was he distinguished by his noble birth, his
Metellus celebrated a triumph on account of his military glory, and the high political offices he
victory over Andriscus, and received in consequence had held, but his was the rare lot of living to see
the surname of Macedonicus. four sons rise to the highest honours of the state,
Notwithstanding the glory which he had ac- and of being carried to the funeral pile by these
quired in this war, Metellus was twice a candidate four children. Three of these sons had obtained
for the consulship without success; and he did not the consulship in his lifetime, and the fourth was
obtain this honour till B. C. 143 along with Ap. a candidate for the office at the time of his father's
Claudius Pulcher. The province of Nearer Spain death. Metellus also left behind him two married
fell to the lot of Metellus, who carried on the war daughters (not three, as some writers state), and
with success during this and the following year numerous grandchildren. (Liv. Epit. 49, 50, 52,
against the Celtiberi, and was succeeded by Q. 53, 59; Vell. Pat. i. I1; Tac. Ann. xii. 62; Flor
Pompeius in B. C. 141. Many anecdotes are ii. 14, 17; Eutrop. iv. 13, 16; Aurel. Vic. de Fir
VOL. IL 3Y