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

CARACALLA.
worshipped on the Caelian hill at Rome. Its
origin was not known. Ovid (Fast. iii. 837, &c.)
proposes various conjectures about it. [L. S.]
CAPUSA, the son of Oesalces, who was the
uncle of Masinissa. While the latter was in
Spain fighting on behalf of the Carthaginians, his
father Gala died, and was succeeded in the sovereignty by his brother Oesalces. Oesalces
also dying shortly afterwards, his son Capusa obtained the throne; but as he had not much influence among his people, one Mezetulus laid claim
to the kingdom, and defeated and killed Capusa in
battle. (Liv. xxix. 29.)
CAPYS (KaTrvs). 1. A son of Assaracus and
Hieromnemone, and father of Anchises. (Apollod.
iii. 12. ~ 2; Horn. II. xx. 239; Virg. Aen. vi.
768; Diod. iv. 75.)
2. One of the companions of Aeneas, from whom
the town of Capua was said to have derived its
name. (Virg. Aen. x. 145.) This Capys was a
Trojan, and is mentioned by Virgil among those
Bassi
Julia Domna Augusta, second wife of
L. Septimius Severus Augustus.
M. Aurelius Antoninus L. (vel. P.) SeptiAugustus, commonly mius Geta Aucalled CARACALLA. gustus.

CARACALLA.

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who were of opinion that the wooden horse should
be thrown into the water. (Aen. ii. 35.) Livy
(iv. 37) states, that according to some traditions
the town of Capua, which was previously called
Vulturnum, derived its name from a Samnite chief
of the name of Capys. [L. S.]
CAPYS SPLVIUS. [SILvlus.]
CAR (Kdp), a son of Phoroneus, and king of
Megara, from whom the acropolis of this town derived its name Caria. (Paus. i. 39. ~ 4, 40. ~ 5.)
His tomb was shewn as late as the time of Pausanias, on the road from Megara to Corinth. (i. 44.
~ 9.) Another mythical personage of the name of
Car, who was a brother of Lydus and Mysus, and
was regarded as the ancestral hero of the Carians,
is mentioned by Herodotus. (i. 171.) [L. S.]
CARACALLA or CARACALLUS. The
genealogy of this emperor and of many other historical personages will be readily understood from
the following table. An account of each individual
is given in its proper alphabetical place.
Janus.
I

Julia Maesa Augusta, wife
of Julius Avitus.
Julia Soemias Au- Julia Mamaea Augusta,
gusta, wife of Sex. wife of Gessius MarVarius Marcellus. cianus.
M. Aurelius Antoninus M. Aurelius Severus
Augustus, commonly Alexander Auguscalled Elagabalus. tus.

Caracalla or Caracallus, son of Septimius Seve- ries and honours, put on the manly gown at Anrus and his second wife Julia Domna, was born tioch in 201, entered upon his first consulship in
at Lyons on the 4th or 6th of April, A. D. 188. 202, and, returning through Egypt to Rome, was
while his father was governor of Gallia Lugdu- married in the course of a few months to Plautilla,
nensis. The child was originally called Bas- daughter of Plautianus, the praetorian praefect.
sianus after his maternal grandfather, but when The political events from this date until the death
Severus thought fit to declare himself the adopted of Severus, which took place at York, on the 4th
offspring of M. Aurelius, he at the same time of February, A. D. 211, are given in the life of that
changed the name of his boy to M. Aurelius Anto- prince, whose acuteness and worldly knowledge
ninus, a designation retained by him ever after. were so conspicuous, that he could not, under any
Caracalla or Caracallus, which never appears on circumstances, have failed to fathom the real chamedals or inscriptions, was a nickname derived racter of his son, who assuredly was little of a hyfrom a long tunic or great coat with a hood, worn pocrite. But, although the youth was known to
by the Gauls, which he adopted as his favourite have tampered with the troops, and once, it is said,
dress after he became emperor, and introduced into was detected in an open attempt to assassinate his
the army. These vestments found great favour, father, no punishment was inflicted, and parental
especially among the lower orders, and were known fondness prevented the feeble old man from taking
as Antoninianae Caracallae. any steps which might save the empire from being
Young Bassianus is said to have been remark- cursed with such a ruler. Geta, however, was
able in early life for a gentle and pleasing address, named joint heir of the throne, having been preAt this period he was beloved alike by his parents viously elevated to the rank of consul and dignified
and the people, and displayed no indication of that with the appellations of Caesar and Augustus.
ferocious temper which subsequently rendered him The great object of Caracalla was now the dethe scourge of the world. At the age of eight (196) struction of this colleague, towards whom lie enterhe received the title of Caesar and Princeps Juven- tained the most deadly hatred. Having failed in
tutis, in Maesia, while his father was marching persuading the army to set aside the claims of his
from the East to encounter Albinus, and the year rival, he, on various occasions, sought his life sefollowing (197) he was admitted an extraordinary cretly while they were journeying from Britain to
member of the pontifical college. After the over- Rome with the ashes of their father; but these
throw of Albinus, we find him styled Destinatus treacherous schemes were all frustrated by the viImperator; and in 198, when ten years old, he gilance of Geta, who was well aware of his danger,
was invested with the tribunician power, and cre- and fear of the soldiery prevented open violence.
ated Augustus. He accompanied Severus in the A pretended reconciliation now took place: they
expedition against the Parthians, sharing his victo- entered the city together, together bestowed a do