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

1072 METTIUS..MEZENTIUS.
life of Isidorus (ap. Phot. cod. p. 342 a. b. ed.
Bekker).
METRO'PHANES (M'7Tpocpdv7Js),. bishop of
Smyrna, is renowned in ecclesiastical history for his
obstinate opposition to the famous patriarch Photius. l s
He was the son of: the woman who was enveigled
to entice Methodius, patriarch of Constantinople,
but he was not the son of Methodius. The patriarch Ignatius having been deposed by the emperor
Michael III., in 858, and Photius chosen in his COIN OF AI. METTIUS.
stead, Metrophanes, who was then bishop of MEITTIUS CU'RTIUS. [CuRTIUS BMETTIUS,
Smyrna, recognised Photius, although- he was a No. 1.]
friend of Ignatius. But he soon altered his opi- ME'TTIUS CARUS. [CARUS.]
nion, declared publicly for the deposed patriarch, ME'TTIUS -FUFFE'TIUS, was praetor or
and so violently attacked Photius, that he was de- dictator of Alba in the reign of Tullus Hostilius,
prived of his see and thrown into a prison. When third king of Rome. After the combat- between
PhQtius was deposed in his turn, and Ignatius re- the Horatii and Curiatii had determined the
established in'the patriarchate by the emperor supremacy of the Romans, Mettius was sumBasil I., Metrophanes recovered his see of Smyrna, moned to aid them in a war with Fidenae and the
and, in the council held in Constantinople in 869, Veientines. On the field of battle, from cowardice
showed himself one of the most zealous opponents or treachery, Mettius drew off his Albans to the
of Photius. But in 879 Photius became once more hills, and awaited the issue of the battle. The
patriarch on the death of Ignatius, and now Me- Etruscans, mistaking his movement for a design
trophanes was again deposed. He nevertheless upon their flank, took to flight, and Mettius fell
continued to speak and to write against Photius, upon them in their disorder, intending probably to
so that in 880 the patriarch and the emperor con- regain the confidence of his Roman allies. But on
trived his excommunication. Metrophanes died in the following day the' Albans were all deprived of
an obscure retirement, but the year of his death is their arms, and Mettius himself, as the punishment
not known. He wrote besides other works:-l. of his treachery, was torn asunder by chariots.Ejpistola ad Manuelem Patricium de Rebus in Causa driven in opposite directions. (Dionys. iii. 5, 7, 8,
Plotii ab anno 858 ad 870 yestis, one of the most 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28. 29,
valuable documents bearing on the history of that 30; Liv. i. 23, 26, 27, 28; Varr. Fr. p. 240, Bip.
turbulent patriarch. A Latin version by Melius, ed.; Flor. i. 3. ~ 8; Val. Max. vii. 4. ~ 1; Frontin.
in Baronius, Annaul. ad ann. 870, Greek and Latin, Strat. ii. 7. ~ 1; Polyaen. Strat. viii. 5.) [W. B. D.]
in the 8th vol. of- Labbe, Concilia, and in Acta ME'TTIUS GEMI'NIUS, or GEMINUS,
Concilii CP. quarti, by M. Raderus, Ingolstadt. was commander of the cavalry of Tusculum in the
1604, 4to. 2.'E7riaoXs' Mr'TpopdaYovs Mq7rpo- last war between Rome and the Latin league;
7rro['ov 7rps MavovirA laq'pfKov Kcal AoyO'e&v B. C. 340. He challenged T. Manlius, son of the
ToO spoitov, divided into four parts, a very remark- consul T. Manlius Torquatus, and was slain by
able and important document. The three first him in the combat. (Liv. viii. 7; Val. Max. ii.
parts treat on Manichaeism, and the fourth on the 7. ~ 6.) [W. B. D.]
Mystery of the Holy Ghost: it is very doubtfil ME'TTIUS POMPOSIA'NUS, a senator in
whether Metrophanes is the author of this work, Vespasian's reign, whom the emperor raised to the
which is now generally attributed to Photius. 3. consulate, although Mettius was reported to have a
De Spiritu Sancto, of which a fragment is extant royal nativity. Domitian afterwards banished and
in a Vienna codex. 4. -Expositio Fidei, in a Paris put him to death. (Suet. Vesp. 14, Domn. 10, 20;
codex. 5. Liber Canonurnm Triadicorum, in a Vene- Dion Cass. lxvii. 12; Victor, Ep. 9.) [W. B. D.]
tian codex, according to Leo Allatius. (Fabric. MEZE'NTIUS (MeirevPlos), a mythical king of
Bibl. Graec. vol. xi. p. 700; Baronius, Annal. ad the Tyrrhenians or Etruscans, at Caere or Agylla,
ann. 870, &c.; Hankius, Script.. Byzant. xvii. i, and father of Lausus. When he was expelled by
&c., xviii. 66.) [W. P.] his subjects on account of his cruelty he took
ME'TTIUS or ME'TIUS, an old Italian name, refuge with Turnus, king of the Rutulians, and
in use both among the Sabines and Latins. It is assisted; him in his war against Aeneas and the
doubtful whether Mettius or Metius is the better Trojans. Aeneas wounded him, but Mezentius
orthography, as we sometimes find one and some- escaped under the protection of his son. When,
times the other in the best MSS. For the sake of however, Lausus had fallen, Mezentius returned to
uniformity, however, we have adopted the form the battle on horseback, and was slain by Aeneas
Ilfeltius in all the following names, though some of (Virg. Aen. viii. 480, &c., x. 689, &c., 785, 800,
them occur with only one t. - &c.). The story about the alliance between MeME'TTIUS. 1. P. METTIUS, a partisan of zentius and the Rutulians is also mentioned by
Saturninus and Glaucia in B. C. 100, assassinated Livy and Dionysius, but they say nothing about
C. Memmius, one of the consular candidates in that his expulsion from Caere or Agylla. According
year. (Oros. v. 17.) to them Aeneas disappeared during the battle
2. M. METTIUS, was sent by Caesar at the against the Rutulians and Etruscans at Lanuviuni,
opening of the Gallic war, in B. C. 58, as legatus and Ascanius was besieged by Mezentius and
to Ariovistus, king of the German league, and was Lausus. In a sally at night the besieged defeated
detained prisoner by him, but subsequently res- the enemy, slew Lausus, and then concluded a
cued by Caesar. (Caes. B. G. i. 47, 53.) The peace with Mezentius, who henceforth remained
annexed coin, which bears the legend M. Mettius, their ally.. (Liv. i. 2, 3; Dionys. i. 64, &c.)
and has on the obverse the head of Caesar, pro- According to Servius (ad Aen. iv. 620, vi. 760,
bably refers to this Mettius. [Wr. B. D.] ix. 745) Mezentius was slain by Ascanius. During.