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

1138 NARCISSUS. NARCISSUS.
When Cicero speaks (ad Att. i. 16. ~ 3) of Colvus NARCISSUS AUG. L. AB. EPISTULIS. (Comp. Suet.
ex Nanneianis illc, he means to indicate Crassus, Claud. 28; Zonar. p. 563, d.) When Messallina
who was one of the purchasers of the confiscated wished to compass the death of C. Appius Silanus,
property of the Nannii. Narcissus, between whom and herself there existed
NANNO (Navvy), a flute-player, beloved by at that time a good understanding, pretended to
Mimnermus, and repeatedly celebrated by him, as the emperor that in a dream he had seen him fall
well as mentioned in connection with his name by by the hand of Silanus. The preconcerted entrance
Poseidippus. (Anth. Graec. vol. ii. p. 48, vol. viii. of Silanus immediately afterwards was alleged as a
p. 142, ed. Jacobs; Stobaeus, vol. i. p. 303, vol. confirmation of the vision, and the unfortunate
iii. pp. 332, 435, ed. Gaisford.) [W. M. G.] youth was immediately put to death. The empeNAPAEAE. [NYMPHAr.] ror thanked his freedman in the senate, A.D. 42.
NARAVAS (Napaasl,, a Numidian chief, who (Suet. Claud. 37; Dion Cass. lx. 14.) Narcissus
bears a conspicuous part in the war of the Car- soon afterwards seized the opportunity afforded by
thaginians against their revolted mercenaries and the conspiracy of Furius Camillus Scribonianus to
African subjects. He at first espoused the cause get the emperor to older the death of a number of
of the rebels, and joined the army of Spendius innocent persons. Messallina and Narcissus even
with a considerable force, but was afterwards in- went so far as to put to the torture many knights
duced to go over to the Carthaginians. The latter and senators. (Dion Cass. lx. 15, 16.) Several
change, which took place at so critical a period of those most involved in the conspiracy, who
that it was probably the means of saving the could propitiate Narcissus and Messallina by
whole army of Hamilcar Barca from destruction, is money, escaped. In A. D. 43 we find Vespasianus
ascribed to the influence exercised over the mind sent as legatus of a legion into Germany through
of Naaravasby the personal character of that gene- the influence of Narcissus. (Suet. Vesp. 4.) When
ral, who received him with open arms and pro- the soldiers under A. Plautius in Britain mutinied,
mised him his daughter in marriage. Throughout Narcissus was sent by the emperor to restore order;
the remainder of the war Naravas was distinguished but on his attempting to address the soldiers he
for his zeal and fidelity in the Carthaginian cause, was received with shouts of indignation, and not
and contributed essentially to the ultimate success suffered to speak. His mission, however, accoroof Hamilcar. (Polyb. i. 78, 82, 84, 86.) Naravas plished its purpose, for the soldiers, under the inis the Greek form of the name, which is not men- fluence of this revulsion of feeling, suffered Plautius
tioned by any Latin writer: themore correct form to take the command of them. (Dion Cass. lx.
would probably be Narbal, or rather, Naarbaal. 19.)
(Gesenius, Ling. Phoen. lIon. p. 410.) [E. H. B.] When Messallina, having lost the confidence
NARCAEUS (Naplcaos), a son of Dionysus of the freedmen of the palace, in consequence of her
and Narcaea, established a sanctuary of Athena having caused the death of Polybius, proceeded
Narcaea in Elis, and also introduced there the in her mLad extravagance to marry C. Silius, inworship of Dionysus. (Paus. v. 16. ~ 5.) [L. S.] formation was given to the emperor, who at the
NARCISSUS (Na'ptraaos), a son of Cephissus time was at Ostia, by Narcissus, through some
and the nymph Liriope of Thespiae. He was a women. Narcissus persuaded the emperor that
very handsome youth, but wholly inaccessible to his only chance of safety lay in entrusting to him
the feeling of love. The nymph Echo, who loved the command of the praetorian soldiers; and to
him, but in vain, died away with grief. One of prevent any one else from having access to the ear
his rejected lovers, however, prayed to Nemesis to of Claudius, he asked and obtained permission to
punish him for his unfeeling heart. Nemesis ac- ride back to Rome in the same carriage with him.
cordingly caused Narcissus to see his own face re- As they approached the city he diverted the attenflected in a well, and to fall in love with his own tion of the emperor from the appeals of Messallina,
image. As this shadow was unapproachable Nar- who had come out to meet them, and prevented
cissus gradually perished with love, and his corpse her children from being brought to their father.
was metamorphosed into the flower called after him Finding Claudius not so prompt in ordering the
narcissus. This beautiful story is related at length death of Messallina as he wished, and fearing the
by Ovid (Met. iii. 341, &c.). According to some effects of her habitual influence over him, Narcissus
traditions, Narcissus sent a sword to one of his himself gave orders for putting her to death. The
lovers, Ameinius, who killed himself with it at the emperor was told that she had perished, and made
very door of Narcissus' house, and called upon the no further inquiries. Narcissus shortly after regods to avenge his death. Narcissus, tormented ceived the insignia of a praetor. (Tac. Ann. xi.
by love of himself and by repentance, put an 30-38; Suet. Claud. 28.) In the discussions
end to his life, and from his blood there sprang up which ensued as to whom Claudius should marry,
the flower narcissus (Conon, Narrat. 24). Other Narcissus supported the claims of Aelia Petina.
accounts again state that Narcissus melted away (Tac. Ann. xii. 1.) Dion Cassius (lx. 34) relates
into the well in which he had beheld his own image an anecdote which shows that Narcissus thoroughly
(Paus. ix. 31. ~ 6); or that he had a beloved twin appreciated the stupidity of the emperor. He howsister perfectly like him, who died, whereupon he ever got into considerable disgrace on account of
looked at his own image reflected in a well, to the insufficient manner in which the canal for
satify his longing after his sister. Eustathius (ad draining the lake Fucinus, the construction of
lIons. p. 266) says that Narcissus was drowned in which he had superintended, had been made.
the well. [L. S.] Agrippina charged him with the fraudulent approNARCISSUS. 1. A freedman of the emperor priation of great part of the money apportioned for
Claudius, over whom he possessed unbounded in- the work. Narcissus, in return, did not leave unfluence. He had charge of the emperor's letters. noticed her imperious temper and ambitious designs,
Reimar (ad Dion. Cass. lx. 34) quotes an old in- and threw his influence into the scale in favour of
scription (ap. Fabrettunt, p. 543) which runs thus: Britannicus. (Tac. Ann. xii. 57, 65; Dion Cass.