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

1150 NECTARIUS, NELEUS.
bishops, presented to the emperor. To the aston- the Eastern church-a penitential priest having
ishment of all, Theodosius selected Nectarius, and been appointed, whose office it was to receive the
persisted in his choice, even when it was ascer- confessions of those who had fallen into sin, after
tained that he had not yet been baptized. The baptism, and prescribe acts of penitence previously
bishops at last acceded to the wish of the monarch, to their being admitted to partake of the privileges
who had so stoutly opposed the Arians, while the of.the church. The last council (not oecumenical)
people, attracted probably by the gentle manners at which Nectarius presided was held in Constanand the venerable appearance of the man, present- tinople in 394, regarding a dispute as to the
ing as he did every way a strong contrast to bishopric of Bostria. Nectarius survived his
Gregory, loudly applauded the choice. Nectarits patron, Theodosius, two years, dying on the 27th
was baptized, and, before he had time to put off of September, 397. He seems to have borne his
the white robes of a neophyte, he was declared honours meekly, and to have acted with great disbishop of Constantinople. Most important matters cretion. In the subtle controversies that agitated
came under the consideration of the council, over the church, we learn that he avoided discussion
which it is probable he was now called to preside. himself, and was guided by the advice of men
He showed his discretion by putting himself under better skilled in the puzzling dialectics of the time.
the tuition of Cyriacus, bishop of Adana; but we If the conjecture of Tillemonlt (vol. ix. p. 486) be
can hardly believe that he took any active part in correct, he was married, and had one son. His
the theological questions which were discussed. It brother Arsatius succeeded John Chrysostom as
is doubtful whether the canons that were enacted, patriarch of Constantinople. (Fleury, Hist. Eccles.
under the name of the second oecumenical council, vol. iv. v. cc. 18, 19; Socrat. H. E. v. 8, 13;
were not passed at two different sessions, a second Sozom. II. E. vii. 8, 9, 14, 16, viii. c. 23.) Nectaking place in 382. But this does not matter much, tarius wrote (Cave doubts this) a homily De S.
as they all bear the name of this council. The prin- Theodoro, a martyr, whose festival is held by tho
cipal business transacted in the council, theologi- Greek church on the first sabbath of Lent. The
cally considered, related to the confirming and original is said to exist in several libraries, and a
extending of the Nicene Creed, mainly to meet the Latin version was printed, Paris, 1554, with some
opinions of the Macedonians. The creed thus Homilies of Chrysostom. Also his Sententia Syenlarged is that used at the mass of the Roman nodalis de Episcopats Bostrensi, is given in Jusre
Catholic church. Other canons regulated discipline, Graec. Roman. lib. iv. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol.
the restriction of the authority of each bishop to ix. p. 309, vol. x. p. 333; Cave, Hist. Lit. vol. i.
his own diocese, and the restoration of penitent p. 277.) [W. M. G.]
heretics. The most important article of all, how- NEDA (N45a), an Arcadian nymph, from whom
ever, historically considered, was one which was the river Neda and also a town (Steph. Byz. s. v.)
conceded not more to the natural propriety of the derived their name. She was believed, conjointly
arrangement, than to the personal favour which the with Theisoa and Hagno, to have nursed the infant
emperor bore to Nectarius. It was decreed, that Zeus (Callim. IHyzn. in Jov. 38; Pans. viii. 38. ~
as Constantinople was l'eto Rome, the bishop 3). In a Messenian tradition Neda anld Ithome
should be next in dignity to the bishop of Rome, were called nurses of Zeus (Pauns. iv. 33. ~ 2).
and hold the first place among the Eastern pre- She was represented at Athens in the temple cf
lates. This, which was at first a mere mark of Athena. (Paus. viii. 47. ~ 2.) [L. S.]
dignity, became a source of substantial power, em- NEDU'SIA (NEsovuia), a surname of Athena,
broiled Constantinople with Rome, and -was preg- under which she had a sanctuary on the river
nant with all those circumstances that have marked Nedon (from which she derived the name), and
this important schism. Nectarius was the first another at Poieessa in the island of Cos. The
who held the dignity of ex ofcio head of the latter was said to have been founded by Nestor on
Eastern bishops, as patriarch of Constantinople. his return from Troy, and to have derived its name
These canons were signed on the 9th of July, 381. from Nedon, a place in Laconia. (Strab. viii. p.
The zeal of Theodosius in the extirpation of 360, x. p. 487; Steph. Byz. s. v. N4e8wv.) [L.S.]
Arianism led to the summoning of a council (not NEIS (NuIts), a daughter of Zethus, or of Amoecumenical) at Constantinople, in July, 383. phion by Niobe, from whom the Neitian gate at
There assembled the chiefs of all the sects. By Thebes was believed to have derived its name (Schol.
the advice of Sisinnius, afterwards a Novatian ad Eurip. Phoen. 1104). According. to Pausanias
bishop, given through Nectarius, the emperor en- Neis was a son of Zethus (ix. 8. ~ 3). [L. S.]
snared his opponents into an approval of the writ- NELEIDES, NELEIADES, and NELEIUS
ings of the early fathers. He then required of (NuAhest3s, NXul'dus-qs, NlqXrZos), patronymics of
each sect a confession of its faith, which, having Neleus, by which either Nestor, the son of Neleus,
read and considered, he condemned them all, and or Antilochus, his grandson, is designated. (Hom.
followed up this condemnation by the most strin- II. viii. 100, xi. 617, x. 87, xxiii. 514; Ov. M/let.
gent laws, for the purpose of entirely rooting them xii. 553; Herod. v. 65.) [L. S.]
out. As might have been expected, Nectarius was NELEUS (N-XAees), a son of Cretheus and
obnoxious to the Arians, and we find that in 388, Tyro, the daughter of Salmoneus. Tyro, pi vious
while the emperor Theodosius was absent in Italy, to her marriage with Neleus, is said to have
opposing Maximus, a rumour that had arisen of loved the river-god Enipeus; and in the form of
the defeat and death of the prince having excited Enipeus Poseidon once appeared to her, and betheir hopes, a riot ensued, in the course of which came by her the father of Pelias and Neleus (Hom.
they set fire to the house of Nectarius. In the Od. xi. 234, &c.). Tyro exposed the two boys,
year 390, Nectarius, alarmed by the public odium but they were found and reared by horse herds,
which had been excited by the seduction of a and when they had grown up they learned who
woman of quality by a deacon, abolished the prac- their mother was, and Pelias killed their fostertice of confession which had been introduced into mother, who had ill-used Tyro (Apollod. i. 9. ~ 8).