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

NOVATIANUS. NOVIA. 1211
middle of the fourth century, we learn that the persecution (A.D. 249-257), probably towards
Novatians boasted that their founder was a martyr. the close of A. D. 250. If composed under these
The original and distinguishing tenet of these circumstances, as maintained by Jackson, it refutes
heretics was, as we have indicated above, that no in a most satisfactory manner the charges brought
one who after baptism had, through dread of per- by Cornelius in reference to the conduct of Novasecution or from any other cause, fallen away from tianus at this epoch. The author denies that the
the faith, could, however sincere his contrition, again Mosaic ordinances, with regard to meats, are
be received into the bosom of the church, or entertain binding upon Christians, but strongly recommends
sure hope of salvation. It would appear that subse- moderation and strict abstinence from flesh offered
quently this rigorous exclusion was extended to all to idols.
who had been guilty of any of the greater or mortal III. Epistolae. Two letters, of which the first
sins; and, if we can trust the expression of St. Am- is certainly genuine, written A. D. 250, in the
brose (De Poen. iii. 3), Novatianus himself altoge- name of the Roman clergy to Cyprian, when a
ther rejected the efficacy of repentance, and denied vacancy occurred in the papal see in consequence
that forgiveness colld be granted to anysin, whether of the martyrdom of Fabianus, on the 13th of
small or great. There can be no doubt that com- February, A. D. 250.
munion was refused to all great offenders, but we The two best editions of the collected works of
feel inclined to believe that Socrates (H. E. iv. 28) Novatianus are those of Welchman (8vo. Oxon.
represents these opinions, as first promulgated, 1724), and of Jackson (8vo. Lond. 1728). The
more fairly when he states, that Novatianus merely latter is in every respect superior, presenting us with
would not admit that the church had power to for- an excellent text, very useful prolegomena, notes
give and grant participation in her mysteries to and indices. The tracts De Trinilate and De Cibis
great offenders, while at the same time he exhorted Judaicis will be found in almost all editions of Terthem to repentance, and referred their case directly tullian from the Parisian impression of 1545 downto the decision of God-views which were likely wards. (Hieronym. de Viris Ill. 10; Philostorg.
to be extremely obnoxious to the orthodox priest- H. E. viii. 15; Euseb. H. E. vi. 43; Pacian. Ep.
hood, and might very readily be exaggerated and 3; Ambros. de Poen. iii. 3; Cyprian. Ep. 44, 45,
perverted by the intolerance of his own followers, 49, 50, 55, 68; Socrat. H. E. iv. 28, v. 22, and
who, full of spiritual pride, arrogated to themselves notes of Valesius; Sozomen. H. E. vi. 24; Lardner,
the title of KaOapol, or Puritans, an epithet caught Credibility of Gospel History, c. xlvii; Schinemann,
up and echoed in scorn by their antagonists. Bibliotheca Patrum Lat. vol. i., 5; BKhr, Geschicht.
It is necessary to remark that the individual des Rim. Litterat. Suppl. Band. 2te Abtheil. ~~ 23,
who first proclaimed such doctrines was not Nova- 24; with regard to Novatus, see Cyprian. Ep.
tianus, but an African presbyter under Cyprian, 52.) [W. R.]
named Novatus, who took a most active share in NOVATUS. [NoVATIANUS].
the disorders which followed the elevation of Cor- NOVA'TUS, JU'NIUS, published a libellous
nelius. Hence, very naturally, much confusion letter against Augustus under the name of Agrippa,
has arisen between Novatus and Nrovatianus; and but was punished only by a pecuniary fine. (Suet.
Lardner, with less than his usual accuracy, persists Aug. 51.)
in considering them as one and the same, although NOVE'LLIUS TORQUA'TUS. [TORQUAthe words of Jerome are perfectly explicit, distin- TUS.]
guishing most clearly between "Novatianus Ro- NOVELLUS, ANTOINIUS, was one of Otho's
manae urbis presbyter" and "' Novatus Cypriani principal generals, but possessed no influence with
presbyter." Indeed, the tenth chapter of his Ca- the soldiery. (Tac. Hist. i. 87, ii. 12.)
talogue becomes quite unintelligible if we confound NOVENSILES DII, are mentioned in the
them. solemn prayer which the consul Decius repeated
Jerome informs us that Novatianus composed after the pontifex previous to his devoting himself
treatises De Pascha; De Sabbato; De Circuinci- to death for his country. (Liv. viii. 9.) Instead
sione; De Sacerdote; De Oratione; De Cibis Ju- of Novensiles, we also find the form Novensides,
daicis; De Instantia; De Attalo, and many others; whence we may infer that it is some compound of
together with a large volume De Trinitate, exhi- insides. The first word in this compound is said by
biting in a compressed form the opinions of Ter- some to be novus, and by others novern (Arnob.
tullian on this mystery. Of all these the follow- iii. 38, 39); and it is accordingly said that the
ing only are now known to exist:- Novensiles were nine gods, to whom Jupiter gave
I. De Trinitate s. De Regtla Fidei, ascribed by permission to hurl his lightnings. (Arnob. 7. c.;
some to Tertullian, by others to Cyprian, and in- Plin. H. N. ii. 52.) But this fact, though it may
serted in many editions of their works. That it have applied to the Etruscan religion, nowhere apcannot belong to Tertullian is sufficiently proved pears in the religion of the Romans. We are
by the style and by the mention made of the Sabel- therefore inclined to look upon Novensides as comlians, who did not exist in his time, while Jerome posed of nove and insides, so that these gods would
expressly declares that the volume De Trinitate be the opposite of Indigetes, or old native diviniwas not the production of Cyprian, but of Nova- ties; that is, the Novensides are the gods who are
tianus. The piece before us, however, does not newly or recently introduced at Rome, after the
altogether answer his description, since it cannot conquest of some place. For it was customary at
be regarded as a mere transcript of the opinions of Rome after the conquest of a neighbouring town to
Tertullian, but is an independent exposition of the carry its gods to Rome, and there either to establish
orthodox doctrine very distinctly embodied in pure their worship in public, or to assign the care of it to
language and animated style. some patrician family. This is the explanation of
11. De Cibis Judaicis, written at the request of Cincius Alimentus (ap. Asnob. iii. 38, &c.), and
the Roman laity at a period when the author had, seems to be quite satisfactory. [L. S.]
apparently, withdrawn from the fury of the Decian NO'VIA GENS, plebeian, was of very littk