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

260 GERMANICUS. GERMANIC US.
Cherusci; and, in- order to get to the Weser, it Germanicus had some time previously received
was necessary to cross the Ems. The delay occa- intimation of the wish of Tiberius to remove him
sioned by the necessity of forming a bridge across from Germany, and to give him command in the
the Ems, and the difficulty of the passage,.made East, where Parthia and Armenia were in commoGermanicus feel his error in landing on the left tion on account of the dethronement of VoAones.
bank, and leaving his galleys at Amisia. He had Knowing that his time was short, he hastened his
still greater difficulty in effecting the passage of the operations; and upon his return to winter quarters,
Weser in the face of the enemy. Seeing now that felt convinced that another campaign would suffice
an important action was at hand, he determined to for the successful termination of the war. But the
ascertain for himself the temper and feelings of the summons of Tiberius now grew pressing. He
troops. Accordingly, in the beginning of the night, invited Germanicus to come home, and take the
accompanied by a single attendant, he went secretly triumph which had been voted to him, offered him
into'the camp, listened by the side of the tents, a second consulship, suggested that more might
and enjoyed his own.fame. He heard the praise now be gained by address than by force of arms,
of his graceful form, his noble birth, his patience, reminded him of the severe losses with which his
his courtesy, his steady consistency of conduct. He successes were purchased, and appealed to his
found that his men were eager to show their modesty by hinting that he ought to leave an oployalty and gratitude to their general, and to slake portunity to his adoptive brother, Drusus, of actheir vengeance in the field of battle. His sleep quiring laurels in the only field where they could
that night was blessed by a dream of happy omen, now be gathered. This touched one of the true
and, on the next day, when the troops were all reasons of his recal, for the emperor, though willing
ready for action, eight eagles were seen to enter to play him off against Drusus, had no desire that
the woods. Germanicus cried out to the legions, his popularity should throw Drusus completely into
-"Come on, follow the Roman birds, your own the shade. [DRuvss, No. 11.] Germanicus
divinities." A great victory was gained with little had petitioned for another year, in order to comloss to the Romans, Arminius having barely plete what he had begun, hut he could not resist
escaped, after smearing his face with his own the mandate of Tiberius, though he saw that envy
blood, in order to disguise his features. His uncle, was the real cause of withdrawing from his grasp
Inguiomar, had an equally narrow escape. This an honour which he had already earned. (Tac.
battle was fought upon the plain of Idistavisus Ann. ii. 26.)
(between Rinteler and Hausberg), and was cele- On his return to Rome he was received with
brated by a trophy of arms erected upon the spot. warm and enthusiastic greeting, the whole popuA second engagement took place soon afterwards, lation pouring forth to meet him twenty miles from
in a position where the retreat of both parties was the city, and on the 26th of May, A. D. 17, he celecut off by the nature of the ground in their rear, brated his triumph over the Cherusci, Catti, Anso that the only hope consisted in valour -the grivarii, and other tribes, as far as the Elbe. His
only safety in victory. The result was equally five children adorned his car, and many of the most
successful to the Romans. In the heat of action illustrious Germans ministered to the pomp of their
Germanicus, that he might be the better known, conqueror. Among others, Thusnelda, the wife of
uncovered his head, and cried out to the troops " to Arminius, followed in the procession of captives.
keep on killing and take no prisoners, since the.Tac. Ann. ii. 41; Suet. Cal. i.; Vell. Pat. ii. 129;
only way to end the war was to exterminate the Euseb. Chron. No. 2033; Oros. vii. 4.) Medals
race." It was late at night before' the legions are extant which commemorate this triumph. (See
ceased from their bloody task. In honour of this the cut below.)
second victory a trophy was erected, with the in- The whole of the Eastern provinces were asscription: "The army of Tiberius Caesar, having signed, by a decree of the senate, to Gernianicus,
subdued the nations between the Rhine and the with the highest imperium; but Tiberius placed
Elbe, dedicates this monument to Mars and Ju- Cn. Piso in command of Syria, and was supposed
piter, and Augustus." No mention was made of to have given him secret instructions to check and
the name of Germanicus. thwart Germanicus, though such instructions were
The summer was already far advanced, when scarcely wanted, for Piso was naturally of a proud
Germanicus, with the greater part of the troops, and rugged temper, unused to obedience. His
sailed back by the Ems to the Ocean. During the wife Plancina, too, was of a haughty and domineervoyage a terrific storm occurred: several of the ing spirit, and was encouraged by Livia, the emships were sunk; and Germanicus, whose vessel press-mother, to vie with and annoy Agrippina.
was stranded on the shore of the Chauci, bitterly In A. D. 18, Germanicus entered upon his second
accused himself as the author of so gross a disaster, consulship at Nicopolis, a city of Achaia, whither
and could scarcely be prevented by his friends from he had arrived by coasting the Illyrian shore, after
flinging himself into the sea, where so many of his a visit to Drusus in Dalmatia. He then surveyed
followers had perished. However, he did not yield the scene of the battle of Actium, which was peto inactive grief. Lest the Germans should be en- culiarly interesting to him, from his family concouraged by the Roman losses, he sent Silius on an nection with Augustus and Antony. He had an
expedition against the Catti, while he himself at- anxious desire to view the renowned sites of ancient
tacked the Marsi; and, by the treacherous informa- story and classic lore. At Athens he was weltion of their leader, Malovendus, recovered one of the comed with the most'ecewrche honour, and, in
eagles which had belonged to the legion of Varus. compliment to the city, went attended with a single
Emboldened by success, he carried havoc and deso- lictor. At Ilium, his memory reverted to Homer's
lation into the country of the enemy, who were poem, and to the origin of the Roman race. At
struck with dismay when they saw that shipwreck, Colophon he4 landed, to consult the oracle of the
and hardship, and loss, only increased the ferocity Clarian Apollo, and it is said that the priest darkly
of the Romans. foreboded his early fate.