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

LACRATES. LACTANTIUS. 70i
tians, by whom, according to some, the temple of LA'CRITUS (AdIcplros), a sophist, a native of
Juno Lacinia was built. (Serv. 1. c.) [L. S.] Phaselis, known to us chiefly from the speech of
LA'CIUS (Adcilos), an Attic hero, to whom a Demosthenes against him. A man named Androcles
sanctuary was erected on the sacred road from had lent a sum of money to Artemo, the brother of
Athens to Eleusis, and from whom the demus of Lacritus. The latter, on the death of his brother,
Lacia or Laciadae derived its name. (Paus. i. 37. refused to refund the money, though he had become
~ 1.) [L. S.] security for his brother, and was his heir. Hence
LACO (Ada.wv), son of Aeimnestus, proxenus of the suit instituted against him by Androcles, for
the Spartans at Plataea, was chosen with Asty- whom Demosthenes composed the speech in quesmachus, son of Asopolaus, to address the Lacedae- tion. Lacritus was a pupil of Isocrates, of which
monians in behalf of the Plataean people, when the he seems to have been rather vain. (Dem. in Lacr.
town capitulated, in the fourth year of the Pelopon- p. 928.) Photius (Cod. 260, p. 487, a. ed.
nesian war,. c. 427. In their mouths is placed Bek.) speaks of him likewise as the author of
the pathetic speech given in Thucydides. (Thuc. some Athenian laws. (Plut. Dec. Orat. p. 837,
iii. 52.) [A. H. C.] b.) [C. P. M.]
LACO, a native of Anagnia, the ancient capital LACTA'NTIUS. Notwithstanding the high
of the Hernicans, mentioned by Cicero as one of reputation enjoyed by this father, no sure record
Antony's boon-companions - poculorum princeps- has been preserved by which we call determine
in the revelries at Varro's country-house, B. c. 44. either his exact name, or the place of his naitivity,
(Phlilipp. ii. 41, ad Att. xvi. 11.) [W. B.D.] or the date of his birth. In modern works we find
LACO, CORNE'LIUS, originally a praetor's him usually denominated Ltaws Coelius Firmianuts
counsel (Heinecc. Antiq. Rosm. iv. 6, ~ 9), was Lactantius; but the two former appellations, in the
promoted by Galba, A. n. 70, to the posts of court- second of which Caecilius is often substituted for
chamberlain and praetorian prefect. Of the three Coelius, are both omitted by Hieronymus, and also
favourites of Galba, who from their influence with in many MSS., while the two latter are frequently
him were called his pedagogues (Suet. Galb. 14; presented in an inverted order; moreover, we have
Dion Cass. lxiv. 2), Laco was the most slothful and no means of deciding whether Firmianius is a family
not the least arrogant. In the disputes concerning or a local designation; and some critics, absurdly
theappointmentof a colleague and successor toGalba, enough perhaps, have imagined that Lactantizs is
Laco opposed the nomination of Otho, and moved, a mere epithet, indicating the milk-like softness
it is said, by his intimacy with Rubellius Plautus, and sweetness which characterise the style of'this'
supported that of Piso. In the divisions of Galba's author. Since he is spoken of as having been far
court and favourites Laco seems to have taken part advanced in life about A. D. 315, he must have
with Icelus. [ICELUS.] Galba wished to send been bonr not later than the middle of the third
Laco to appease the discontent of the legions under century, probably in Italy, possibly at Firmium,
Vitellius in Germany; but he refused to go, and on the Adriatic, and certainly studied in Africa,
was thought to have contributed to his patron's where he became the pupil of Arnobius, who
destruction by concealing from him the murmurs of taught rhetoric at Sicca. His fame, which surthe soldiery, and by advising him, when the prae- passed even that of his master, became so widely'
torians had declared for Otho, to present himself extended, that about A. D. 301 he was invited by
to the mutineers. On Otho's accession Laco was Diocletian to settle at Nicomedeia, and there to
ordered for deportation; but the centurion who practise his art. The teacher of Latin eloquence;
guarded him had secret orders to put him to death however, found so little encouragement in a city
on the way. Laco, however, according to Plutarch whose population was chiefly Greek, that he was
(Galb. 13), perished at the same time with Galba. reduced to extreme indigence; and, without at(Tac. Hist. i. 6, 13, 14, 19, 26, 33, 46; Suet. tempting to turn his talents to account as a public
Galb. 14; Plut. Galb. 13, 26, 29.) [W.B.D.] pleader, abandoned his profession altogether, deLACO, GRAECI'NUS, was commander-of the voting himself entirely to literary composition,
night-watch (praefectus vigilum) in the 18th year There can be little doubt that at this period he
of the reign of Tiberius, A. D. 31. When the em- became a Christian; and his change of religion
peror had commissioned Sertorius Macro to arrest may in no small degree have proved the cause of
Sejanus, Laco was stationed with his band of vigiles his poverty; for we can scarcely suppose that he
around the temple of Apollo, in which the senate would have been left without support by the emwas held. At a preconcerted signal, after Tiberius' peror, had he not in some way forfeited the paletter (Juv. Sat. x. 71) had been read, Laco en- tronage of the court. We know nothing farther
tered with his guards and took Sejanus into cus- of his career until we find him summoned to
tody. For this service, which from the power of Gaul, about A.D. 312-318, when now an old
the criminal required both secrecy and boldness, man, to superintend the education of Crispus, son
Laco was rewarded with a large pecuniary donation of Constantine, and it is believed that he died at'
and with the quaestorian ornaments. (Dion Cass. Treves some ten or twelve years afterwards (A. D.
lviii. 9, 10,:12.) [W. B.D.] 325-330).
LA'CRATES (AatcparTs). 1. A general sent Among the writings of Lactantius we must
out by the Thebans, at the head of 1000 heavy- assign the first place to I. Divinarurn Institutionzrum
armed troops, to assist Artaxerxes Ochus in his in- Libli VII., a sort of introduction to Christianity,
vasion of Egypt, B. c. 350. He commanded that intended to supersede the less perfect treatises of
division of the royal forces sent against Pelusium. Minucius Felix, Tertullian, and Cyprian. It is
(Diod. xvi. 44, 49). partly polemical, since it contains a direct attack
2. A Pythagorean, a native of Metapontum, upon the pagan system; partly apologetic,, since it
mentioned by lamblichus ( Vit. Pyth. c. 36). Another undertakes to defend the new faith from the misreading of the name is Lacritus. [C. P. M.] representations of its adversaries; partly didactic,
LA'CRATES, artist. [PYRRHUS.] since it presents an exposition of the beauty, h~o