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

LEONTIUS. LEONTIUS. 755
306), together with his uncle, Menelaus, but was remained any longer exposed to the consequences of
immediately restored to his father without ransom. the numerous court-revolutions at Constantinople.
(Athen. xiii. p. 576; Justin. xv. 2.) [E. H. B.] The Venetians, accordingly, resolved upon forming
LEONTISCUS, a painter of the Sicyonian an independent government, and in 697 chose
school, contemporary with Aratus, whose portrait he Paulus Lucas Anafestus, commonly called Paolucpainted, with a trophy (Plin. H. N. xxxv. 11. s. cio, their first sovereign duke or doge. It seems,
40. ~ 35). It seems almost idle to inquire which -however, that this change took place with the conof the victories of Aratus this picture was intended nivance of the Byzantine government, for during
to celebrate. Harduin quotes Plutarch (Arat. 38, many years afterwards friendly relations were kept
fol.), as making it probable that the victory referred up between Venice and Constantinople. In the
to was that over Aristippus, the tyrant of Argos. same year, 697, the Arabs set out for their fifth
This would place the painter's date about B. C. invasion of Africa; and, after having defeated the
235. [P. S.] Greeks in mariy engagements, their commander,
LEO'NTION,'a Greek painter, contemporary Hasan, took Carthage.' He lost it again, but rewith Aristides of Thebes (about B. C. 340), who took it in the following year, 698. In order to
painted his portrait. Nothing further is known of expel the Arabs from the capital of Africa, Leonhim (Plin. xxxv. 10. s. 36. ~ 19). [P. S.] tius sent reinforcements to the Patrician Joannes,
LEO'NTIUM (Aeo'vrIov), an Athenian hetaera, the commander-in-chief in Africa, who succeeded
the disciple and mistress of Epicurus. She wrote in forcing the entrance of the harbour, but was
a treatise against Theophrastus, which Cicero cha- beaten back again, and compelled to a shameful
racterises as written scito quidem sermone et Attico. flight. Carthage now was destroyed by the Arabs,
According to Pliny (Praef) the audacity of the and has since disappeared from among the cities of
attempt gave rise to the proverb suspendio arboremr the world. Joannes sailed for Constantinople in
eligere. Pliny mentions a painting of her by Theo- order to obtain a re-inforcement, and try another
dorus, in which she was represented in a meditative chance. His land and sea forces were both equally
attitude. Among her numerous lovers we also mortified at the disgraceful result of the expedifind mentioned Metrodorus, the disciple of Epi- tion; and Absimarus, one of their leaders, percurus, and Hermesianax of Colophon. She had a suaded them that they would suffer for a defeat of
daughter, Danae, who was also an hetaera of some which the commander-in-chief was the only cause.
notoriety. (Diog. Laert. x. 4; Athen. xiii. p. 588, His words took effect; a mutiny broke out when
a. b. 593, b. 597, a; Cic. de Nat. Deor. i. 33; the fleet was off Crete; Joannes was put to death
Plin. H. AN. xxxv. 11.) [C. P. M.] by the exasperated soldiers; and Absimarus was
LEO'NTIUS I., a Syrian, and an officer of re- proclaimed emperor. The surprise of Leontius was
putation, joined Illus in rebelling against Zeno, the extreme when he saw his fleet return to the haremperor of Constantinople. Leontius was pro- hour of Constantinople, and, instead of saluting
claimed emperor in A. D. 482, and was taken pri- him, raise the standard of rebellion. Absimarus
soner and put to death at Constantinople in A. D. having bribed the guards on the water side, entered
488. The history of this rebellion is given under the city without resistance, and seized upon the
ILLUS and ZENO. person of Leontius, who was treated by the usurper
LEO'NTIUS Ii. (AeoYtrlos), emperor of Con- as he had treated his predecessor Justinian Rhinostantinople (A. D. 695-698), deposed and suc- tmetus, for the captive emperor had his nose and
ceeded the emperor Justinian II. towards the end ears cut off, and was confined in a convent, where
of A. D. 695. He appears first in history as com- he finished his days. The deposition of Leontius
mander of the imperial troops against the Maronites, and the accession of Absimarus, who adopted the
in which capacity he gave cause for suspicion, name of Tiberius, took place in 698. [TIBERIUS.]
and accordingly after his return to Constanti- (Theoph. p. 309, &c.; Cedren. p. 443, &c.;. Ninople, he was put into prison. His popularity, ceph. p. 26; Const. Manasses, p. 80; Zonar. vol.
however, was so great, that the emperor did not ii. p. 94, 95; Glycas, p. 279; Paul. Diacon. vi. 10
dare to give him a fair trial, but kept him in con- -14.) [W.; P.]
finement during three years, when, at last, he re- LEO'NTIUS (Aecriors), literary. 1. Of ANleased him on condition of his leaving the capital, TIOCH. Leontius was born in Phryvgia, and was a
and taking the supreme civil and military -com- disciple of the martyr Lucianus; and having enmand in Greece. Leontius was on the point of tered the church was ordained presbyter. In order
sailing from the Golden Horn, when the people, to enjoy without scandal the society of a young
exasperated by the tyranny of Justinian, rose in female, Eustolius or Eustolia, to whom he was
rebellion, in consequence of which Justinian was much attached, he mutilated himself; but, notdeposed, and Leontius raised to the imperial dignity. withstanding, did not escape suspicion, and was
The particulars of this revolution are given in the deposed from his office. On the deposition, howlife of Justinian II. In the first year of the reign ever, of Stephanus or Stephen, bishop of Antioch,
of Leontius the empire enjoyed universal peace, as he was by the favour of the Emperor Constantius
Theophanus says, except, however, at Ravenna, and the predominant Arian party appointed tothat
where a frivolous riot caused much destruction and see, about 348 or 349. He was one of the inbloodshed. In the second year of his reign (697) structors of the heresiarch Autius [A]rTIuS], to
an event occurred which is of the greatest import- whom, according to Philostorgius, he expounded
ance in the history of Italy, as well as of all Europe the writings of the prophets, especially Ezekiel;
and the East. Until that year'Venice had be- but, after appointing him deacon, he was compelled
longed to the Byzantine empire, forming part of by the opposite party under Diodorus [DIODORUS,
the government of Istria; but its advantageous No. 3] and Flavian [FLAVIANUS, No. 1] to silence
position, and the independent and enterprising and depose him. Leontius died about A. D. 358.
spirit of its inhabitants, had raised it to such iram- Of his writings, which were numerous, nothing
portance and wealth, that its ruin was certain, if it remains except a fragment of what Cave describes,
3c 2