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

LUCULLUS.". LUCULLUS. 833
he received the news that Mithridates had invaded but on learning the defeat of his fleet, and- the adBithynia with an army of 150,000 men, had de- vance of Lucullus, Mithridates withdrew from.that
feated Cotta both by sea and land, and compelled city without a contest, and escaped by sea- to
him to take refuge within the walls of Chalcedon. Pontus.
Lucullus was at this time in Galatia, but he Lucullus had thus succeeded in driving back
hastened to the support of Cotta. He was met at Mithridates into his own dominions, and thither
a place called Otryae, in Phrygia, by a detach- he now prepared to follow him. After joining
ment of the army of Mithridates, commanded by Cotta and Triarius at Nicomedeia, he detached the
the Roman exile Varius, but a meteoric apparition former to besiege the important town of Heracleia,
prevented an engagement. MeanwhilA, Mithri- while Triarius, with the fleet, was posted at the
dates drew off his army from Chalcedon, and'pro- Bosporus, in order to prevent the junction of the
ceeded to besiege the strong city of Cyzicus. enemy's detached squadrons. Meanwhile, Lucullus
Hither Lucullus followed'him; but confident in himself, with his main army, advanced through
the strength of the place, and well knowing the Galatia-into the heart of Pontus, laying waste the
difficulty of subsisting so vast a multitude as that country on- his march; and in this manner penewhich composed the army of the king, he was by trated, without any serious opposition, as far as
no means desirous to bring on a battle, and con- Themiscyra. But he now began to be' apprehentented himself with taking up a strongly entrenched sive lest Mithridates should avoid a battle, and
camp in the immediate neighbourhood' of that of elude his pursuit by withdrawing into'the wild
Mithridates, from whence he could watch his pro- and mountainous regions beyond Pontus; and he
ceedings, intercept his communications, and leave therefore, instead of pushing on at once upon Cahunger to do the work of the sword. The result beira, where the king was now stationed, deterfully justified his expectations. All the efforts of mined to* halt and form the siege of the two
Mithridates were baffled by the skill and courage of important towns of Amisus and Eupatoria. His
the besieged; and though he was still master of object in so doing was in great part to draw
the sea, the winter storms prevented him from Mithridates to their relief, and thus bring on a
receiving supplies by that means, so that famine general engagement; but the king contented himsoon began to make itself felt in his camp, and at self with sending Supplies and reinforcements to
length increased to such a degree that no alterna- the two cities, and remained quiet at Cabeira,
tive remained but to raise the siege. A detach- where he had established his winter-quarters, and
ment of 15,000 men, which the king had previously had assembled a force of 40,000 foot and 4000
sent off, was attacked and cut to pieces by Lucullus horse. Lucullus at first'pressed the siege of
at the passage of the Rhyndacus; and when at Amisus with the utmost vigour; but it was delength his main army broke up from the camp fended with equal energy and ability by Callibefore Cyzicus, and commenced its march towards machus, the commander of the garrison; and after
the West, Lucullus pressed closely upon their rear, a time the efforts of both parties gradually relaxed,
and attacking them successively at the passage of the and the siege was protracted throughout the whole
Aesepus and the Granicus,' put thousands of them winter without any decisive result. With the apto the sword. Those that escaped took refuge in proach of spring (B. c. 72) Lucullus broke up his
Lampsacus, under the command of Varius. (Plut. camp; and leaving Murena with two legions to
Lczull. 8-11; Appian, Mithr. 71-76; Memnon. continue the siege of Amisus, led the rest of his
37-40; Liv. Epit. xcv.; Flor. iii. 6; Eutrop. vi. forces against Mithridates, who was still at Ca6; Oros. vi. 2; Cic. pro. Leg. Manil. 8, pro Muren. beira. But the king was superior in cavalry, and
15; Orelli, Inscr. 545.) Lucullus was therefore unwilling to risk a general
The great army of Mithridates, on the equip- action in the plain. Several partial engagements
ment and preparation of which he had bestowed ensued, in which the Romans were more than once
all his care, was now annihilated; but hie was still worsted; and Lucullus began to find himself in
master of the sea; and placing the remains of his distress for provisions, which he was compelled to
shattered forces on board the fleet, he gave the bring from Cappadocia. A series of movements
command of it to Varius, with orders to maintain and manoeuvres now followed,'which are not very
possession of the Aegaean, while he himself returned clearly related; but at length a numerous detachby sea to Bithynia. Lucullus did not deem it ment from the army of the king, under his generals
prudent to advance further into Asia while his Menemachus and'Myron, was entirely cut off by
communications were thus threatened, and he des- one of the lieutenants of Lucullus. In consequence
patched his lieutenants, Voconius and Triarins, in of this blow Mithridates determined to remove to
pursuit of Mithridates, while he occupied himself a greater' distance from the enemy; but when the
in assembling a fleet at the Hellespont. Contri- orders to retreat were given, a general panic spread
butions quickly poured in from all the Greek cities through the' army, which took to flight in all direcof Asia; and Lucullus soon found himself at the tions. The king himself narrowly escaped being
head of a' considerable:naval force, with which he trampled to death in the confusion, and was'closely
defeated a squadron' of the enemy off Ilium, and' pursued by the Roman' cavalry; but effected his
soon afterwards engaged and almost entirely de- escape to Comana, from whence he fled directly to
stroyed their main fleet, near the island of Lemnos, Armenia, accompanied only by a small body of
taking prisoner Varius himself, together with his horsemen, and took refuge in the dominions of
two colleagues in the command. (Appian, Alithr. Tigranes. Lucullus, after making' himself master
77; Plut. Lucull. 12; Cic. pro Leg. MlJanil. 8, pro of Cabeira, pursued the fugitive monarch as far as
Muren. 15; Eutrop. vi. 6; Memnon. 42.) He Talaura; but finding that he had made good his
was now at liberty to direct his undivided attention retreat into Armenia, halted at that city, and destowards Mithridates himself, and advanced against patched App. Claudius as ambassador to Tigranes,
that monarch, who had halted at Nicomedeia, where to. demand the surrender of Mithridates. MIeanCotta and Triarius were preparing to besiege him;' while, he himself subdued, or at least received the
voL. II. 3 xH