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

TRAJANUS. TRAJANUS. 1 ] 69
bene was intended to remain; and that Trajan had complaint grew worse, he set out for Italy, leaving
also sent boats down the Euphrates, which Dion Hadrian in Syria, and Parthia again hostile, for
Cassius has not mentioned. Dion Cassius's nar- the Parthians had ejected the king whom Trajan
rative, which exists only in the epitome of Xiphi- gave them. The emperor seems to have had a
linus, is very confused. There were already canals variety of complaints, both dropsy and paralysis.
existing, which joined the Euphrates and Tigris, lie lived to reach Selinus in Cilicia, afterwards
and we must therefore suppose that they required called Trajanopolis, where he died in the early
clearing out, and were not in a fit condition for part of August, A. D. 117, after a reign of nineteen
the transit of boats. According to Dion Cassius, years six months and fifteen days. His ashes were
Trajan did not cut the intended canal, for fear that taken to Rome in a golden urn, carried in triumphal
the Euphrates might be drained by it of its waters. procession, and deposited under the column which
Accordingly, the boats were taken across by land, bears his name. He left no children, and he was
the Tigris was bridged, and the Roman emperor succeeded by Hadrian.
entered the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon. This Trajan constructed several great roads in the
event was commemorated by his assuming the name empire; he built libraries at R6me, one of which,
of Parthicus, though it seems that he had assumed called the Ulp)ia Bibliot/leca, is often mentioned;
it before. (See the medal at the close of this and a theatre in the Campus Martius. His great
article.) work was the Forum Trajanurn, the site of which
Tillemont supposes that Trajan returned to was an elevation which was removed, and the
Antioch in the winter of A. D. 115, during which ground was levelled to a plain, in the centre of
happened the great earthquake, which nearly de- which was placed the column of Trajan, the height
stroyed Antioch and many other cities; but Dion of which marked the height of the earth which had
Cassius places the earthquake before the capture of been removed. The inscription on the column
Ctesiphon. This terrible calamity, which was as fixes the date at the year A. D. 112, the sixth conawful in its circumstances as the great earthquake sulship of Trajan. Apollodorus was Trajan's
of Lisbon in the last century, destroyed a great architect. Trajan constructed the port of Ancona,
number of buildings and many people: Pedo the on the ancient mole of which there still stands a
consul perished, and Trajan escaped through a triumphal arch, dedicated to Trajan, his wife, and
wind6w, with a slight injury, being led forth by a his sister. The inscription on the bridge of Alcanman of supernatural size. tara over the Tagus belonged to the year A. n. 1 06,
In the following year Trajan descended the but though the inscription was in honour of Trajan,
Tigris and entered the Erythraean Sea (the Persian it states that the bridge was made at the common
Gulf). The king of the district called Mesene, expense of the several towns which are there
between the lower course of the Tigris and the mentioned.
Euphrates, submitted to the emperor. Dion Cassius Under the reign of Trajan lived Sextus Julius
adds that Trajan sailed as far as the Ocean, and Frontinus, C. Cornelius Tacitus, the Younger
seeing a vessel bound for India, said that he would Plinius, and various others of less note. Plutarch,
have gone thither, if he were younger. In the Suetonius, Epictetus, survived Trajan. The jurists
mean time he was losing his Eastern conquests as Juventius Celsus, and Neratius Priscus, were living
quick as he lhad gained them; some of his governors under Trajan.
were slaughtered, and others expelled. He sent The authorities for part of the reign of Trajan
his generals Lusius and Maximus to restore obe- are very defective. Tillemont, with all his indience. Maximus lost his life; but Lusius was dustry, has not been able to construct a narrative
successful, for he recovered Nisibis, and took of the latter years of his reign, which we can fully
Edessa by storm and burnt it. Seleucia on the accept, and his chronology is open to several obTigris, near Ctesiphon, was taken and burnt by jections. Still the life of Trajai in the fistoire
Erycius Clarus and Julius Alexander. It appears des E1zpereurs (vol. ii.) contains all the materials
that the whole country east of the Tigris from that exist for the reign of this distinguished man,
north to south, had risen against the Romans. and, with the notes of Reimarus on the sixtyReturning to Ctesiphon, Trajan determined to give eighth book of Dion Cassius, must be the foundathe Parthians a king. He assembled the Romans tion of any future attempts to give a satisfactory
and Parthians in a great plain near the city, and history of this period. There is an essay by H.
ascending a lofty tribunal, he commemorated his Francke, Zur Geschichte Trajans und seiner Zeitown exploits, and concluded by declaring Partha- genossen, 4c., 1837, which is well spoken of. [G. L.]
maspates king of the Parthians, and placing the
diadem on his head. The conquest of Arabia is
recorded by several medals among the exploits of Et
Trajan, but it is impossible to say which of the
several parts of Asia included under that name,
was conquered by him. Dion Cassius says: "after.
this he went into Arabia and attacked the Atreni, V <
who had revolted; and their city is neither large ar as
nor rich." By Arabia he here means northern
Mesopotamia, for Atrum is Al Hadhr. (London Geog.
Jourznal, vol. xi. p. 17.) Trajan was obliged to COIN OF TRAJANIUS
raise the siege of this town. Tillemlont supposes
that Trajan entered the Indian Ocean, and pene- TRAJA'NUS, comes, a general of the emperor
trated " even to the extremities of Arabia Felix," Valens. In A. D. 373 he conducted the war against
but it is impossible to adopt his conclusions from the Persians, and defeated Sapor with great
the evidence that he produces. slaughter. He spent the winter with Valens at
Trajan fell ill after the siege of Atra, and as his Antioch, and in the following year (374) was sent
VOL. III. 4 F