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

POSTUMUS. POSTUMUS. 611
the insurrection of Ilgenuus [INGENUUS],]le conl- i Vit. de Bates. 33, Epit. 32; Eutrop. ix. 7; Ores.
mitted his son Saloninus to the guardianship of vii. 22; Zosim. i. 38; Zonar. xii. 24. From inscripSilvanus. Postumus, feeling slighted by this ar- tions and medals we obtain the name given above,
rangement, took advantage of the disaffection of Al. Cassianus Latinius Postumzus, but Victor terms
the troops towards the royal family, raised the him Cassius Labienus Postumus, while Pollio unistandard of rebellion, assumed the style and title formly designates him as Postuemizss, and erroof emperor, and drove Saloninus to take refuge in neously limits the duration of his power to seven
Colonia Agrippina, where he was besieged, and years. [W. R.]
eventually put to death upon the capture of the PO'STUMUS, son of the foregoing, is mencity. These events took place in A.D. 258 and tioned by Trebellius Pollio, who presses in his
259, while Valerian was prosecuting his unfor- name to swell the number of the 30 tyrants, stating
tunate campaign against the Persians. Whatever that having received first the title of Caesar, and
guilt may attach to the circumstances under which subsequently that of Augustus, he was slain along
Postumus established his sway-and these are with his father. But when we recollect that notdifferently represented by different authorities, withstanding the multitude of coins still existing
since Pollio declares that he was urged on by the of the elder Postumus, not one llas been found
discontent of the army and the provincials rather commemorating the dignities of the younger, we
thanI by any ambition of his own, denying, at the are led with Eckhel to doubt the testimony of a
same time, that he had any hand in the death of writer notoriously inaccurate, and to conclude that
the youth wholn he represents as having been ac- no such person ever existed, or at all events that
tually consigned to his protection-it seems cer- he was never invested with the title of Augustus
tain that he exercised his power with firmness, or Caesar. (Trebell. Pollio. Trig. Tyr. iii.; Eckhel,
moderation, and skill. Not only were the efforts vol. vii. p. 447.) It must not, however, be conof Gallienus to take vengeance for his son signally cealed, that in addition to the pieces described by
frustrated; but while the nominal sovereign was Goltzius, which every numismatologist rejects as
indulging in slothful pleasures, the pretender, be- spurious, there are to be found in some cabinets two
loved by all to whom his influence extended, very rare medals, one in gold, the other in billon,
maintained a strong and just government, and pre- bearing upon the obverse the head of the elder Posserved Gaul from the devastation of the warlike tumnus, with the legend IMP. c. POsTUMUS. P. F.
tribes upon the eastern border. Ience the titles AUG., and on the reverse the bust of a more juof lisperator and G(ermeanicus Maximus, which venile personage, with a radiated crown, and the
recur upon the medals of several successive years, words INVICTO. AUG. Whether we are justified
are in this case something better than a ine e in regarding this as a representation of the younger
empty boast. At length, however, his fickle sub- Postumus, is a question which can hardly be anjects became weary of submitting to the strict and swered with certainty, but the arguments adduced
well-regulated discipline enforced in all depart- to prove the affirmative are far from being conments of the state, rallied round a new adventurer elusive. (See Mionnet, MIIedailles RZonzaines, vol.
named Laeliarus [LAELIANUS; LOLLIANUS], and ii. p. 70.) A cut of the billon coin is placed
Postumus, who assuredly may claim the highest below. [W. R.]
place among the numerous pageants of royalty
that sprung up and disappeared with such rapidity
during this disturbed epoch, was slain A.D. 267, /b2, i
in the tenth year of his reign. The number of
coins still extant bearing the effigy of this prince,.,
and the skilful workmanship displayed in the gold I-,
pieces especially, prove that the arts of peace were
not despised in his court, while the letters S. C. \"
stamped after the usual fashion upon the brass
money, seem to indicate that he had surrounded COIN OF POSTUMUS JUNIOR.
himself with a body of counsellors, whom he chose
to consider the true Roman senate. PO'STUMIUS, A'CT1US, a rhetorician, menAll questions connected with this reign have tioned by the elder Seneca. (Controv. 21.)
been inlvestigated, with much diligence, accuracy, PO'STUMUS, AGRIPPA. [AGRIPPA, p. 78.]
and learning, by Brequigny in the Mi7noires de PO'STUMUS, CU'RTIUS. 1, 2. Qu. and
I'Academnie de Sciences et Belles-lettres, vol. xxx. CN. CURTII POSTUMI, two brothers, were argenp. 338, &c. There is also a dissertation on the tarii, with whom Verres had pecuniary dealings.
Life of Postumus by Ioach. Meierus, preserved in One of these, Quintus, who is called by Cicero a
Walterek Elect. p. 203. The chief ancient au- sodalis of Verres, was afterwards a judex quaesthorities are, Trebell. Poll. Trig. Tyranns. ii.; Aurel. tioeiis in the trial of Verres. (Cic. Ferr. i. 39, 61.)
3. M. CURsrIUs POSTUMUS, was recommended
by Cicero to Caesar in B. c. 54 for the post of
tribune of the soldiers, which he obtained. (Cic. ad
/~Rao,,/ ~~ Q. Fr. ii. 15. ~ 3, iii. 1. ~ 3.) On the breaking
Ad i A, out of the civil war, in B. c. 49, he espoused with
/- At zeal the cause of Caesar, and was, on that account,
0fL - - a disagreeable guest to Cicero, whom he visited at
his Formian villat. Ie appears to have entertained
\ ~ the hope of obtaining, through Caesar's influence,
some of the higher dignities in the state (dibaphum
cogitat). It appears that Atticus was afraid lest
COIN OF POSTUMtUS SENIOR. Curtius should prevent him from leaving Italy