Timagenes, a Greek historian of Alexandria. Virgil, of Andes, a village near Mantua, the greatest heroic poet of the Romans. Tibullus, of Rome, an elegiac poet. B.C. 50 .49 Laberius, a Roman knight, famed for his poetical talents 45 in the production of pantomimes. Posidonius, a philosopher of Apamea, the friend of Pompey and Cicero. Philo, a philosopher of Athens, the tutor of Cicero. Diodorus, of Sicily, native of Agyrium, a Greek historian, who wrote a universal history in 40 books, of which only 15 are preserved. Vitruvius, of Formice, a celebrated architect. Sosigenes, of Alexandria, a famous mathematician, whom Spurina, the mathematician and astrologer, who predicted 44 Hirtius, an historian, to whom are attributed the histories 48 of Cæsar's Gallic wars, as well as those of Alexandria and Spain. Manilius Caius, a famous mathematician of Antioch. Dioscorides, a native of Cilicia, who was physician to Antony and Cleopatra. Dioscorides, an astrologer, sent ambassador by Julius Cæsar to Achillas. Plotius Crispinus, a stoic philosopher, ridiculed by Horace. Lucius Plotius, a poet, who celebrated the deeds of Marius. Archias, a poet of Antioch, who composed a work on the Cimbrian war. 39 Trogus Pompeius, a native of Gaul, the composer of a 40 universal history, of which Justinus formed an abridgment Cornelius Nepos, of Hostilia, a famous historian. Propertius, of Mevania, in Umbria, an elegiac poet. Publius Syrus, a native of Syria, who has left a collection 36 of sentences or moral maxims. 38 Pomponius Atticus, a Roman knight, with whom Cicero 32 corresponded, his letters being now extant, divided into 17 books. Cratippus, a philosopher of Mitylene, who taught Cicero's son at Athens. Dionysius, of Halicarnassus, who wrote the Roman antiquities in 20 books. B.C. 30 28 15 10 4 2 Dionysius, a native of Thrace, called the Rhodian, who wrote grammatical treatises and commentaries. Didymus, a scholiast on Homer. Manilius, a learned historian in the age of Sylla and Marius. Horace, of Venusia, the famous lyric and satiric poet, the favourite of Augustus and Mecenas. Titus Livius, native of Padua, a famous literary character at the court of Augustus. Cornelius Gallus, an elegiac poet. M. T. Varro, who wrote upwards of 500 volumes, which are all lost, except his De Re Rustica and De Lingua Latina. Strabo, of Amasia, a great writer under Augustus and Tiberius. Philistion, a Greek comic poet. Ovid, of Salmo, a celebrated elegiac poet, who died in exile at Tomos, on the Euxine sea. Gratius Faliscus, a Latin poet, contemporary with Ovid. Verrius Flaccus, a freedman and grammarian, famous for his powers in giving instruction. Asinius Pollio, a Roman consul under Augustus, who distinguished himself as much by his eloquence and writings, as by his exploits in the field. Antonius Musa, the celebrated physician who saved the life of Augustus. Pylades, a famous mimic in the time of Augustus. Lucius Varius, a tragic poet, the intimate of Horace and Virgil. Tucca, the friend of Horace and Virgil, who, with Verus and Plotius, was ordered by Augustus to revise the Æneid of Virgil. Flaccus, a grammarian, tutor of the grandsons of Augustus, and supposed author of the Capitoline Marbles. Dionysius, surnamed Periegetes, who wrote a valuable geographical treatise in Greek hexameters, which is still extant. Hyginus, a freedman of Augustus, and native of Alexandria, though others believe him to have been a Spaniard; he was the intimate friend of Ovid, and wrote upon mythology and astronomy. SOVEREIGN PONTIFFS OF THE JEWS AFTER THEIR RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY. 536 Jeshua, or Jesus, the son of Jeshua. 490 Joiakim. 452 Eliashib, son of Joiakim. 412 Joiada, son of Eliashib. 376 Johanan, son of Joiada. 324 Onias the First, son of Jaddua. 262 Manassees, grandson of Jaddua. 236 Onias the Second, son of Simon the First. 173 Menelaus, the brother of Jason. 166 Judas Maccabeus, son of Mattathias. 135 John Hyrcanus, son of Simon. 107 Aristobulus, son of Hyrcanus. 106 Alexander Janneus, brother of Aristobulus. 70 Hyrcanus the Second, brother of Alexander. 66 Aristobulus the Second, who usurped the high-priesthood { B.C. ACCOUNT OF THE HEBREW PROPHETS. Among the number of prophets mentioned in holy-writ 16 are particularly spoken of, who are divided into the greater and lesser prophets. Of the greater prophets there are four. Isaiah, son of Amoz, and supposed to have been cousin of king Uzziah, in the latter part of whose reign he began his predictions, is very justly esteemed the most eloquent of the Jewish prophets. Saint Jerome considered the productions of Isaiah as an abridgment of the holy records, and a display of the most extraordinary mental acquirements. Many maxims of this great man might be completely applied to existing periods. Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, probably of the race of Ithamar, of the tribe of Benjamin, was, according to his own account, sanctified in the bosom of his mother. As early as the age of 14 he began to prophesy, and announced the invasion of Judæa by Nebuchadnezzar; the taking of Jerusalem, and the seizure of the temple by that monarch. A prey to M B.C. wretchedness in foreseeing the miseries that were to overwhelm Sion, he infused throughout his writings a sadness and melancholy that are peculiarly affecting. Saint Jerome regarded his mode of expression as simple, but that he was sublime in his ideas; yet that simplicity, says our authority, was often replete with force and energy. Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, who was led captive to Babylon with Jehoiachim, king of Judah, was the first who clearly explained the meaning of the new law, relative to the punishment with which it was God's intention to afflict the culpable. According to the old law, sons were punishable for the crimes of their fathers, whereas the prophet states: If the son of a sinner is just, he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; on the contrary, he shall live. The Lord will judge each of you according to your deserts. Be ye then converted and penitent. Daniel, a descendant from the family of David, and cousin of king Jehoiakim, was conducted captive to Babylon, by order of Nebuchadnezzar. He there made manifest the artifices practised by the priests of the Chaldean idoi Bel or Baal, when he was cast into a den of lions, but remained uninjured by those ferocious animals. Daniel explained to the impious prince Belshazzar the meaning of three words which were traced by an invisible hand on the walls of his palace, in an unknown language, during a banquet given by hat monarch to his concubines, while drinkng out of the holy vessels of the temple of Jerusalem. Daniel, while yet a youth, proved the innocence of Susannah, wife of Jehoiakim, whom two infamous calumnietors had caused to be condemned to death. The prophecies of Daniel particularly refer to the four great monarchies, which were to rise in succession. He clearly announced the successes of Alexander, and the overthrow of his empire after his death.. A king of Persia, says he, will raise himself up through the greatness of his riches, above all, and when he shall have become so powerful, he will rouse all the people of Greece. Then will spring up a valiant king, who will rule a mighty power, and act according to his pleasure; and when he seems to be most firmly established, his kingdom shall be destroyed, and divided among the four winds of heaven. One of the most remarkable prophecies of Daniel is that wherein he foretels that after 70 weeks of years, Christ will be put to death; sacrifices abolished; the temple and city of Jerusalem overthrown; and the Jewish people condemned to the most abject state of misery. THE TWELVE LESSER PROPHETS. Hosea, the son of Beeri, prophesied under the reigns of Ahaziah, Amaziah, Asa, queen Athaliah, and king Hezekiah. He displays in an admirable manner the mercy of the Lord towards those who repent and are sincerely converted. He makes the Almighty deliver himself in the gentlest terms; and the figures which he uses upon such occasions possess an inexpressible charm. Joel, the son of Bethuel, delivered his prophecies in the most poetic language, and his pages abound with brilliant metaphors. They principally refer to the captivity of the Israelites, and the last judgment. From the writings of this prophet, poets and painters have selected numerous traits to characterize the final destiny of the human race. In the course of that terrible description, Joel makes all the people of the universe appear in succession in the valley of Jehoshaphat. The sun and moon, says he, shall be darkened; the stars withdraw their light; the Lord raiseth his voice from the summit of Sion; the heavens and the earth tremble. Amos, originally a herdsman of the city of Tekoah, in Judah, became inspired by the Lord. His prophecies are written with great simplicity of style, and comparisons are frequently drawn from subjects connected with his original pursuits in life. For instance, when referring to the small number of Jews who will escape the wrath of the Omnipotent, he says; Of all the children of Israel, who live in Samaria in luxury, and the pleasures of Damascus, if some few escape, it will be as when the shepherd tears from the jaws of the lion the two thighs and the ear of the lamb. Jonah, the son of Amittai, prophet of Gath-hepher, in Galilee, of the tribe of Zebulon, was chosen by the Almighty to preach to the inhabitants of Nineveh on account of their abominable iniquities. Terrified at the dangers of this mission, he embarked at Joppa, in order to arrive at Tarsus, in Cilicia; when a dreadful tempest arose, and Jonah became conscious that it originated in the anger of the Lord, who resolved to punish him for his want of faith. He, in consequence, communicated his ideas to the captain of the ship, who caused him to be cast overboard, when he was swallowed up by an enormous fish, which, at the expiration of three days, threw him upon the sea-shore. Jonah then hastened to Nineveh, and that city speedily resounded with those terrible words; "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people, in consequence, repented, and the Lord suspended the effects of his anger. B.C. |