Achates

Ăchātes, ae, m.,

• a river in the southern part of Sicily, between Thermae and Selinus, now unknown, Plin. 3, 8, 14, § 90.

Ăchātes, ae, m.,

• the armor-bearer and faithful friend of Aeneas, Verg. A. 1, 120; 174; Ov. F. 3, 603 al.

1. Achātēs, ae, m. (Ἀχάτης), I) ein Fluß in Sizilien, j. Dirillo (im Val di Noto), Plin. 3, 90. Sil. 14, 228, an dessen Ufern zuerst der Achatstein gefunden wurde, Plin. 37, 139. – II) des Äneas treuester Gefährte, Verg. Aen. 1, 174. Ov. fast. 3, 603: Genet. Achati, Verg. Aen. 1, 120 nach Charis. (I) 132, 22 (die Ausgg. Achatae): Akk. Achaten, Verg. Aen. 1, 644 u. 10, 332: Vok. Achate, Verg. Aen. 1, 450; Achata, Serv. Verg. Aen. 10, 332: Abl. Achate, Ov. fast. 3, 603.

2 Ăchātēs, (11) æ, m. , Achate : ¶ 1 fleuve de Sicile : Plin. 3, 90 ¶ 2 compagnon dʼÉnée : Virg. En. 1, 174, etc.

ACHATES

ACHA´TES (Ἀχάτης), a small river in Sicily, noticed by Silius Italicus for the remarkable clearness of its waters (perlucentem splendenti gurgite Achaten, 14.228), and by various other writers as the place where agates were found, and from whence they derived the name of lapis Achates,w hich they have retained in all modern languages. It has been identified by Cluverius (followed by most modern geographers) with the river Dirillo, a small stream on the S. coast of Sicily, about 7 miles E. of Terranova, which is indeed remarkable for the clearness of its waters: but Pliny, the only author who affords any clue to its position, distinctly places the Achates between Thermae and Selinus, in the SW. quarter of the island. It cannot, therefore, be the Dirillo, but its modern name is unknown. (Plin. Nat. 3.8. s. 14, 37.10. s. 54; Theophrast. de Lapid. § 31; Vib. Seq. p. 3; Solin. 5.25; Cluver. Sicil. p. 201.)

[E.H.B]

Achātes

A companion and friend of Aeneas (q.v.) in his wanderings, and styled by Vergil fidus Achates, so that his fidelity has become proverbial (Aen. i. 188).