Florus

• I Julius Florus, a celebrated orator of Gaul, a pupil of Portius Latro, Quint. 10, 3, 13 Spald.; perh. the same to whom the three epistles of the 1st book and the two of the 2d book of the Epistles of Horace are addressed.—
• II Florus, called in some MSS. L. Annaeus, in others Julius, who compiled a brief history of Rome; he probably wrote in the time of Hadrian; v. Dict. of Biogr. 2, p. 176 sq.; Teuffel, Röm. Lit. p. 786 sq.—
• III Gessius Florus, procurator of Judaea in the reign of Nero, Tac. H. 5, 10.—
• IV Julius Florus, a nobleman of the Treviri, a leader of revolt, Tac. A. 3, 40 sqq.

Φλῶρος.

(?). Works Epitome de Gestis Romanorum

We possess a summary of Roman history, divided into four books, extending from the foundation of the city to the establishment of the empire under Augustus (A. D. 20), entitled Rerum Romanarum Libri IV., or Epitome de Gestis Romanorum, and composed, as we learn from the prooemium, in the reign of Trajan or of Hadrian. This compendium, which must by no means be regarded as an abridgment of Livy, but as a compilation from various authorities, presents within a very moderate compass a striking view of all the leading events comprehended by the above limits. A few mistakes in chronology and geography have been detected here and there ; but the narrative is, for the most part, philosophic in arrangement and accurate in detail, although it has too much the air of a panegyric upon the Roman people. The style is by no means worthy of commendation. The general tone is far too poetical and declamatory, while the sentiments frequently assume the form of tumid conceits expressed in violent metaphors.

With regard to the author all is doubt and uncertainty. In many MSS. he is designated as L. Annaeus Florus, in others as L. Julius Florus, in others as L. Annaeus Seneca, and in one, perhaps the oldest of all, simply as L. Annaeus. Hence some critics have sought to identify him with Julius Florus Secundus, whose eloquence is praised by Quintilian (10.13); Vossius and Salmasius, with a greater show of probability, recognize him as the poet Florus (see below), the composer of certain verses to Hadrian, preserved by Spartianus, while Vinetus and Schottus believe him to be no other than Seneca, the preceptor of Nero, resting their opinion chiefly upon a passage in Lactantius (Instit. 7.15), where we are told that the philosopher in question divided the history of Rome into a succession of ages,--infancy under Romulus, boyhood under the kings immediately following, youth from the sway of Tarquin to the downfal of the Carthaginian power, manly vigour up to the commencement of the civil wars, which undermined its strength, until, as if in second childhood, it was forced to submit to the control of a single ruler ;--a fancy which has been adopted by the author of the Epitome, who, however, arranges the epochs differently, and might evidently have borrowed the general idea. Moreover, if we were to adopt this last hypothesis, we should be compelled arbitrarily to reject the prooemium as spurious. Finally, Titze imagines that he can detect the work of two hands,--one a writer of the purest epoch, whom he supposes to have been the Julius Florus twice addressed by Horace (Hor. Ep. 1.3, 2.2), the other an unknown and inferior interpolator, belonging to the decline of literature. To the former, according to this theory, all that is praiseworthy, both in matter and manner, must be ascribed, while to the share of the latter fill all the blunders, both in facts and taste, which disfigure the production as it now exists. But all these opinions rest upon nothing but mere conjectures. It would be a waste of time to discuss the native country and personal history of a person whose very name we cannot ascertain with certainty, and therefore we shall refrain from examining the arguments by which scholars have sought to demonstrate that he was an Italian, or a Gaul, or a Spaniard. Editions

What is usually esteemed the Editio Princeps of Florus was printed at the Sorbonne about 1471, in 4to., by Gering, Friburg, and Crantz, under the inspection of Gaguinus, with the title " Lucii Annaei Flori de tota Hystoria Titi Livii Epithoma ;" but two others, without date and without the name of place or printer, one in Gothic and one in Roman characters, are believed by many bibliographers to be entitled to take precedence. In addition to these, at least six impressions were published before the close of the fifteenth century, revised by the elder Beroaldus, Antonius Sabellicus, Thannerus, and Barynthus (or Barynus). Since that period numberless editions have appeared ; but those who desire to study the gradual progress of the text, which, as might be expected in a work which was extensively employed in the middle ages as a school-book, is found in most MSS. under a very corrupt form, will be able to trace its gradual development in the labours of the following scholars :--Jo. Camers, 4to. Vienn. Pannon. 1518, fol. Basil. 1532, accompanied by elaborate historical notes; El. Vinetus, 4to. Pictav. 1553. 1563. Paris, 1576; J. Stadius, 8vo. Antv. 1567. 1584. 1594; Gruterus, 8vo. Heidel. 1597; Gruterus and Salmasius, Heidel. 8vo. 1609; Freinshemius, 8vo. Argentorat. 1632. 1636. 1655; Graevius, 8vo. Traj. ad Rhen. 1680, with numerous illustrations from coins and ancient monuments; Dukerus, 8vo. Lug. Bat. 1722. 1744. Lips, 1832. This last must be considered as the standard, since it exhibits a very pure text and a copious selection of the best commentaries. We may also consult with advantage the recent editions by Titze, 8vo, Prag. 1819, and Seebode, 8vo. Lips. 1821. Translations

The work has been frequently translated into almost all European languages. [W.R]

the author of three sportive Trochaic dimeters addressed to Hadrian, which, with the emperor's reply in the same strain, have been preserved by Spartianus (Had. 16). We cannot doubt that he is the same person with the Annaeus (Cod. Neap. Annius) Florus twice quoted by Charisius (pp. 38, 113) as an authority for the ablative poematis -- " Annaeus Florus ad divum Hadrianum poematis delector." (Anthol. Lat. 2.97, ed. Burmann, or n. 212, ed. Meyer.) Works Epigrams

A series of eight short epigrams in trochaic tetrameters catalectic are found in many MSS. under the name of Florus, or, as in the Codex Thuaneus, Floridus, to which Salmasius (ad Spart. Had. 16) added a ninth, in five hexameters, ascribing the whole to Florus the historian, who was at one time believed by Wernsdorf to be the author not only of these and of the lines to Hadrian, but of the well-known Pervigilium Veneris also--an opinion which, however, he afterwards retracted. (Anthol. Lat. 1.17, 20. 3.11, 112, 113, 114, 115, 265, 291, ed. Burmann, or n. 213-221, ed. Meyer ; Wernsdorf, Poet. Lat. Min. vol. iii. p. 425, vol. iv. pt. ii. p. 854.) Vergilius Poeta an Orator

A curious fragment has been recently published from a Brussels MS. headed " Pannii Flori (a corruption probably of P. Annii) Virgilius Orator an Poeta, Incipit." The introduction only, which is in the form of a dialogue supposed to have been held about A. D. 101, has been preserved, and from this we learn that the author was a native of Africa, that he had repaired, when still almost a boy, to Rome, and had become a competitor, at the Ludi Capitolini celebrated by Domitian (A. D. 90 apparently), for the poetical prize, which had been awarded to him by the applauding shouts of the audience, but unfairly withheld by the emperor. We are farther informed that, disgusted by this disappointment, he had refused to return to his country and his kindred, had become a wanderer upon the earth, visiting in succession Sicily, Crete, Rhodes, and Egypt,--that he then returned to Italy, crossed the Alps into Gaul, proceeded on wards to the Pyrenees, finding at last repose in the city of Tarragona, and contentment in the peaceful occupation of superintending the instruction of youth. Ritschl endeavours to identify this personage with Florus the poet under Hadrian; but there seems little to support this view except the name and the fact that there is no chronological difficulty. (Rheinisches Museum, for 1841, p. 302, &c.) [W.R]

M. F. C. N., con sul B. C. 259, the sixth year of the first Punic war. The province assigned to Florus was Sicily, where he watched the movements of Hamilcar during the autumn and winter months, and remained in the island as proconsul until late in the summer of B. C. 258. He was employed in that year in blockading Mytistratum, a strong hill-fort, which, after a stubborn resistance and severe loss to the Romans, submitted at length to the united legions of Florus and his successor in the consulship, A. Atilius Calatinus [Calatinus]. Florus triumphed " De Poeneis" on the 5th of October, 258. (Liv. Epit. xvii.; Zonar. 8.11; Plb. 1.24; Oros. ], 24; Fast. Triumph.) [W.B.D]

a triumvir of the mint under Augustus, whose name occurs on several coins, which are figured below. The obverse of the first represents the head of Augustus, and the reverse a flower. The second and third refer to the conquest of Armenia and the recovery of the Roman standards from the Parthians in B. C. 20. The obverse of the second has on it a helmeted head of a female, and the reverse Armenia as a suppliant, kneeling down with outstretched hands, with the legend Caesar Divi F. Arme. Capt. The obverse of the third has a head of the sun, and the reverse a Parthian on his knees, presenting a standard, with the legend Caesar Avgvstvs Sign. Rece. The obverse of the fourth coin is the same as the second; the reverse, from the elephants, seems to refer to the same conquests in the East. (Eckhel, vol. v. pp. 142, 143, vol. vi. pp. 94-99.)

who had been ejected from the senate through the influence of Plautianus, was restored in the reign of Macrinus, and created tribune of the people. (D. C. 78.22.)

a native of Clazomenae, succeeded Albinus as procurator of Judaea, A. D. 64-65. He owed his appointment to the influence of his wife Cleopatra with the empress Poppaea. The government of Albinus had been oppressive, but the conduct of Florus caused the Jews to regard it with comparative regret. Without pity or shame, equally crafty and cruel, Florus was a systematic plunderer of his province. No gains were too petty, no extortion was too enormous for him. His ravages extended to whole districts, as well as to particular cities and persons : exile was preferable to his government; and the banditti who infested Judaea purchased impunity by sharing their booty with the procurator. Josephus (Antiq xviii. ], § 6, 20.11.1, B. J. 2.14), whom Tacitus confirms (Hist. 5.10), expressly attributes the last war of the Jews with Rome to Florus, and says that he purposely kindled the rebellion in order to cover the enormities of his government. At Caesareia, where in A. D. 65-66, in the second year of Florus' administration, the insurrection broke out, the Jewish citizens bribed him with eight talents, to secure them ingress into their own synagogue. Florus took the money, and immediately quitted Caesareia, abandoning the Jews to the insults and fury of the Greek population. Jewish deputies sent from Caesareia to Sebaste, to claim their purchased protection, were thrown into prison by Florus. He abstained from nothing which even the worst of his predecessors had respected. At one time lie demanded 17 talents from the templetreasury in " Caesar's name ;" and twice within a few days he excited a tumult, and ordered a massacre at Jerusalem, in which 3600 persons perished, merely to afford him, amidst the confusion, an opportunity of plundering the Temple. The attempt failed, but oni this occasion he publicly scourged and impaled Roman citizens of equestrian rank, but Jewish birth, although Berenice, of the Asmonaean race, and sister of Agrippa II. [Berenice, No. 2; Agrippa Herodes, No. 2], stood barefooted and in mourning beside his tribunal, supplicating for her countrymen. At the feast of the Passover, April, A. D. 65, three millions of Jews petitioned Cestius Gallus [Gallus, Cestius], the proconsul of Syria, against the tyranny of Festus. But the only redress they obtained was a faint promise of milder treatment, while Florus stood at the proconsul's side, deriding the suppliants, and on his departure ostentatiously escorted him from Jerusalem to Antioch. Hatred to Florus, rather than to Rome, rendered all Agrippa's efforts in A. D. 66, to prevent the rebellion of the Jews ineffectual, and, after it broke out, all parties represented Florus as its principal cause. It is doubtful whether Florus perished in the insurrection or escaped. His death is recorded by Suetonius (Vespas. 4; Oros. 7.9), but not implied by Josephus (Vita, 6). (Tacit., Joseph. ll. cc., and Antiq. 14.9.2, 20.9.5, B. J. 2.15.1, ib. 16.1; Sulpic. Sev. Sacr. Hist. 2.42; Eusebius, Chronicon. Lxvi.) He is sometimes called Festus and Cestius Florus. [W.B.D]

addressed by Horace in two epistles (1.3, 2.2), was, as we learn from the poet, attached to the suite of Claudius Tiberius Nero, when that prince was despatched by Augustus to place Tigranes upon the throne of Armenia. He was, moreover, according to Porphyrion, the author of satires, or rather, it would seem, the editor of extracts from the satirical works of Ennius, Lucilius, and Varro. It is not improbable that he is the Florus, mentioned as a pupil of M. Porcius Latro by Seneca (Controv. 4.025), who quotes a passage from one of his pieces, apparently a declamation, entitled Flamininus. We may perhaps identify both with the Julius Florus whom] Quintilian (10.3.13) places in the foremost rank among the orators of Gaul, since he eventually practised his profession in that country (quoniam ibi demum eam (sc. eloquentiam) exercuit), and it is not impossible that all three are one and the same with Julius Florus who in the eighth year of Tiberius headed an insurrection among the Treviri. (Tac. Ann. 3.40, 42). See Weichert, Poet. Lat. Reliq. p. 36.5, &c. [W.R]

a distinguished orator, the contemporary and dear friend of Quintilian. Julius Florus, named above as famed for his eloquence in Gaul, was the paternal uncle of Julius Florus Secundus. (Quint. Inst. 10.3.13; Senec. Controv. 4.25.) [W.R]

(1) L. Annaeus (in one MS. called Iulius), a Latin historian, who was born, according to the common opinion, in Spain, but, as others maintain, in Gaul, and who wrote in the reign of Trajan. He was still living in the time of Hadrian, and is perhaps the same individual to whom, according to Spartianus, this emperor addressed some sportive verses. Florus has left an abridgment of Roman History, entitled Epitome de Gestis Romanorum, divided into two (in some MSS. four) books. It commences with the origin of Rome, and extends to a.u.c. 725, when Augustus closed the Temple of Ianus, a ceremony which had not taken place for 206 years previous. This work is based not merely upon Livy , but upon many earlier historians, no part of whose works any longer remains. It is less a history than a eulogy of the Roman people, written with elegance, but at the same time, in an oratorical style, and not without affectation. Oftentimes facts are merely hinted at, and events are passed over with a flourish of rhetoric; while the declamatory tone which everywhere prevails, and the concise and sententious phrases in which Florus is fond of indulging, impart an air of formality to his writings, and render them monotonous, and sometimes obscure. Florus likewise commits many errors of a geographical nature, and on many occasions is defective in point of chronology. His text has reached us in a very corrupt state, and abounds with interpolations. The epitome was very popular in the Middle Ages. The best edition of Florus is that of Jahn (1852), revised by Halm (Leipzig, 1854). See Heyn, De Floro Historico (Bonn, 1866); Bizos, Flori Hist. etc. de Vero Nomine, Aetate, Scriptis (Paris, 1876); and on the style, Egen, De Floro Hist. Elocutionis Tacit. Imitatore (Münster, 1882), and Thomé, De Flori Elocutione (Frankenstein, 1881). Florus is possibly identical with the author of a school theme on Vergil, of which the introduction has been preserved, and is printed in Halm's edition of the epitome, and with the poet on whom Hadrian cracked the joke preserved by Spartianus ( Hadr. 16). This Florus, however, is called Publius in one MS. See E. Müller, De P. Annio Floro Poeta (Berlin, 1855), and Eyssenhardt, Hadrian und Florus (Berlin, 1882).

(2) Iulius, a poet of the time of Horace (Epist. i. 3; ii. 2).

(3) Gessius or Cestius, a procurator of Iudaea, A.D. 64-65, whose oppression was the chief cause of the Jewish revolt in 66 (Tacit. Hist. v. 10).