Minius

• a river in Lusitania, now the Minho, Mel. 3, 1, 8; Plin. 4, 20, 34, § 112; 4, 21, 35, § 115.

a Campanian, the son of Minia Paculla, was appointed by her one of the two hierophants of the Bacchanalia at Rome in B. C. 186. On the discovery of these orgies [Hispala Fecenia, Herennius Cerrinius], Minius was arrested; and, having confessed before the senate the impure and atrocious character of the rites over which he presided, was placed in close custody at Ardea. His final sentence is unknown. (Liv. 39.13, 17, 19.) [W.B.D]

MI´NIUS (Μίνιος: Minho), a river of Spain, rising in the north of Gallaecia, in the Cantabrian mountains, and falling into the Ocean. (Strab. 3. p. 153.) Strabo erroneously says that it is the largest river of Lusitania, and is navigable for 800 stadia. According to Aethicus Ister (p. 17), it has a course of 310 miles; but its real course is about 120 miles. The river was said to have derived its name from the minium, or vermilion, carried down by its waters. (Justin (Justin. 44.3.) According to Strabo (l. c.) it was originally called BAENIS(Βαῖνις); but as this name does not occur elsewhere, it has been conjectured that Βαῖνις is a false reading for Ναῖβις, or Νῆβις, mentioned by Ptolemy (Ptol. 2.6.1) and Mela (3.1). The NAEBIS is a river falling into the Ocean between the Minius and the Durius; and it is supposed that Poseidonius, whom Strabo followed, confounded this river with the Minius. (Groskurd's Strabo, vol. 1. p. 260.) Νίμιος, in Appian (App. Hisp. 72), is clearly only a false reading for Μίνιος. The Minius is also mentioned by Ptol. 2.6.1; Mela, 3.1; Plin. Nat. 4.21. s. 35.

Now the Minho; a river in the northwestern part of Hispania, deriving its name from the minium (vermilion) carried down by its stream. It was also called Baenis.