APONO, PETER D', one of the most famous philosophers and physicians of his age, born in the year 1250, in a village about four miles from Padua. He was suspected of magic, and prosecuted by the Inquisition. "The common opinion of almost all authors," says Naudé, "is, that he was the greatest magician of his age; that he had acquired the knowledge of the seven liberal arts by means of the seven familiar spirits, which he kept inclosed in a crystal; and that he had the dexterity to make the money he had spent come back into his purse." The same author adds, that he died before the process against him was finished, being then in the 66th year of his age; and that, after his death, they ordered him to be burnt in effigy, in the public place of the city of Padua. He was the author of various works, the most remarkable of which are the following: Conciliator Differentiarum Philosophorum, first published in 1471; De Venenis eorumque Remediis, which was translated into French by Boet in 1593; Expositio Problematum Aristotelis, 1475; Geometria, 1549; Dionocides digestus Alphabet. Ord. 1521.
APOPEMPTIC (ἀποπεμπτικά), in Ancient Poetry, a hymn addressed to a stranger on his departure from a place to his own country. The ancients had certain holydays, wherein they took leave of the gods with apopemptic songs, as supposing them returning each to his own country. The deities having the patronage of divers places, it was but just to divide their presence, and allow some time to each. Hence it was that among the Delians and Milesians we find feasts of Apollo, and among the Argives feasts of Diana, called Epidemie, as supposing these deities then more peculiarly resident among them. On the last day of the feast they dismissed them, following them to the altars with apopemptic hymns.
APOPHORETA (ἀποφέρω), in Antiquity, presents which the guests at an entertainment carried home with them. This was a common practice at all times, but especially at festivals, such as the Saturnalia.—See MARTIAL. I. 14. Suet. Vesp. 19. Cal. 55. Aug. 75.
AOPHTHEGM (ἀπόφθεγμα), a short, sententious, and instructive remark.