(anc. geogr.), the same with Mæonia; though some reckon this last only a part, by the name of Lydia Superior, (Callimachus, Paeanias); inhabited by the people called Meones, (Strabo); Meones, (Homer, Dionysius Periegetes); the Lower Lydia, or that towards the sea-coast, being inhabited by the Lydi. Thus the case anciently stood; though not so constantly, but that those towards the Lower Lydia were called Meones; and Lydi, those towards the Higher. Afterwards, the colony of the Ionians prevailing, and the name Meones becoming gradually to cease, the lower part came to be called Ionia, the name Lydia being appropriated to the higher. This latter had Ionia on the west, Phrygia on the east, Mylia to the north, and Caria to the south. In Croesus's time, the kingdom of Lydia extended from the Halys on the east, to the Egean sea on the west side. Lydi, the people, descendants of Lud, the son of Shem. They were the first who coined gold and silver, (Herodotus); were called Mali, from their vicious character, (Athenaeus); prostituted their daughters, (Herodotus, Horace); anciently a brave people, all excellent horsemens, (idem); Lydian, the epithet. Lydianus, denotes effeminacy.

LYDYAT (Thomas), a learned English divine, born in 1572, and educated at Oxford. About the year 1609, he became acquainted with Dr. James Usher, afterwards archbishop of Armagh, who carried him to Ireland. He was at Dublin college for about two years, after which he returned to England; and the rectory of Alkington becoming vacant, he was presented to it; but at length, being engaged for the debts of a near relation, which for the present he was unable. unable to pay, having before spent his patrimony in printing several books, he was sent to prison; and was confined at Oxford, in the King's bench, and elsewhere, till Sir William Botwell, a generous patron of learned men, Dr Robert Pink, warden of New college, bishop Usher, and Dr Laud, discharged the debt. In the civil wars, he suffered much in his rectory of Alkington from the parliamentarian army; was four times pillaged to the value of at least £50l.; and was forced for a quarter of a year together to borrow a shirt to shift himself. He died in 1646. He wrote some pieces in English, and many works in Latin, on chronology and natural history.