a phenomenon sometimes observed about sun-fetting; being a large luminous tail or column of light proceeding from the body of the sun, and dragging after it, not unlike the tail of a comet; whence the name.

HELIODORUS of PHOENICIA, bishop of Trica in Thesaly, better known by the romance he composed in his youth entitled Ethiopics, and relating the amours of Theagenes and Chariclea. Some say he was deposed by a synod because he would not consent to the suppressing that romance. The fable has a moral tendency, and particularly inculcates the virtue of chastity.

As it was the first of this species of writing, he is styled Heliodorus, the Father of Romances. He was also a good Latin poet. He lived in the 4th century.