learned geographer, to whom is attributed a Periegesis, or Survey of the Earth, in Greek verse. Some suppose that he lived in the time of Augustus; but Scaliger and Saumasius place him under the reign of Severus, or Marcus Aurelius. He wrote many other works, but his Periegesis is the only one we have remaining; the best and most useful edition of which is that improved with notes and illustrations by Hill.

Dionysius Areopagitae, was born at Athens, and educated there. He went afterwards to Heliopolis in Egypt; where, if we may believe some writers of his life, he saw that wonderful eclipse which happened at our Saviour's passion, and was urged by some extraordinary impulse to cry out, Aut Deus patitur, aut cum patiente dolet; "either God himself suffers, or consoles with him who does." At his return to Athens he was elected into the court of Areopagus, from whence he derived his name of Areopagitae. About the year 50 he embraced Christianity; and, as some say, was appointed first bishop of Athens by St Paul. Of his conversion we have an account in the 17th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.—He is supposed to have suffered martyrdom; but whether under Domitian, Trajan, or Adrian, is not certain. We have nothing remaining under his name, but what there is the greatest reason to believe spurious.

Dionysius the Lesser, a Scythian, became abbot of a monastery at Rome; he was the first who computed time from the birth of Dionysius to Christ, and fixed that great event, according to the vulgar era. He was also a learned canon law writer, and died about the year 540.