the surname of the family of the Caecilii at Rome, the most known of whom were—A general who defeated the Achaeans, took Thebes and invaded Macedonnia, &c.—Q. Caecilius, who rendered himself illustrious by his successes against Jugurtha the Numidian king, from which he was surnamed Numidicus. Another who saved from the flames the palladium, when Vesta's temple was on fire. He was then high priest. He lost his sight and one of his arms in the action; and the senate, to reward his zeal and piety, permitted him always to be drawn to the senate house in a chariot, an honour which no one had ever before enjoyed. He also gained a great victory over the Carthaginians, &c.—Q. Caecilius Celer, another who distinguished himself by his spirited exertions against Catiline. He married the sister of Clodius, who disgraced him by her incontinence and lasciviousness. He died 57 years before Christ. He was greatly lamented by Cicero, who shed tears at the loss of one of his most faithful and valuable friends. L. Caecilius, a tribune in the civil wars of J. Caesar and Pompey. He favoured the cause of Pompey, and opposed Caesar when he entered Rome with a victorious army. He refused to open the gates of Saturn's temple, in which were deposited great treasures; upon which they were broke open by Caesar, and Metellus retired when threatened with death. Q. Caecilius, a warlike general who conquered Crete and Macedonia, and was surnamed Macedonicus. He had four sons, of whom three were consuls, and the other obtained a triumph, all during their father's lifetime. A general of the Roman armies against the Sicilians and Carthaginians. Before he marched, he offered sacrifices to all the gods except Vesta; for which neglect the goddess was so incensed, that she demanded the blood of his daughter Metella. When Metella was going to be immolated, the goddess placed a heifer in her place, and carried her to a temple at Lanuvium, of which she became the priestess. Another surnamed Dalmaticus from his conquest over Dalmatia, A.U.C. 634.—Cimber, one of the conspirators against J. Caesar. It was he who gave the signal to attack and murder the dictator in the senate house.—Pius, a general in Spain against Sertorius, on whose head he set a price of 100 talents and 20,000 acres of land.