Herodes, an opulent citizen of Athens, in the time of the Antonines, celebrated for the vast sums he expended in the decoration of that and other cities. He built a stadium at Athens, 600 feet in length, of Pentelican marble, capable of containing at once the whole population; and erected a new theatre or odeion in honour of his deceased wife Regilla. The aqueduct of Troas in Asia was completed by him at an expense of more than £1,100,000 sterling; at Corinth he built a theatre, and richly decorated the temple of the Isthmian Neptune. The stadium at Delphi was another of his works; as were the baths of the hot-springs at Thermopylae; and a fine aqueduct at Canusium in Italy. Many cities of Peloponnesus, Bocotia, Epirus, Thessalia, and Euboea have, by numerous inscriptions, testified their gratitude to him, their munificent benefactor. See Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscr., xxx., and Gibbon's Hist. i.; Stuart's Athens, where its dimensions and plan are given.

Atticus, Titus Pomponius, one of the most distinguished Romans of his time, who, without in any degree compromising his neutrality, preserved the esteem and affection of all parties. His strict friendship with Cicero did not prevent him from being at the same time on terms of great intimacy with Hortensius. He steadily declined any interference in public affairs, though his talents and immense wealth might have secured him the highest dignities of the state. The contests at Rome between Cinna's party and that of Marius induced him to retire to Athens, where he continued for a considerable time. From this circumstance, and his thorough acquaintance with Greek learning, he derived his surname of Atticus. His passion for books led him to the collection of a magnificent library, in which he kept a number of copyists constantly employed. He wrote, besides other pieces, Annals, or A History of Rome, embracing (as we learn from Cicero) a period of 700 years; but none of his writings are extant. At the age of 77 he anticipated the consummation of an incurable disease, by abstaining from food, in consequence of which he died upon the fifth day, n.c. 32.—Cornelius Nepos; Cicero ad Att.