the Latin name of the west wind; also called Zephyrus.

FAVORINUS or PHAVORINUS, a celebrated sophist, who flourished during the reign of Hadrian. He was a Gaul by birth, being a native of Arelate (Arles) in the south of France; but at an early age he left his native place, and travelling through Greece and Italy, mastered the languages and literature of these two countries. His extensive knowledge, combined with great oratorical powers, raised him to eminence both in Athens and Rome, where he lived on intimate terms with the leading literary men and philosophers of the day. Plutarch dedicated to him his treatise on Cold, and Herodes Atticus was made the legatee of his excellent library after his death. He enjoyed for a while the favour and protection of the emperor, with whom, however, he subsequently quarrelled. He used to boast that, though a Gaul, he could speak and write Greek; that though he had offended the emperor, he still continued to live; and that though a eunuch, he had been charged with adultery. The titles of some of his works, which comprised biography, philosophy, and history, have been preserved; but of the works themselves, the remains are not sufficient to afford the means of fairly testing their value.