ACADEMY. A grove or garden in the suburbs of Athens, in which Plato taught; afterwards used as a name for the school of philosophy that acknowledged him as its founder. For Plato's characteristic doctrines, see under PLATO. Lucian's references to the school are (1) as eristic or argumentative. The Socratic method of eliciting truth being by discussion, and the Academy being descended from Socrates through Plato, it might be regarded as especially argumentative. (2) as disputing the possibility of judgement, and urging suspension. The Academy is divided into the Old, Middle, and New, of which the Middle Academy neglected the positive teachings of Plato, and developed rather the destructive analytic method of Socrates, approaching nearly to the position of the Sceptics or followers of Pyrrho. ACHILLES. Son of Peleus and the Goddess Thetis. When his mother gave him the choice between a glorious life and a long one, he chose the former; but, when interviewed by Odysseus on the occasion of the latter's visit to Hades, regretted his choice. Among the arms given him by Thetis was a shield on which Hephaestus had represented various scenes of peace and war. ACTAEON. A huntsman who, having seen Artemis bathing, was punished by being torn to pieces by his own hounds. ADONIS. A beautiful youth beloved by Aphrodite. Died of a wound received from a boar on Lebanon; but was allowed to spend half each year with Aphrodite on earth. AEACUS. A son of Zeus, deified after death, and given authority in Hades. AËDON. A woman who, having accidentally killed her own son, was compassionately changed by Zeus into a nightingale. AEGIS. Zeus's goat's-skin shield, which he transferred to Athene, who attached to it the head of Medusa. _See_ GORGONS. AEGYPTUS. Brother of Danaus, who for fear of him fled with his fifty daughters from Libya to Argos. AENIANES. An insignificant Greek tribe south of Thessaly. AESCHINES (1). Born 389 B.C. The great rival of Demosthenes. Son of a humble elementary schoolmaster. Accused by Timarchus, retorted by convicting him of immorality. According to Demosthenes, was in the pay of Philip of Macedon, and a traitor to Athens. AESCHINES (2). A philosopher, pupil of Socrates, and author of dialogues. AËTION. A painter, probably contemporary with Lucian, and not to be identified with the Aëtion (flourished 350 B.C.) mentioned by Pliny. AGAMEMNON. King of Mycenae and leader of the Greeks against Troy. After his return, was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her paramour Aegisthus. His son Orestes and daughter Electra, with Pylades, avenged him. AGATHOBULUS. Unknown philosopher, teacher of Demonax and Peregrine. AGATHON. Athenian tragic poet, friend of Euripides and Plato. AGENOR. King of Phoenicia, son of Posidon, father of Cadmus and Europa. AGLAÏA. 'The bright one,' one of the Graces, mother of Nireus.