Thrasyllus

• the court astrologer of Tiberius, Juv. 6, 576.

or Thrasylus (Θράσυλλος, Θράσυλος).

1. An Argive, was one of the five generals of the commonwealth when Argolis was invaded by the Lacedaemonians under Agis II., in B. C. 418. Agis succeeded in placing a division of his army between the Argive forces and Argos, thus cutting them off from their city, while their flank and rear were threatened by his two other divisions. Thrasyllus perceived the danger of this position, and, together with Aleiphron (one of his fellow-citizens and a proxenus of Lacedaemon), obtained an interview with Agis, and induced him by the hope of a permanent peace to grant them a truce for four months. Thrasyllus and Alciphron, however, had taken this step without being authorized; and the Argives, who imagined that they had been on the point of gaining an easy victory over the Lacedaemonians. shut in as the latter were between them and the city, were highly exasperated, and began to stone Thrasyllus in the military court which was always held just outside the walls of Argos after an expedition. He saved his life only by taking refuge at an altar, and he was punished by the confiscation of his property. (Thuc. 5.59, 60.)

2. An Athenian, was serving as a hoplite in the army at Samos, in B. C. 411, and was one of those who persuaded the soldiers and sailors to aid the Samian people against the expected attempt of the oligarchical conspirators to put down democracy in the island. The consequence was the defeat of the revolutionists. Shortly after, when Chaereas had broaght to Samos an exaggerated account of the tyranny and violence of the 400 at Athens, Thrasyllus and Thrasybutlus bound the army by an oath to be faithful to democracy, zealous in the war with the Peloponnesians, and ever hostile to the revolutionary government at home; and, in the election of new generals which ensued, these two were included in the number. In the same year. B. C. 411, Thrasyllus commanded the left wing of the fleet at the battle of Cynossema, in which the Athenians defeated the Peloponnesians; and somewhat later, after the victory gained by the Athenians over the Lacedaemonian fleet near Abydus, he was despatched to Athens to bear the good news and to ask for supplies. Some time after his arrival, Agis having, in a foray from Deceleia, advanced too near the walls of the city, Thrasyllus led out the Athenians against him and obtained a slight advantage, in consequence of which his countrymen the more readily voted him a reinforcement both of men and ships. With these he sailed early in B. C. 409 to Samos, whence he proceeded to the coast of Asia and attacked the town of Pygela without success. Within a few days, however, Colophon surrendered to him, and he then advanced into Lydia, and having ravaged the country, proceeded by sea against Ephesus, but here he was defeated and driven back to his ships by the forces of the Ephesians, united with those of Tissaphernes and the Syracusans; and after sailing to Notium where he buried his dead, he steered his course for Lesbos. Here, while anchoring at Methymna, he observed the Syracusan squadron sailing by, whereupon he attacked it, captured four ships with their crews, and chased the rest back to Ephesus. He then continued his voyage to Sestus, where He joined the force under Alcibiades, and the whole fleet crossed over together to Lampsacus; but the troops of Alcibiades, who had not sustained any defeat. refused to serve in the same ranks with those of Thrasyllus, conquered as they bad been at Ephesus; nor was this feeling removed till their common success in the ensuing winter against Pharnabazus near Abydus. In B. C. 408 Thrasyllus was engaged with Alcibiades in the successful operations at Chalcedon, which induced Pharnabazus to accept terms of accommodation from the Athenians He probably shared also in the siege and reduction of Byzantium in the same year. and in B. C. 407 he led home to Athens a portion of the triumphant armament. Not long after, he was.; one of the generals who were appointed to supersede Alcibiades after the battle of Notium, and was present in that capacity at Arginusae in B. C. 406. After the battle it was he who proposed to leave 47 galleys behind to save the mien from the wrecks, while the main body of the fleet should sail against the ships of the enemy, which were blockading Mytileine. He was also among the six generals who returned to Athens and were shamfully put to death by the people through the intrigues of Theramenes. It should be observed that Diodorus, in his account of several of the above events, substitutes by an error, the name of Thrasybulus for that of Thrasyllus. (Thuc. 8.73, 75, 76, 104, 105; Xen. Hell. 1.1. §§ 8, 33, 34, 2. §§ 1-17, . 3. §§ 4, &c., 14, &c., 4.10, 5.16, 6.30, 7. §§ 2.29, 34; Plat. Theag. p. 129 ; Plut. Alc. 29-31 ; Diod. 13.64, 66, 74, 101, 102; Palm. and Wess. ad Diod. 13.74.) [E.E]

(Θράσυλλος), a musician of Phlius. is mentioned by Plutarch (de Mus. 21, p. 1137f.), in connection with Tyrtaeus of Mantineia and Andreas of Corinth, as having purposely abstained from many of the artificial refinements which were introduced at an early period into Greek music. From the way in which he is mentioned by Plutarch, he seems to have lived in the early part of the fifth century B. C. [P.S]

was a celebrated astrologer at Rhodes, with whom Tiberius became acquainted during his residence in that island. and ever afterwards held in the highest honour. It was said that Tiberius had intended to kill him after consulting him respecting his future destinies; but that Thrasyllus, when he had predicted the empire to Tiberius, said that he perceived from the observation of the stars that his own death was near at hand, by which announcement he so convinced Tiberius of the truth of his art, that Tiberius not only gave up his intention of murdering him, but adimitted him to his intimate friendship. Thrasyllus accompanied Tiberius to Rome, when he was recalled by Augustus, and appears to have always lived with him. He died in A. D. 36, the year before Tiberius, and is said to have saved the lives of many persons whom Tiberius would otherwise have put to death by falsely predicting for this very purpose that the emperor would live ten years longer. (Tac. Ann. 6.20-22; Dio Cass. lv ll, 57.15, 58.27; Suet. Ang. 98, Tib. 14, 62, Cal. 19 ; Schol. ad Juv. 6.576; Julian. Ep. ad Themist. p. 265. Spanh.) The son of this Thrasyllus succeeded to his father's skill, and is said to have predicted the empire to Nero. (Tac. Ann. 6.22, comp. 14.9; D. C. 61.2.)

or Thrasylus (Θράσυλλος, Θρασύλος).

(1) An Athenian who actively assisted Thrasybulus in opposing the oligarchical revolution in B.C. 411, and, like him, was appointed as one of the generals at Samos. (See Thrasybulus.) He was one of the commanders at the battle of Arginusae, and was among the six generals who returned to Athens and were put to death, 406. (See Arginusae.)

(2) An astrologer of Rhodes, with whom Tiberius became acquainted during his residence in that island, and whom he ever after held in the highest honour. In the scenes between him and the emperor, as described by Tacitus, Suetonius, and Dio , Thrasyllus is the prototype for Scott (in Quentin Durward) of Martius Galeotti, the astrologer of Louis XI. He confirmed the faith of Tiberius in his skill by casting his own horoscope as well as that of his master, and saying that he himself had reached a great crisis of danger, having suspected, as was the truth, that Tiberius was on the point of having him thrown over a precipice. This proof of prophetic power saved his life. He died in A.D. 36, the year before Tiberius, and is said to have saved the lives of many persons whom Tiberius would otherwise have put to death, by falsely predicting for this very purpose that the emperor would live a certain period longer than his intended victims. The son of this Thrasyllus succeeded to his father's skill, and he is said to have predicted the empire to Nero (Tac. Ann. vi. 20-22; Suet. Aug. 98; Tib. 14, 62; Cal. 19; Dio Cass. lv. 11; lvii. 15; lviii. 27).

• Paus. 6.7.7