The Athenian Ladies, who made Profession of Chastity, lay upon Leaves of Agnus Castus, during the Feasts of Ceres.
See Ceralia.
It is reputed a Cooler, and particularly of the Genital Parts; and was antiently used in Physick, to allay those in- ordinate Motions arising from seminal Turgescences : But it is out of the present Practice. See Pollution.
Agnus Dei, a piece of consecrared Paste, of great service in the Church of Rome.
The Name literally signifies Lamb of God; this being supposed an Image or Representation of the Lamb of God, &c.
They cover it up with a piece of Stuff, cut in form of a Heart, and carry it very devoutly in their Processions.—The Romish Priests, and Religious, make a good Penny, by selling these Agnus Dei’s to some, and presenting them to others.
The Pope consecrates fresh ones once in seven Years, the Distribution whereof, belongs to the Master of the Wardrobe; and they are receiv'd by the Cardinals with a world of Reverence, in their Mitres—This Ceremony they pretend to derive from an antient Custom of the Church, wherein part of the Paschal Taper, consecrated on Holy Thursday, was distributed among the People, to perfume their Houses, Fields, &c. in order to drive away Devils, and to preserve them from Storms and Tempests. See Paschal Taper.
The Name Agnus Dei, is also popularly given to that Part of the Mass, wherein the Priest, striking his Breast three times, rehearses, with a loud Voice, a Prayer beginning with the Words Agnus Dei.
AGON, in Antiquity, (
Greek characters), q. d. Combat; a Dispute
or Contention for the Mastery, Gate in some Exercises of
the Body, or the Mind.
There were of these said on certain Days, in most of their Feasts, and other Ceremonies, in honour of Gods, or Heroes. See Feast, and Game.
There were also Agones establish’d expresly, and not attach’d to any other Solemnity.—Such was the Agon Gymnicus, at Athens; the Agon Nemeus, instituted by the Argi in the 53d Olympiad; the Agon Olympius, instituted by Hercules, 430 Years before the first Olympiad. See Nemæan, Olympic, &c.
The Romans had also Agones instituted after the Example of the Greeks: The Emperor Aurelian establish'd the Agon Solis, Agon of the Sun; and Diocletian, the Agon Capitolinus, which was held every fourth Year, after the manner of the Olympic Games.—Hence, the Years, instead of Lustra, are sometimes number'd by Agones.
Agon was also an Officer of Sacrifice, whole Business was to strike the Victim. See Sacririce, and {{Sc|Victim}.
The Name was derived hence, that standing ready to give the Stroke, he frequently ask’d Agon, or Agone? Shall I strike?
The Agon was also called Popa, Cultrarius, and Victimavius. See Pope.
AGONALES, in Antiquity, an Epithet given to the Salii, consecrated by Numa Pompilius to the God Mars surnamed Gradivus. See Salli
They were also called Quirinales, and Palatini. See Quirinales, and Palatini.—Rosinis calls’em Agonenses Salii.
AGONALIA, or Aoonea, in Antiquity, Feasts celebrated by the Romans, in honour of Janus; or, as some will have it, in honour of the God Agonius, whom the Romans used to invoke upon their undertaking any Business of importance. See Feast.
Authors vary as to the Etymology of this Solemnity; some derive it from the Mount Agon, afterwards Mons Quirinalis, whereon it was held.—Others supose it taken from that Ceremony in the Feast, where the Priest holding the naked Knife, and ready to strike the Victim, which was a Ram, ask’d, Agone ? Shall I do it ?—This is Ovid’s Opinion. Fast. L. 1 v. 319. See Sacrifice.
AGONISTICI, in Antiquity, a Name given by Donatus to those of his Sect, whom he sent into the neighbouring Places, Fairs, Markets, &c. to preach his Doctrine; for which reason they were also called Circuitores, Cercelliones, Catropite, Coropite, and at Rome, Montenses.
They were called Agonostici, from the Greek (Greek characters), Combat; in regard they were sent as it were to fight, and subdue the People to their Opinions.
AGONOTHETA, Agonothetus, in Antiquity, a Magistrate chose among the Greeks, to preside, and have the Superintendency of their sacred Games, or Combats; to defray the Expences thereof, and adjudge the Prizes to the Conquerors. See Game, Combat, &c.
The Word is compounded of (Greek characters), Combat, sacred Sport;
and (Greek characters), be who dispofes, appoints, ordains — Among the
Romans, the like Officer was denominated Atheltheta.
See Athelotheta
AGONOCLITA, or Aconocnires, in Anti in the VIIth Century ; whofe diftinguifhin was, never to kneel, but to deliver all their B. ing. See Genurrexion.
The Word is compounded of the Privative Particle a, yw, Knee, and xrive, I Lend.
AGONY, Aoonza, the Extremity of Pain, or a Dif. eafe ; when Nature makes ber lait Effort, or Struggle, to throw off the Evil char oppreffes her. See Pain, Dus- EASE, and Dearn,
The Word is form’d from the Greek ayo, Certamen, Combat ;
3 this being a kind of Strife, between Life and Death.
AGORONOMUS, in Antiquity, a Magiftrate of Athens, eftablifh’d for the Maintenance of good Order, and Policy in the Markets; the Infpeftion of the Weights, Mea- fures, €%c. -
The Agoronomus was much the fame with the Curtle ZE- dile among the Romans. See Epixe.
The Word is compounded of the Greek, ye, Market, and renew, to aiftr bute —Ariftorle diftinguifhes two Kinds of Magiftrates, the goronomi, who had the Intendance of the Markets ; and the Affyxomi, who infpeéted the Build- ings.
AGRARIAN, in the Roman Jurifprudence, 2 Denomi- fation given to fuch Laws as relate to the Partition, or Diftribution of Lands. See Law.
The Word is form’d of the Latin Ager, Field.
The Ackarian Law, Lex AonaniA, ablolutely, and by way of Eminence fo call’d, was a celebrated Law, publifh- ed by Spurivs Caffins, about the Year 268, for the Divi- fion of the Lands taken from the Enemy,—Thofe other two in the Digeff, the one publith’d by Ce/zr, and the other by Nerva, only relate to the Limits or Boundaries of Grounds ; and have no Relation to that of Spurius Caffins.
There are fifteen or twenty Agrarian Laws, whereof, the principal are, The Lex Apuleia, made in che Year of Rome 653 5 the Lex Rebia; the Lex Caffis, in the Year 267 5 the Lex Cornelia, in the Year 673.; tbe Lex Flaminia, in the Year 525; the Lex Flavia; the Lex Yulia, in the Year 691 5 the Lex Licinia, in 377 ; the Lex /Elia Lici- mia; the Lex Livia; the Lex Marcia; the Lex Rubria, made after the taking of Carthage 5 wo Sempronian Laws, in the Year 620; the Lex Servilia, in 690 5 the Lex Tho- via; and the Lex Titia.
AGREEMENT, Acreamentum, in Law, is defined by Plowden, a joining or putting together of rwo or more Minds in any thing done, or to be done.
OF this there py be three forts.—The firft, an Agree- ment executed at the Beginning ; mention'd in the Stat. of 25 Edw. Ill. which fays, ‘ That the Goods bought by © Foreftallers, being thereof attainted, fhall be forfeited to
- the King ; if the Buyer thereof have made Gree with
© the Seller > Where the Word Gree, otherwife called _4- Sreement exetited, fignifies Payment for the Things, or Sa- tis faction.
The fecond is, where one does an Aét, and another agrees or affents thereto, afterwards. See Assenr.
The third is, when both Parties at one time are agreed that fuch a thing fhall be done in time to come ; which is Executory, in regard the thing is to be done afterwards. See Conrract.
AGRESSES, or Ocresszs, in Heraldry, the fame as Pellets, or Balls. See Ocresses.
AGRICULTURE, the Art of tilling or cultivating the Earth, in order to render it fertile, and make it bear Plants, Trees, Fruits, &c. See Eartu, Soir, Cunrure, PLant, Fruit, SEEv, &c.
The principal and moft general Operations in Agriczlture, are Manuring, Ploughing, Fallowing, Sowing, Harrowing 5 as alfo, Reaping, Mowing, &c. Sce the Articles Manure, Proucuine, Factowinc, Sowine, €Sc.
‘To the Operations of Agriculture do alfo belong the Ma- nagement of the Produttions of particular Countries ; as Hops, Hemp, Vines, Tobacco, Saffron, Liquorice, Woad, &c. See Hors, Hemr, Topacco, Sarrron, GuyciRRHIZA, Woap, €&%c.
To the fame Art belong Planting, Tranfplanting, Pru- ning, Eugrafting ; the Culture of Forefis, Timber, Copfes,
En-
uity, aSeét rinciple it ayers itand-
‘c. See Prantine, TRANSPLANTING, PRUNING, GRAFTINO, TIMBER, TREE, &&c.
Even Gardening, or Horticulture it felf, is only a Branch of Agriculture. See Garpen, and GARDENING.
The Word is form’d of the Latin Ager, Field, and cil- tara, of colo, I till—Among the Antients, it is frequently called Georgica. Sce Grorcieks. he.
We forbear to fay any thing about the Antiquity or Ufe- fulnefS of this Art: Every Reader’s Imagination will fup- ply that Defeé&. Ir has been cultivated by many of the gieateft Men among the Anticnts ; as Emperors, Di€tators, and Confuls; and has been treated of by fome of their greateft
