Leontium

• an Athenian hetaera, a friend of Epicurus, Cic. N. D. 1, 33, 93.

(Λεόντιον), an Athenian hetaera, the disciple and mistress of Epicurus. She wrote a treatise against Theophrastus, which Cicero characterises as written scito quidem sermone et Attico. According to Pliny (Praef.) the audacity of the attempt gave rise to the proverb suspendio arborem eligere. Pliny mentions a painting of her by Theodorus, in which she was represented in a meditative attitude. Among her numerous lovers we also find mentioned Metrodorus, the disciple of Epicurus, and Hermesianax of Colophon. She had a daughter, Danae, who was also an hetaera of some notoriety. (D. L. 10.4; Athen. 13.588a. b. 593, b. 597, a; Cic. de Nat. Deor. 1.33; Plin. Nat. 35.11.) [C.P.M]

LEO´NTIUM (Λεόντιον: Eth. Λεοντήσιος), a town of Achaia, was originally not one of the 12 Achaean cities, though it afterwards became so, succeeding to the place of Rhypes. It is only mentioned by Polybius, and its position is uncertain. It must, however, have been an inland town, and was probably between Pharae and the territory of Aegium, since we find that the Eleians under the Aetolian general Euripidas, after marching through the territory of Pharae as far as that of Aegium, retreated to Leontium. Leake places it in the valley of the Selinus, between the territory of Tritaea and that of Aegium, at a place now called Ai Andhrea, from a ruined church of that saint near the village of Guzumistra. Callicrates, the partizan of the Romans daring the later days of the Achaean League, was a native of Leontium. (Plb. 2.41, 5.94, 26.1; Leake, Morea, vol. 3. p. 419.)

(Λεόντιον). An Athenian woman, originally a courtesan, although afterwards the wife of Metrodorus, the most eminent friend and disciple of Epicurus. Many slanders were circulated respecting her intercourse with the philosopher and his followers. She herself composed works on philosophy (Diog. Laert.x. 7; Cic. N. D. i. 33). Her daughter Danaë was a prostitute of some celebrity.

(Λεόντιον). A town in Achaia, between Pharae and Aegium.