THEOCRITUS 



5784 



THEODOSIUS I 



given by God, through Moses, the Ten Com- 

 mandments forming the basis of the covenant. 

 The Puritan government of Massachusetts was 

 also styled a theocracy, as it was for many 

 years conducted on the principle of obedience 

 to divine law. 



THEOCRITUS, theok'ritus, a Greek poet, 

 born either at Cos or at Syracuse. The dates 

 of his birth and death are not known, but he 

 seems to have done his best literary work be- 

 tween 285 and 275 B. c. He traveled widely, 

 was on intimate terms with high officials of 

 Egypt and Syracuse, and apparently led a life 

 notable for honors and gifts. Thirty idylls, or 

 pastoral poems, bear his name, but it is highly 

 probable that several of these were written by 

 other poets. This type of poetry, which he 

 seems to have founded in Greek literature, con- 

 sists of fresh, vivid descriptions of rural life, 

 and is somewhat in the form of a simple drama 

 with groups of musical shepherds alternately 

 responding. The influence of Theocritus is seen 

 in Vergil and in such modern poets as Tenny- 

 son, Swinburne, and Austin Dobson. 



THEODOLITE, the od'o lite, an instrument 

 for the measurement of horizontal and vertical 

 angles, used in surveying. It consists of two 

 graduated circles at right angles to each other, 

 a telescope turning on axes mounted centrically 

 to the circles and a scale for each circle carrying 

 two or more verniers (see VERNIER). Each cir- 

 cle is fitted -with a spirit level, to enable the 

 operator to know when the instrument is abso- 

 lutely level. The whole instrument is mounted 

 on a tripod, the legs of which are pointed with 

 steel. Though still used considerably in Eng- 

 land, the theodolite has been practically aban- 

 doned by. American engineers in favor of the 

 transit. See SURVEYING. 



THEODORIC, theod'orik (about 454-526), 

 king of the Ostrogoths, commonly known as 

 THEODORIC THE GREAT. He was born in Pan- 

 nonia, where his father, Theudemir, was joint 

 ruler with his two brothers over the East Goths. 

 When but seven years of age he was sent as a 

 hostage to Constantinople, where he lived for 

 about ten years. In 474 his father died and he 

 became chief ruler, and at once began to 

 threaten the Greek Empire and even Constan- 

 tinople. He accomplished nothing, but the 

 emperor constantly feared him and in 488 al- 

 lowed him to proceed against Odoacer, in Italy. 

 For over four years the contest continued, but 

 in 493 Ravenna, where Odoacer had taken 

 refuge, surrendered, and Theodoric's conquest 

 of Italy was complete. The victor killed Odoa- 



cer with his own hands, despite the terms of 

 the peace, and took the title of king of Italy. 



From that time on Theodoric abandoned war 

 almost entirely, and devoted himself to im- 

 proving his country, which enjoyed under him a 

 period of unexampled prosperity and peace. 

 Taxes were lightened, agriculture was pro- 



TOMB OF THEODORIC 



Erected about fie year 530 by order of Theodo- 

 ric's daughter. It may yet be seen at Ravenna, 

 and is now known as the Church of Santa Maria 

 della Rotonda. 



moted, and the good will of the original in- 

 habitants of the land sought in every possible 

 way. Theodoric himself was a follower of 

 Arianism, but he showed the broadest tolerance 

 of Catholics until near the close of his reign, 

 when he retaliated for Emperor Justin's perse- 

 cutions of the Arians by permitting the execu- 

 tion of several leading Catholics. So great was 

 his remorse for this deed that it is believed to 

 have hastened his death. See GOTHS, subhead 

 Ostrogoths. 



THEODOSIUS I, theodoh'shius (about 346- 

 395), a Roman emperor, known as THE GREAT. 

 He was born in Spain, and when little more 

 than a boy was given a command in his father's 

 army; but when his father was put to death he 

 retired from service and lived quietly at home. 

 In 379 Gratian chose him as his colleague, and 

 gave him the Eastern provinces, including 

 Thrace, Dacia, Macedonia and Egypt. The 

 Goths were seriously menacing the empire, and 

 it was the special duty of Theodosius to repej 

 these invasions a perilous task, but one which 

 he successfully performed. 



