Mesquit
or MESQUITE (mes-ket'), the shrub or tree Prosopis juliflora, of the United States and Mexico. Its wood is of a brown or red color, is heavy and hard and susceptible of a fine polish. It yields a gum resembling gum arabic. Its fruit pod, called the "mesquit bean," is used as a fodder for cattle.
MESSALINA (-li'nä), the name of two Roman empresses. MESSALINA VA- LERIA, who had for her fifth husband the Emperor Nero, who had murdered her fourth husband, Atticus Vistimus.
After the death of the emperor, in the year 68, she devoted herself to literary pursuits. MESSALINA VALERIA, daughter of Valerius Messalinus Barbatus, who became the wife of Claudius, and shared with him the imperial throne. Her licentious conduct is unparalleled in history, for she not only made her husband's palace the scene of her debaucheries, but often quitted it at night, and acted as a common prostitute. When summoned by the enraged emperor, after some fresh MESSINA extravagance, in the year 48, she attempted to kill herself, but lacked courage, and her enemy Narcissus, who dreaded the result of the interview, caused her to be dispatched by a soldier.
MESSENIA (sē'ni-ä), in ancient Greece, the W. of the three peninsulas that project S. from the Peloponnesus; bounded on the E. by Laconia, and on the N. by Arcadia and Elis. It was composed chiefly of fertile plains, separated by mountain chains and watered by the Pamisus and other streams, and yielded abundant corn and wine. The original Pelasgic inhabitants were conquered by the Dorians, but soon absorbed their conquerors and rose to great prosperity. This excited the envy of the Spartans, who waged two long wars (743-724 and 685-668) against the Messenians. Most of those who survived the second war emigrated to Sicily, where they took possession of Zancle, and changed its name to Messana, the present MESSINA (q. v.). Those who submitted to Sparta were made helots; but they revolted and waged a third war of 10 years' duration (from 464). The survivors settled in Naupaktos. After the battle of Leuctra (370) Epaminondas invited the descendants of the Messenians back to Greece, and they joyfully responded to his invitation. Their independence continued till the Roman conquest in 146 B. C. Messenia is the name of a nomarchy of the modern kingdom of Greece.