Crassus (II)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

MARCUS LICINIUS, a Roman consul and triumvir; immensely rich and passionately fond of money; took part with Sulla in the civil war. As prætor, in 74 B. C., he was sent against the insurgent gladiators under Spartacus, and totally defeated them near Rhegium. The next year he was consul with Pompey. Pompey and Crassus were, however, personal enemies, and it needed the powerful influence of Cæsar to effect a formal reconciliation between them, which took place in 60 B. c., the first rate being then formed. Consul again triumvifive years later, Crassus had Syria for his province, and made war on the Parthians. He was defeated by them with immense slaughter, and was put to death, 53 b. c. It is said that Orodes, King of Parthia, had melted gold poured into the dead mouth, with the taunt, "Sate thyself now with that metal, of which in life thou wert so greedy." CRATÆGUS, a genus of trees, order Pomaceæ. Calyx segments short and acute, petals large and roundish, styles 1 to 5, fruit oval or round, concealing the upper end of the cells, which are long. It differs from the genus Pyrus in containing a variable number of stones, and from the medlar by having the fruit closed. The genus contains about 80 well marked species and varieties, occurring in the temperate parts of both hemispheres. C. oxyacantha is the hawthorn, Oriental species have heavy leaves, large, fragrant flowers, and large, succulent, somewhat angular fruit; those of America are often very spinous. Finally, some species of the genus-viz., C. mexicana and C. pyracantha-are evergreens.