AFRICANUS, an.to'-ni-vs a f-ric-a'-nos, son of Metitis Marcellus, and descended from Trajan, spent his life in study and the practice of piety and virtue. He served as and consul, and governed Africa as proconsul. In his eightieth year, during the tyrannical reign of the Maximini, he was com pelled by his troops, A.D. 236, to accept the purple. He sent his son (2), whom he asso ciated with him on the throne, to oppose Maxhninus, who was marching against hint. On the death of young Gordian, the father, grown desperate, strangled himself at Car thage, after eight weeks' reign. 2. H. ANTO NINUS AFRICANUS, an-to-nr-/ZUS, son of (1), was bequeathed the library (62,000 volumes) of his tutor, Serenus Samnoticus, and by his studiousness and peaceful disposition grew in favour with the emperor Heliogabalus. He was made prefect of Rome and consul by the emperor Alexander Severus ; he was made emperor with his father (I); and was illed in battle with Maximinus in Mauretania, six weeks after. 3. M. ANTONINUS Pros, p'-us, grandson of (r), was at twelve years styled Cavan and at sixteen proclaimed em peror, A.D. 238. He married Luria Sabina Tranquillina, daughter of the eloquent and virtuous hlisitheus. His father-in-law filled
the most important state offices, and effected most salutary reformations, military and civil. Gordian marched to oppose the invasion of King Sapor of Persia, and on the route de feated a body of the Goths in Mcesia. He was successful in his Eastern campaign, but was assassinated in the East, 244, by means of Philip, who had succeeded, on the death of Misitheus, as guardian of the republic. GORDIUM, gor'-di-um, a town of Phrygia. GORDIUS, gor'-di-us, a Phrygian peasant, raised to the throne of Phrygia, tri accordance with an oracle, which declared to its Phrygian consulters that their seditious would cease if they elected as king the first man they met going in a chariot to Jupiter's temple. He consecrated his chariot to Jupiter, and tied the yoke to the pole in such an artful manner that the ends of the Gordian knot could not be perceived. In time a report was spread that the empire of Asia would fall to him who could untie it. Alexander cut it with his sword.