CRANON, crer -non, a town of Thessaly. CRANTOR, cran'-tor. r. A philosopher of Soli, and pupil of Plato, flourished 3ro B.C. 2. Armour-bearer of Peleus, killed by Demoleon. CRASSIPES, cral-silfes, surname of the Furli. CRASSUS, crasr-sus. s. Surnamed AGELAsTus, ligil-as'-ins(q. v.). 2. P. Lim/suns, pontifex maximus 131 B.c., fell near Smyrna in an expedition against Aristonicus. 3. M. LICTNI US, the Rick, raised himself to great wealth by educating his slaves And selling them at a high price. Hp retired to Spain during the savage rule of Cinna ; after Whose death he returned to Italy and ingratiated himself with Sulfa; he was sent against the in surgent gladiators, 71 B.c., under Spartdcus, whom he totally overthrew, and Was rewarded with a triumph. He was soon after Consul with Pompey, 7o, and entertained the people at ten thousand tables ; he was made Censor ; and formed, 6o a.c., the first Triumvirate with Pompey and Cxsar ; and received the province of Syria in 55. Crassus set out for dm East, though the omens were unfavourable; he crossed the Euphrates against Parthia, was betrayed by King Artavasdes Of Armenia and King Ariamnes of Cappadocia, and was defeated in a large plain by Serena, the general of King Orodes of Parthia, when twenty thousand Romans were killed and ten thousand taken prisoners. Crassus escaped in the darkness of
the night,but was forced by his mutinonssoldiers to trust himself to his conqueror on pretence of making terms ; and was put to death. His head was cut off and sent to Orodes, who poured molten lead down the throat. Ccassus has been called avaricious, but he lent to his friends without interest. He was learned in history and fond of philosophy. 4. P., son of (3), accompanied him into Parthia. On his father's defeat he ordered one of his men to run him through. His head was cut off and shown his father by the Parthians. 5. L. Licirnus, li-ciV4-us, an orator commended by Cicero, and introduced as principal speaker in his DeOratore. 6. A son of (3), fell in the Civil Wars.