DICTXUS MONS,dic-IV-us, Or DICTE, a mountain in Crete, the isle being often named Diclaa arva. Jupiter(nursed in Crete) and King Minos often receive the epithet Dicteezes.
Lica' Amliuts, dic-tam'-num, a town of north Crete, also named Dictynna, from a temple of that goddess (Diana, or Britanuzrtis). DICTATOR, die-Id-tor, an occasional abso lute magistrate at Rome, first instituted sox B. c. (Titus Lartius being the first) to meet the coalition of the Latin states for the restoration of the Tarquins. The Dictator was nominated by the Consul, on the order of the Senate, to avert some great danger arising from external enemies (rei gerunda causet) or intestine dis cord (seditiemis sedana'a causk), but later for minor duties when the proper functionaries were absent ; as holding the elections, presiding at unusual trials, solemn games, &c. He re ceived the hriperium (supreme military power) from the Comitia Curiata, and during his tenure of office all other magistrates were dependent on him ; he was a temporary despot, from whom was no appeal, and even the auxillum of the Tribunes was powerless ; but in performing an ordinary constitutional act, lie had to proceed constitutionally, or might be resisted. He was appointed for six months
only, but usually resigned immediately on effecting the object for which he had been appointed. The Dictator, as he represented both consuls, had twenty-four lictors ; and he nominated a lieutenant, Ilhigister Equitum, who attended him, or acted as his representa tive when absent. Once, in 216 n. c., there were two dictators at the same time—M. Fabius BuCeo, to fill up the Senate ; and M. Junius Pera (rei gerundce causk). The Dic tatorship became extinct after the second Punic war, and its revival as a perpetual office in Sulla and Cesar was rather the creation of a new office ; but the Senate, by a dicretum ultimum, used, in seasons of great peril, to arm the Consuls with extraordinary powers, by passing a resolution, Videant (or dent obi ram) consoles ne quid detriment; respublica caPiat.
DICTIDIENSES,die-tid-i-en'-rer, a people on Athos.