Lucani

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

Lūcāni, ōrum, m.,

I a people in Lower Italy , Varr. L. L. 7, § 39 Müll.; Liv. 8, 19 and 25; 9, 20 et saep.—Transf., the territory inhabited by them , Caes. B. G. 1, 30; Liv. 8, 17, 9; Juv. 8, 180.—Hence,

A Lū-cānus , a, um, adj., Lucanian : ager, Cic. Phil. 13, 5, 12; Plin. 3, 5, 10, § 71: montes, Liv. 8, 24: pascua, Hor. Epod. 1, 28: mare, Stat. S. 3, 2, 85: vinum, Varr. R. R. 1, 25; Plin. 14, 6, 8, § 69: legiones, Liv. 8, 24.— Subst.: Lūcānus , i, m., a surname of the poet M. Annaeus, of Corduba, nephew of Seneca the philosopher, and author of the poem Pharsalia. He was condemned to death by Nero for participating in the conspiracy of Piso , Quint. 10, 1, 90; Mart. 1, 62, 7; 14, 194; Tac. A. 15, 49; Suet. Ner. 36; Juv. 7, 79.—

B Lūcānĭa , ae, f., the district of Lucania, in Lower Italy , Mel. 2, 4, 2; 9; Hor. S. 2, 1, 38; Cic. Tusc. 1, 37, 89.—

C Lūcānĭcus , a, um, Lucanian; only as subst.: lūcānĭca , ae, f., a kind of meat sausage invented by the Lucanians : solebam antea delectari oleis et lucanicis tuis, Cic. Fam. 9, 16; Mart. 13, 35; Stat. S. 4, 9, 35. Called also lūcānĭcum and lūcānĭcus , Charis. p. 73 P.; and lūcā-na , acc. to Varr. L. L. 5, § 111 Müll.—

D Lūca bōs , Lucanian cow , for elephant (because the Romans first saw this animal in Lucania, in the army of Pyrrhus), Varr. L. L. 7, 389, § 39 Müll.; Enn. ib.; Lucr. 5, 1302; 1339; Sil. 9, 573; Aus. Ep. 15, 12; Plin. 8, 6, 6, § 16.—Prov.: prius pariet locusta Lucam bovem, of an impossible thing , Enn. ap. Varr. L. L. 6, 3.