Amy̆clæ

, a town of Italy between Caieta and Tarracina, built by the companions of Castor and Pollux. The inhabitants were strict followers of the precepts of Pythagoras, and therefore abstained from flesh. They were killed by serpents, which they thought impious to destroy, though in their own defence. Pliny , bk. 8 , ch. 29 . Once a report prevailed in Amyclæ that the enemies were coming to storm it; upon which the inhabitants made a law that forbade such a report to be credited, and when the enemy really arrived, no one mentioned it, or took up arms in his own defence, and the town was easily taken. From this circumstance the epithet of tacitæ has been given to Amyclæ. Virgil , Æneid , bk. 10 , li. 564 .— Silius Italic us , bk. 8 , li. 529 .――A city of Peloponnesus, built by Amyclas. Castor and Pollux were born there. The country was famous for dogs. Apollo, called Amyclæus, had a rich and magnificent temple there, surrounded with delightful groves. Pausanias , bk. 3 , ch. 18 .— Statius , Thebiad , bk. 4 , li. 223 .— Strabo , bk. 8 .— Virgil , Georgics , bk. 3 , li. 345 .— Ovid , de Ars Am at or i a , bk. 2 , li. 5 .