I. A Greek poet, born at Soli in Cilicia, flourished about 270 B. C. He was educated under Dionysius of Heraclea, a Stoic, the principles of which sect he embraced. He was a friend of Ptolemy Philadelphus, and also of Antigonus Gonatas, king of Macedon, at whose instigation he embodied most of the astronomical knowledge then possessed by the Greeks in two philosophical poems. The first, Phœnomena, gave a general description of the heavenly bodies and their movements, while the second, Diosemeia, described their influence on the atmosphere. These poems possess much merit. Aratus is the poet whom St. Paul quotes in his speech on Mars Hill, Acts xvii. 28. The best edition of his works is by Buhle (2 vols. 8vo, Leipsic, 1793, 1801).

II. A Greek general and statesman, son of Clinias, born at Sicyon, 271 B. C, died in 213. On account of the murder of his father and many of his relatives by Abantidas, their enemy in one of the political contests of the time, he was taken while very young to Argos, where he was educated till he reached the age of 20. At this period he succeeded in carrying out, without bloodshed, a revolution he had long plotted with some Argive friends, by which Nicocles, a usurper who had made himself tyrant of Sicyon, was dethroned and the city set free. Aratus persuaded the citizens to join the Achaean league, of which he was elected general in 245. Reelected in 243, he captured the citadel of Corinth and expelled its Macedonian garrison. Corinth was easily induced to join the Achaeans, and was soon followed by Trce-zen, Epidaurus, Megara, Cleonae, Argos, and Megalopolis. He now hoped to unite all the governments of Greece; but the power of the Achaean league already began to excite the jealousy of the Aetolians, and of Cleomenes III., king of Sparta, who aspired to restore the Spartan hegemony.

Its first active enemy was the latter, who began a war about 224. Aratus defeated him, but only by summoning to his aid Antigonus Doson, king of Macedon, and by taking the unfortunate step of delivering to him Corinth and its eitadel as the price of his assistance. Antigonus took advantage of this offer, which at once proved fatal to the power of the Achaean cities. He became general of the league, and gradually gained complete control of it, transmitting this authority to his son Philip. Aratus remained a prominent leader in spite of the Macedonian rule; but in a new war which soon broke out with the Aetolians (221 to 219), he was unsuccessful. He was tried for neglect of duty, but acquitted in consideration of his past services. From this time he was little more than an adviser of the Macedonian king, who had now made the league completely dependent upon himself; and although appointed general for the 17th time in 217, he never attained his old influence. According to Plutarch and Polybius, whose story has been doubted by many historians, he was put to death by slow poison, given by Philip's order.

The Greeks paid divine honors to his memory, and celebrated twice a year games called Ara-teia - one on the anniversary of his birth, and one on that of his deliverance of Sicyon.

Mount Ararat.