AVENTURAE, in our ancient Writers, signify Tournaments, or Military exercises on Horseback. See TOURNAMENT.
AVER-CORN, in ancient Writings, such Corn as by Custom is brought by the Tenant’s Carts or Carriages, to the Lord’s Granary, or Barn.
AVERRUNCI, in Antiquity, an order of deities among the Ancients whose office was to avert dangers and evils. See GOD. The Greeks called this species of gods, ἀλεξίκακοι, or ἀποτρόπαιοι; and their feast ἀλεξικακία: sometimes, ἀποτρόπαιοι. The Egyptians had also their δαίμονες ἀποτρόπαιοι, who were pictured in a menacing posture, and sometimes with whips in their hands.—Isis was a divinity of this kind; as is shown by Kircher. See OEDIP. Aegypt. T. III. p. 487.
ÆACEA, in Antiquity, solemn Feasts and Combats, celebrated in Aegina, in honor of Aeacus; who had been their King, and who, on account of his singular Justice upon Earth, was supposed to have a Commission given him, to be one of the Judges in Hell. See FEAST, etc.
ÆCHMALOTARCHA, in Antiquity, a Greek Term, signifying, Chief or Leader of the Captives. The Jews who refused to follow Zerubbabel, and return with him to Jerusalem, after the Babylonish Captivity; created an Aechmalotarcha, to govern them.—Not that the Jews themselves called him by this Name, as some Authors have asserted; for that People spoke Hebrew, or Chaldean, not Greek. But Origen, and others, who wrote in the Greek Tongue, rendered the Hebrew Name rosh galut, q. d. Chief of the Captivity, by a Greek Name of the like import, aechmalotarcha, formed from aichme, a Point or Pike, and archon, Command. However, the Jews must have had Officers of this kind before the Return from Babylon; Witness the History of Susannah; the two Elders who condemned her, being Aechmalotarchae that Year.—The Jewish Writers assure us, that the Aechmalotarchae were only to be chosen out of the Tribe of Judah.