Athe'nion
（
Ἀθηνίων).
1. A Cilician, who in the second servile war in Sicily, by the aid of his wealth and pretended astrological knowledge, procured himself to be chosen leader of the insurgents in the western part of the island.
After a fruitless attack upon Lilybaeum, he joined Salvius, the king of the rebels, who, under the influence of a suspicious jealousy, threw him into prison, but afterwards released him. Athenion fought with great bravery in a battle with L. Licinius Lucullus, and was severely wounded. On the death of Salvius, he succeeded to his title of king.
He maintained his ground for some time successfully, but in B. C. 101 the Romans sent against him the consul M'. Aquillius, who succeeded in subduing the insurgents, and slew Athenion with his own hand. (Diod.
Fragm. xxxvi.; Florus,
3.19; Cic.
in Verr. 3.26, 54.)
The nickname Athenio was given to Sex. Clodius. (
Cic. Att. 2.12.)
