AQUILA (Άκυλα?), a native of Pontus, who flourished about 130 a.d., celebrated for his translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. His history is involved in much obscurity; but, according to Epiphanius {De Pond, et Mens., c. 15), he was a kinsman of the Emperor Hadrian, who employed him in rebuilding Jerusalem (Aelia Capitolina), and was converted to Christianity, but on being reproved for practising the pagan astrology, apostatised to Judaism. This account, however, is more than doubtful. Aquila’s version of the Scriptures w as exceedingly close and accurate, and is said to have been used in place of the Septuagint in the synagogues. Though the Christians generally disliked it, alleging without due grounds that it rendered the Messianic passages incorrectly, Jerome and Origen speak in its praise. The few fragments that remain are published in the Hexaj)la of Origen, and in Dathe’s 0ρ≡cWα, Lips. 1746.

AQUILA, Caspar, the Latin name of Kaspar Adler, a celebrated German theologian who espoused the cause of the Reformation. He was born at Augsburg in 1488; and after studying there as well as at Berne and Leipsic, and for several years in Italy, he was appointed pastor of Jenga, a village near Augsburg. Here he embraced the doctrines of Luther; but his boldness and zeal in the cause of the reformed faith led the bishop of Augsburg to order his arrest. Aquila passed the winter of 1519-1520 in the prison of Dillingen, and was only liberated through the influence of Isabella of Denmark, sister of the emperor Charles V. From Dillingen he w ent to Wittenberg, where he became personally acquainted with Luther; and thence he went as tutor to the family of Franz von Sickingen, in the castle of Ebernburg. After a short stay at Eisenach, Aquila was appointed professor of Hebrew at Wittenberg, where he rendered valuable assistance to his colleague Luther in his translation of the Old Testament. In 1527 he became pastor, and the following year Protestant bishop at Saalfeld; but his vehement opposition to the Interim of Charles V. in 1548, obliged him to flee from the place, and accept the offer from the countess of Schwarzburg of a temporary asylum in her castle of Rudolfstadt. He was appointed to the deanery of Schmalkalden in 1550, and restored two years after to his office at Saalfeld, where, without further molestation, he continued to discharge his duties till his death, 12th November 1560. The writings he has left are chiefly sermons and controversial works.

AQUILA, Serafino dell’, a famous Italian poet and improvisatore, was born in 1466 at the town of Aquila, from which he took his name, and died in the year 1500. He spent several years at the courts of Cardinal Sforza and Ferdinand, duke of Calabria; but his principal patrons were the Borgias at Rome, from whom he received many favours. Aquila seems to have aimed at an imitation of Dante and Petrarch; and his poems, which were extravagantly praised during the author’s lifetime, are occasionally of considerable merit. His reputation was in great measure due to his remarkable skill as an improvisatore and musician. His works were printed at Venice in 1502, and there have been several subsequent editions.