Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

SEDUSII, a German nation on the northeast bank of the Rhenus. They are named in conjunction with the Marcomanni, and are supposed to have been situate between the Danube, the Rhine, and the Necker (Nicer).

SEGESTA, a town of Sicily. (Vid. Ægesta.)

SEGNI, a people, with a town of the same name, in Belgic Gaul. A small town, called Signei, points out the place which they once inhabited. (Cæs., B. G., 6.)

SEGOBRIGA, the capital of the Celtiberi, in Hispania Tarraconensis, southwest of Cæsaraugusta. According to Reichard, it is now Priego; but the actual position is much disputed. (Compare Ukert, Geogr., vol. 2, p. 459.)

SEGONTIA OF SEGUNTIA, I. a town of Hispania Tarraconensis, in the territory of the Celtiberi, and to the west of Cæsaraugusta.-II. A city of the Arevaci, in Hispania Tarraconensis, now Siguenza. (Itin. Ant., 436, 438.)

furnish also the root of the name Slavi; and if the the- I when he crossed these lofty mountains to invade Italy ory of another writer be admitted, the Saxones will be Their capital was afterward called civitas Sedunorum, descended from the Saca. (Compare Bähr, ad Ctes., now Sion. They appear to have sent out numerous p. 97.)—The earliest detailed account of the Scyth-colonies, in quest, no doubt, of a milder climate. jan race is given by Herodotus, who states, as has Hence we find tribes of this name in various places. already been remarked, that they called themselves by (Cas., B. G., 3.) the general name of Scoloti (EkKоλÓTOL). The appellation of Scythians (Ekúðaι) originated with the Greeks along the Euxine. Their primitive seats were in the vicinity of the Caspian; but, being driven from these by the Massagetæ, they migrated to the countries around the Tanais and north of the Euxine, and the head settlement of the race, according to Herodotus, was now between the Tanaïs and Borysthenes. Only a few tribes attended to agricultural pursuits and had fixed abodes; the greater part were of nomadic habits, and roamed about in their wagons, which served them for abodes. These last subsisted on the produce of their flocks and herds. Herodotus divides them into Royal Scythians (Baoiλýïoi Ekúlai), the Nomadie Scythians (Nouúdec), and the Agricultural (Tεwpyoi). Besides these, there were other tribes living to the west of the Borysthenes, and separated from the main body of the race, such as the Callipoda and Alazones. Until the time of Ptolemy, but little was known respecting the Scythians except what had been obtained from the narrative of Herodotus. In the days of Ptolemy, Scythia, as known to Herodotus, had changed its name to that of Sarmatia (compare Plin., 4, 12), and the northern part of Asia above the Saca and beyond Sogdiana, with an indefinite extent towards the east, was now denominated Scythia. The range of Mount Imaus was considered as dividing this extensive region into two parts, and hence arose the two divisions of Scythia intra Imaum and Scythia extra Imaum, or Scythia within and without the range of Imaus. The former of these, Scythia intra Imaum, had the following limits assigned to it: on the north, unknown lands; on the east, Imaus; on the south, the Sacæ, Sogdiana, and Margiana, as far as the mouth of the Oxus, and the Caspian Sea to the mouth of the Rha; on the west, Asiatic Sarmatia. Scythia extra Imaum had the following boundaries: on the north, unknown lands; on the west, Imaus; on the south, a part of India; and on the east, Serica.-The Scythians made several irruptions into the more southern provinces of Asia, especially B.C. 624, when they remained in possession of Asia Minor for 28 years.

SCYTHOPOLIS, a city of Judæa, belonging to the half tribe of Manasseh, on the west of and near to the Jordan. Its Hebrew name was Bethsan, Bethshean, or Bethshan. It was called Scythopolis, or the city of the Scythians, as the Septuagint has it (Ekvov πóhiç. -Judges, 1, 27), from its having been taken possession of by a body of Scythians in their invasion of Asia Minor and Syria. It is now Bysan or Baisan. (Plin., 5, 18-Ammian. Marcell., 19, 27. —Joseph, Ant., 5, 1.-Id ibid., 12, 12.-Id., Bell. Jud., 3, 4.)

SEBASTE, I. vid. Samaria.-II. The name was common to several cities, as it was in honour of Augustus. Sebaste (Zebaoth, sc. Toλ) is the Greek form for Augusta, sc. urbs.

SEBENNYTUS, a town of the Delta in Egypt, north of Busiris, and the capital of the Sebennytic nome. The modern Semenud corresponds to its site. (Plin., 5, 18.)

SEBETUS, a small river of Campania, now the Maddalona, falling into the Bay of Naples, whence the epithet Sebetis, given to one of the nymphs who frequented its borders, and became mother of Ebalus by Telon. (Virg., Æn., 7, 734.)

SEDETANI, a people of Spain, supposed to have been the same with the Edetani. (Vid. Edetani.)

SEDUNI, a nation of Gaul on the south bank of the Rhodanus, to the east of Lacus Lemanus. They opposed Hannibal near the very summit of the Alps,

[ocr errors]

SEGOVIA, a city of Hispania Tarraconensis, in the farthest part of the territory of the Arevaci, towards the southwest. It is now Segovia. (Plin., 3, 4.)

SEJĀNUS, ELIUS, a native of Vulsinii, in Etruria, and prime minister to the Emperor Tiberius. His father was Seius Strabo, a Roman knight, commander of the prætorian guard in the reign of Augustus. His mother was descended from the Junian family. Sejanus was at first one of the train of Caius Cæsar, but he afterward gained so great an ascendancy over Tiberius, that the emperor, who was naturally of a suspicious temper, was free and open with him, and, while he distrusted others, he communicated his greatest secrets to this fawning favourite. For eight years did this unprincipled man retain an undivided influence over the mind of the emperor; and during that period he contrived to procure the death or banishment of almost every person who might have checked his progress to the possession of imperial power, which was the object of his treacherous ambition. The death of Drusus, the son of Tiberius, was effected by him and the adulterous Livilla (vid. Drusus II.); to him also is attributed the death of the two eldest sons of Germanicus, and the banishment of their mother, the celebrated Agrippina. The younger son, Caligula, escaped, in all probability, in consequence of his almost constant residence with the army. But the master-stroke of policy by which Sejanus strove to secure his object, was his persuading the emperor to remove from the cares and dangers of Rome, and to indulge his passions in a retirement where he would have none around him but the depraved ministers of his vices. Tiberius accordingly retired to Capreæ, where he abandoned himself to the most disgusting and unnatural indulgences, leaving Sejanus at Rome, in possession of all but the name of imperial power. To this base and bloody favourite the senate displayed the most degrading servility; the people gave him honours second only to those of the emperor; and the sceptre itself seemed on the point of passing into his grasp. Already were his statues se up by the Romans in their dwellings, in public places and in temples, along with those of the reigning family when Tiberius, in an interval of sobriety (he was now almost always intoxicated), either of himself perceived the pass to which matters had come, or was made aware of the real views of Sejanus by his own suit for the hand of an imperial princess, the adulterous widow of Drusus; or finally, as Josephus states, was informed of his plans by a billet from Antonia, the widow of the emperor's brother. The whole demeanour and management of Tiberius, when he had formed the res

olution of destroying the man who had hitherto been | parture of his army, prevented at this time the tota his all-intrusted confidant and all-powerful minister, is destruction of the city. That fate befell it under Veadmirably described by Dio Cassius. After a singu- rus, the colleague of Marcus Aurelius. A general of lar course of dissembling, by which he withheld his vic- his, notwithstanding a friendly reception from the intim from proceeding to extremities, he sent Macro habitants, destroyed the city under the pretext of its with full powers to arrest Sejanus, put him to death, having violated its faith. (Eutrop., 8, 5.-Capitolin., and take his place. The decree of arrest was accord- Verus, c. 8.-Dio Cass., 71, 2.) Some idea of the ingly read on the senate; Sejanus was enticed into the size of the place in its best days may be formed from senate-house, by the pretext that Macro was the bear- the circumstance that even at this period 400,000 er of a letter, by virtue of which the minister was to prisoners were taken. (Oros., 8, 15.) The ruins of receive the dignity of tribune; and, being instantly Seleucia, and those of Ctesiphon on the opposite side condemned, was dragged through the streets, and put of the river, are called by the Arabs at the present to death with the utmost ignominy, by those who, a day Al Modain (El Madeien), or "the two cities." few hours before, had followed him with acclamations. (Mannert, Geogr., vol. 5, p. 397, seqq., part 2.)—II. The execution of Sejanus was followed by that of his A city of Susiana, in the territory of the Elymai. Acinnocent children, relations, and even distant connex-cording to Strabo, it was subsequently called Solyce ions. The numerous persons crowded into the pris- (Zoλúkn), and lay on the river Hedyphon. (Strabo, ons as friends of Sejanus were, without any judicial 744.-Plin., 6, 27.)—III. A city of Cilicia Trachea, proceeding, massacred en masse, and even their bodies a short distance to the north of the mouth of the Calywere subjected to indignities. (Suet., Vit. Tib. cadnus. It was founded by Seleucus Nicator, and is Tacit., Ann., 4, 1, seqq.-Id. ib., 5.-Dio Cass., 58, sometimes called, for distinction' sake, Seleucia Tra9, seqq.) chea. (Steph. Byz., s. v.—Amm. Marcell., 14, 2.)— IV. A city in the northwestern part of Pisidia, south of Amblada. It was sometimes called Seleucia Ferrea, and ad Taurum. (Hierocl., p. 673.) ——V. A city on the coast of Pamphylia, west of Side, and coinciding probably with the Syllon of Scylax.-VI. A city of Apamene, not far from the city of Apamea. It was sometimes called Seleucia ad Belum. (Pliny, 5, 23.- Hierocles, p. 712.)-VII. A city of Syria, on the seacoast, near the mouth of the Orontes, and southwest of Antioch. It was called Seleucia Pieria, from Mount Pierus in its vicinity, and was founded by Seleucus. The city was strongly fortified, and had a large and secure harbour. Browne identifies Seleucia with Suadea, the port of Antioch, about four hours distant from it. Others give the modern name as Kepse. (Strabo, 751. — Polyb., 5, 59.-Mela, 1, 12.-Pliny, 5, 18.)

SELEMNUS. Vid. Argyra II.

SELENE, the sister of Helios, and the same with Luna or the Moon. According to another view of the subject, she was the daughter of Helios, the latter being regarded as the source of light. (Eurip., Phon., 178, seqq.-Nonnus, 44, 191.) A third view makes her the mother by him of the four Seasons. (Quint. Smyrn., 10, 334, seq.) In one of the Homeric hymns Selene is called the daughter of Pallas, son of Megamedes. It was said that Selene was enamoured of Endymion, on whom Jupiter had bestowed the boon of perpetual youth, but united with perpetual sleep; and that she used to descend to him every night, on the summit of Mount Latmus, the place of his repose. She bore to Jupiter a daughter named Pandia; and Hersa (Dew) was also the offspring of the King of Heaven and the Goddess of the Moon. (Hom. Hymn., 32, 15. — Alcman, ap. Plut., Quæst. Nat., 24.) In explanation of this last legend it may be remarked, that the moon was naturally, though incorrectly, regarded as the cause of dew; and nothing, therefore, was more obvious than to say that the dew was the progeny of the moon and sky personified after the usual manner of the Greeks. The name Selene (Zɛλnvn) is plainly derived from oéλaç, brightness, and is one of the large family of words of which λa or Eλn (Helle, Germ.), may be regarded as the root. (Keightley's Mythology, p. 61, seq.)

-

SELEUCIDÆ, a surname given to the dynasty of Seleucus, comprising the monarchs who reigned over Syria from B.C. 312 to B.C. 66. The first of these dates gives the commencement of the reign of Seleucus Nicator, the founder of the dynasty. The last date gives the time when Pompey reduced Syria under the Roman sway. Some compute the era of the Seleucidæ from B.Č. 301, the date of the battle of Ipsus. (Consult Vaillant, Seleucidarum Imperium, Horag., 1732.-Reineccius, Familia Seleucidarum, Wittenb., 1571.-Clinton, Fast. Hell., vol. 2, p. 308, seqq.)

SELEUCIS, a division of Syria, which received its name from Seleucus, the founder of the Syrian empire, after the death of Alexander the Great. It was called Tetrapolis from the four cities it contained, called also sister cities; Seleucia, Antioch, Laodicea, and Apamea.

SELEUCIA, I. a famous city of Asia, built by Seleucus, one of Alexander's generals, and situate on the western bank of the Tigris, about forty-five miles north of ancient Babylon. It was the capital of the Macedonian conquests in Upper Asia, and is said to have been the first and principal cause of the destruction of Babylon. Pliny reports (6, 26) that the intention of Seleucus was to raise, in opposition to Babylon, SELEUCUS, I. surnamed Nicator, or "the Conquera Greek city with the privilege of being free. Many or," was the son of Antiochus, a general of Philip's. ages after the fall of the Macedonian empire, Seleucia He served from early youth under Alexander, accomretained the genuine characteristics of a Grecian col-panied him to Asia, and there had commonly the comony, arts, military virtue, and the love of freedom. Its population consisted of 600,000 citizens, governed by a senate of 300 nobles. The rise of Ctesiphon, however, in its immediate vicinity, proved injurious to Seleucia; but it was fated to receive its death-blow from the hands of the Romans. The inhabitants had ever shown themselves friendly to the latter people, and had yielded them very effectual aid in their expeditions against the Parthians; and yet a general of the Emperor Trajan's plundered and set fire to the place. The cause of this severe treatment is unknown: it may have been that the inhabitants, accustomed to self-government, were restless under the yoke of their new allies. (Dio Cass., 68, 30.) The sudden death, however, of Trajan, and the rapid de

mand of the elephants. After the death of that monarch he was appointed to the command of the cavalry, and, on the second division of the provinces, received the government of Babylonia. He was at first on friendly terms with Antigonus, and acknowledged his authority; but the latter having taken offence at some slight provocation, Seleucus fled to Ptolemy in Egypt. Returning with an army which he had collected from various quarters, Seleucus recovered the possession of Babylon, which had, after his departure, fallen into the hands of Antigonus; and the citizens of the place themselves, by whom his mild government had made him much beloved, aided him in effecting this (B.C. 312). Nicanor and Evagoras, the governors of Media and Persia, immediately took up arms in behalf of

Antigonus, the latter himself and his son Demetrius Deen weakened by the Romans when he became a being too far distant to act in person. But Seleucus, monarch, and the yearly tribute of a thousand talents having planted an ambuscade, surprised the hostile to these victorious enemies concurred in lessening his camp in the night, and gained a complete victory. power and consequence among nations. Seleucus From the recovery of Babylon by Seleucus, the his- was poisoned after a reign of twelve years, B.C. 175. torians of all nations, except the Chaldæans alone, His son Demetrius had been sent to Rome, there to date the era of the Seleucide, or dynasty of Seleucus, receive his education, and he became a prince of in Upper Asia. A temporary absence of Seleucus in great abilities.-V. The fifth, succeeded his father Media, where he was prosecuting his conquests, left Demetrius Nicator on the throne of Syria, in the Babylon at the mercy of the enemy, and Demetrius, twentieth year of his age. He was put to death in by rapid marches, was enabled to regain possession of the first year of his reign by Cleopatra, his mother, it; but his subsequent departure, and the return of Se- who had also sacrificed her husband to her ambition. leucus, soon restored things to their former condition. He is not reckoned by many historians in the number Seleucus now carried his victorious arms into Persia, of the Syrian monarchs.-VI. The sixth, one of the Bactria, Hyrcania, and many other countries of Upper Seleucida, son of Antiochus Gryphus, killed his uncle Asia, and, on account of the rapidity of his conquests, Antiochus Cyzicenus, who wished to obtain the crown assumed the title of Nicator, and with it that of king, of Syria. He was some time after banished from his in imitation of the other successful generals of Alex- kingdom by Antiochus Pius, son of Cyzicenus, and ander. Having united subsequently with Ptolemy, fled to Cilicia, where he was burned in a palace by Cassander, and Lysimachus against Antigonus, and the inhabitants, B.C. 93.-VII. A prince of Syria, to the latter having lost his life in the defeat at Ipsus, whom the Egyptians offered the crown of which they the kingdom of Syria, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Cata- had robbed Auletes. Seleucus accepted it, but he lonia, and a part of Asia Minor, were added to the soon disgusted his subjects, and received the surname possessions of Seleucus, and he became the greatest of Cybiosactes, for his meanness and avarice. He and most powerful of all the generals of Alexander. was at last murdered by Berenice, whom he had marHe now built Antiochia, calling it after the name of ried. his father, and made it the capital of his dominions. SELGE, the largest and most powerful of the cities Many other cities, too, were erected in other quarters. of Pisidia, situate north of the Eurymedon. It is said The great power of Seleucus having caused at first by some of the ancient writers to have been founded uneasiness, and afterward having given rise to a con- by a Lacedæmonian colony. (Strabo, 570.-Dionys. federacy against him, this monarch sought to draw Perieg., v. 860.—Steph. Byz., s. v.—Polyb., 5, 76.) Demetrius to his side, by giving him in marriage his The probability, however, is, that this was a mere supdaughter Stratonice, and intrusting him with an army. position, grounded upon the valour of the inhabitants, But jealousy towards his son-in-law soon induced Se- since, independent of the difficulty of establishing a leucus to deprive him of his new command, and hold colony in an inland and mountainous country, amid him in confinement until his death. Seleucus after rude and savage tribes, we find Arrian expressly stythis took up arms against Lysimachus, at the urgent ling the inhabitants of Selge Barbarians, when maentreaties of the friends of Agathocles, son of Lysim-king mention of an embassy sent by them to Alexanachus, whom the father had put to death on a false der. (Exp. Alex., 1, 28, 1.) In a later age, howcharge brought against him by his stepmother. His ever, we find the people of Selge laying open claim to real motive, however, was the removal of a dangerous the honour of a Spartan origin, and even adding to neighbour; and in this he was completely successful; their medals the name of Lacedæmon.-The city was for, having invaded Asia Minor, he defeated and slew large, and the inhabitants very warlike. They could Lysimachus in the battle of Compedion (B.C. 281). bring into the field, according to Strabo, an army of Ptolemy Soter had died above a year before this bat- 20,000 men (Strab., 570), and they maintained their tle took place, and Seleucus now remained alone of independence for a long period against the petty all the Macedonian captains, the fellow-soldiers and princes in the vicinity. To the Romans they subsefriends of Alexander. He became ardently desirous quently paid a stipulated sum for permission to live of revisiting Macedonia, and reigning in a country under their old republican institutions; but under the where he had first drawn breath; but his schemes weak emperors after the time of the Antonines they were frustrated by assassination. As he was on his rendered little more than a mere nominal obedience. march to Macedon, he was murdered by Ptolemy Ce- At a later period we read of its effectually resisting an raunus, the expatriated prince of Egypt, who wished to army of the Goths. (Zosimus, 5, 15.) Mr. Fellows obtain for himself the Macedonian throne; and he describes some splendid ruins, which he considers to thus fell B.C. 280, in the 73d year of his age, and the be those of Selge. (Asia Minor, p. 172, seq.) 32d of his reign.-II. The second of the name, sur- SELINUS (-untis. - Σελινοῦς, -οῦντος), I. a large named Callinicus, succeeded his father Antiochus and flourishing city of Sicily, situate on the southern Theos on the throne of Syria. He attempted to shore of the western part of the island, and in a southmake war against Ptolemy, king of Egypt, but his west direction from Lilybæum. It was founded, acfleet was shipwrecked in a violent storm, and his ar- cording to Thucydides (6, 4), by a Doric colony from mies soon after conquered by his enemy. He was at Megara or Hybla, on the eastern coast of Sicily, a last taken prisoner by the Parthians, and retained by hundred years after the establishment of the parent them ten years, until the period of his death, which city, which latter event took place about the eighwas occasioned by a fall from his horse in hunting, teenth Olympiad. (Compare, however, the remarks B.C. 226.-III. The third, succeeded his father Se- of Mannert, Geogr., vol. 9, pt. 2, p. 370.)- Selinus leucus II., while the latter was in captivity. He was soon became a rich and powerful city, in consequence surnamed Ceraunus (" thunderbolt"), an ostentatious of the fertile territory in which it was situated, and and unmerited title, as he was a very weak, timid, and was engaged in almost continual wars with the neighirresolute monarch. He was murdered by two of his bouring city of Agesta or Segeste. The weakness officers after a reign of three years, B.C. 223, and of the latter place induced its inhabitants to call in his brother Antiochus, though only fifteen years old, the aid of Carthage, which power gladly availed itascended the throne, and rendered himself so celebra- self of an opportunity of meddling in the affairs of the ted that he acquired the name of the Great.-IV. The island. A powerful Carthaginian army was accordingfourth, succeeded his father Antiochus the Great only sent, and Selinus, notwithstanding the brave resist the throne of Syria. He was surnamed Philopator, ance of its inhabitants, was taken, plundered, and in or, according to Josephus, Soter. His empire had a great measure destroyed. (Diod. Sic., 13, 42.-Id.,

13, 57.) About 16,000 men fell in the siege or during | shepherds of Ninus, found her and brought her up as the slaughter that followed the taking of the place, his own child. Semiramis, when grown up, married 5000 were led away to Carthage into slavery, 2600 Menones, the governor of Nineveh, and was present fled to Agrigentum, and many wandered about the ad- at the siege of Bactra, where, by her advice and di jacent country. Selinus would seem, from this ac-rections, she hastened the king's operations and took count, to have been a city of more than 30,000 inhabi- the city. The monarch, having seen and become entants. The Carthaginians afterward allowed the fugi- amoured of Semiramis, asked her of her husband, and tives to return to their ruined city, and again inhabit offered him his daughter Sosana instead; but Menoit. (Diod., 13, 59.) A short time before his death, nes, who tenderly loved his wife, refused, and, when Dionysius the elder, of Syracuse, made himself master Ninus had added threats to entreaties, he hung himof Selinus and the adjacent places, but they all, not self. No sooner was Menones dead than Semiramis long after, reverted to their former possessors. The married Ninus, by whom she had a son called Ninyas. Carthaginians at last, during the first Punic war, feel- Not long after this Ninus died, and Semiramis became ing the difficulty of maintaining this post, transferred sole ruler of Assyria. Another account, however, the few remaining inhabitants to Lilybæum, and Seli- makes her to have put Ninus to death. According nus was destroyed. (Diod. Sic., 24, 1.- Mannert, to this latter statement, Semiramis, having secured Geogr., vol. 9, pt. 2, p. 370, seqq.) A description of the the co-operation of the chief men of the state by gifts ruins of Selinus may be found in Hoare's Classical and promises, solicited the king to put the sovereign Tour, vol. 2, p. 78, seqq. The ruins exist near what power in her hands for five days. He yielded to her, is called Torre di Polluce, and, according to Sir R. │request, and all the provinces of the empire were comHoare, their modern appellation is Pilieri del Castel manded to obey Semiramis. These orders were exVetrano.-II. A city of Cilicia Trachea, the most ecuted but too exactly for the unfortunate Ninus, who westerly place in that province with the exception of was put to death, says this account, either immediateLaertes, and situated on the coast. Its site was on a ly, or after some years' imprisonment. Semiramis, rock surrounded by the sea, at the mouth of the river on attaining to sovereign power, resolved to immorSelinus. The Emperor Trajan died here; and from talize her name, and with this view commenced the him the place took the new name of Trajanopolis. building of the great city of Babylon, in which work (Strabo, 681.-Liv., 33, 20.) The modern name is she is said to have employed two millions of men, Selenti.Its territory was called Selentis. (Man- who were collected out of all the provinces of her vast nert, Geogr., vol. 6, pt. 2. p. 85.) empire. She visited every part of her dominions, and left everywhere monuments of her greatness. To render the roads passable and communication easy, she hollowed mountains and filled up valleys, and water was conveyed, at a great expense, by large and convenient aqueducts to barren deserts and unfruitful plains. She was not less distinguished for military talents, and reduced many neighbouring and also distant nations under her sway. India, in particular, felt the power of her arms. At length, being plotted against by her son Ninyas, and recalling to mind a response which she had received some time before from the oracle of Ammon, she voluntarily abdicated in favour of her son, and immediately disappeared from the eyes of men. Some said that she was changed into a dove, and that several birds of this species having alighted upon the palace, she flew away along with them. Hence, according to the legend, the dove was held sacred by the Assyrians. Semiramis is said to have lived 62 years, and to have reigned 42 years. (Diod. Sic., 2, 4, seqq.- Val. Max., 9, 3. — Herod, 1, 185.-Mela, 1, 3-Patere, 1, 6.—Justin, 1, 1, &c.-Propert., 3, 11, 21.)-For an account of Semiramis altogether different from the received one, consult the work of Cirbied and Martin, Recherches Curieuses sur l'Histoire Ancienne, cap. 17, p. 176, seqq.-The legend of Semiramis serves to connect together the Assyrian and Syrian mythologies. That she was an historical personage seems extremely doubtful, inasmuch as all that is related of her wears so evidently the garb of fiction. There appears, indeed, a very striking resemblance between the account given of Semiramis and the Hindu fable of Mahadevi and Parvadi as detailed in the Puranas, and both narratives have probably emanated from the same source. The very name, too, would seem to favour this idea, for Semiramis becomes in Sanscrit Sami-Ramesi or Isi, "que Sami arborem colit." Others, however, give a different etymology, and make the term Semiramis denote "a wild dove" (columbam feram montanamque), and a third class regard it as equivalent to "the mother of doves" (Semir or Somir, the Syriac for "a dove," and Amis). The worship of doves among the Syrians and Assyrians is well known, and appears to lie at the base of the whole fable. (Consult Voss., Idolol., 1, 23.-Creuzer, Symbolik, vol. 2, p. 70, seqq.-Von Hammer, Fundgruben des Orients,

SELLASIA, a town of Laconia, northeast of Sparta, and commanding one of the principal passes in the country. It was situate near the confluence of the Enus and Gongylus, in a valley confined between two mountains, named Evas and Olympus. (Polyb., 2, 6.) It commanded the only road by which an army could enter Laconia from the north, and was, therefore, a position of great importance for the defence of the capital. Thus, when Epaminondas made his attack on Sparta, his first object, after forcing the passes which led from Arcadia into the enemy's country, was to march directly upon Sellasia with all his troops. (Xen., Hist. Gr., 5, 5, 17.) Cleomenes, tyrant of Sparta, was attacked in this strong position by Antigonus Doson, and totally defeated after an obstinate conflict. (Polyb., 2, 66, seqq.)-No modern traveller appears to have explored the site of Sellasia. (Cramer's Anc. Greece, vol. 3, p. 221.)

SELLEIS, a river of Elis, in the Peloponnesus, rising in Mount Pholoë, and falling into the sea below the Peneus. Near its mouth stood the town of Ephyre. (Strabo, 337.)

SELYMBRIA, a city of Thrace, founded by the Megarensians at a still carlier period than Byzantium. (Scymn., c. 714.-Seylax, 28.- Herodot., 6, 33.) The name of its founder, the leader of the colony, was Selys (vc), at least, Strabo explains the name by Enkovs óhis (the city of Selys"), the term bria being the Thracian word for "a city." It became a flourishing city, of considerable strength, and for a long time defended itself against the inroads of the Thracians, and the attempts of Philip of Macedon. It fell at last, however, into the hands of this monarch. It sank in importance after this event. With the common people in the Doric dialect, the form Salambria was used. The writers of the middle ages give Selybria, from which comes the modern Selivria. The city changed its name at a late period to that of Eudoxiapolis, in honour of the wife of the Emperor Arcadius. (Mannert, Geogr., vol. 7, p. 173, seqq.)

SEMELE, a daughter of Cadmus by Hermione, the daughter of Mars and Venus. (Vid. Bacchus.)

SEMIRAMIS, a celebrated queen of Assyria, daughter of the goddess Derceto by a young Assyrian. She was exposed in a desert, but her life was preserved by doves for one whole year, till Simmas, one of the

Italians.-VIII. Another, called Frumentaria, by C. Sempronius Gracchus. It required that corn should be distributed among the people, so much to every individual, for every modius (or peck) of which it was required that they should only pay the trifling sum of a semissis and a triens.-IX. Another, de Usura, by M. Sempronius, the tribune, A.U.C. 560, long before the time of the Gracchi. It ordained that, in lending money to the Latins and the allies of Rome, the Roman laws should be observed as well as among the citizens. The object of this law was to check the fraud of usurers, who lent their money in the name of the allies at higher interest than what was allowed at Rome.-X. Another, de Judicibus, by C. Sempronius Gracchus, A.U.C. 630. It required that the right of

vol. 1, p. 209.-Id., ad Schirin., vol. 1, p. 36, n. 4.Dalberg, ad Scheik Mohammed, Fanis Dabistan, p. 110, seqq.-Bähr, ad Ctes., p. 415.)-Regarded as a matter of authentic history, the narrative of Semiramis presents many chronological difficulties. This is fully apparent in the discrepance that exists among various writers relative to the era of her reign. Thus, for example, if we adopt the traditions which Ctesias, Diodorus Siculus, Justin, Eusebius, and Georgius Syncellus have followed as their guides, Semiramis will have been anterior to Augustus at least eighteen centuries; while, on the other hand, Larcher makes her to have been the wife of Nabonassar, and to have exercised sovereign sway during the latter years of that prince's reign, when he was prevented from ruling by a severe malady. (Larcher, Hist. d'Herod.-Chro-judging, which had been assigned to the senatorian nol., vol. 7, p. 171.)

SEMNONES, called by Strabo Zéuvwveç, by Ptolemy Zeuvoves, by Velleins Paterculus Senones, and by Tacitus Semnones. They were a German nation, and, according to Velleius Paterculus (2, 106), the Albis or Elbe separated their territories from those of the Hermunduri; while, from Ptolemy's account, they would seem to have inhabited what is now Brandenburg. They originally formed a part of the kingdom of Maroboduus, but afterward separated from it along with the Langobardi. Mannert is of opinion that the name of Semnones was given by the German tribes, not to a single nation, but to all the nations in the vicinity of the Elbe, from whom the more southern Germans were descended. (Geogr., vol. 3, p. 334.) The Semnones must not be confounded with the Senones, a Celtic race who settled on the coast of Umbria. (Vid. Senones.)

order, should be transferred from them to the Roman
knights.-XI. Another, Militaris, by the same, A.U.C.
630. It enacted that the soldiers should be clothed at
the public expense, without any diminution of their
usual pay. It also ordered that no person should be
obliged to serve in the army before the age of seven-
teen. (Plut., Vit. Gracc.)

SEMPRONIUS, the father of the Gracchi.
Gracchus.)

(Vid.

SENA, I. Julia, a city of Etruria, to the east of Volaterræ. The designation Julia implies a colony founded by Julius or Augustus Cæsar. It is mentioned by Tacitus (Hist., 4, 45) and Pliny (3, 5). The modern name is Sienna.-II. A city of Umbria in Italy, on the seacoast, northwest of Ancona, and near the mouth of the river Misus. It was a settlement made by the Galli Senones, after their irruption into Italy, A.U.C. 396. The Romans colonized it after they had expelled, or, rather, exterminated the Senones, A.U.C. 471 (Polyb., 2, 19), but, according to Livy (Epit., 11), some years before that date. During the civil war between Sylla and Marius, Sena, which

SEMONES, an inferior class of divinities, such as Priapus, Silenus, the Fauns, &c. They were called Semones (i. e., semi-homines) from their holding a middle kind of rank between gods and men. Certain deified heroes were also included under this appella-sided with the latter, was taken and sacked by Pomtion. (Ovid, Fast., 6, 213.)

pey. (Appian, Civ. Bell., 1, 88.) The modern name is Senigaglia. (Cramer's Anc. Italy, vol. 1, p. 258.)

SEMPRONIA, I. a Roman matron, daughter of Scipio Africanus the elder, and mother of the two Gracchi. SENECA, I. M. ANNEUS, a rhetorician and orator, (Vid. Cornelia III.)-II. A sister of the Gracchi, and born at Corduba, in Spain, of equestrian family, about wife of the younger Scipio Africanus. She was sus- 58 B.C. He came to Rome, where he contracted an pected of having been privy, along with Carbo, Grac-intimate friendship with Porcius Latro, and where he chus, and Flaccus, to the murder of her husband.- taught rhetoric and oratory until his fifty-second year. The name of Sempronia was common to the females He then returned to his native city, and married Helof the families of the Sempronii, Scipios, and Gracchi.via, a female distinguished for her beauty and talents, SEMPRONIA LEX, I. de Magistratibus, by C. Sempronius Gracchus, the tribune, A.U.C. 630, ordained that no person who had been legally deprived of a magistracy for misdemeanours should be capable of bearing an office again. This law was afterward repealed by the author.—II. Another, de Civitate, by the same, A.U.C. 630. It ordained that no capital judgment should be passed over a Roman citizen without the order of the people.-III. Another, de Comitis, by the same, A.U.C. 635. It ordained that, in giving their votes, the centuries should be chosen by lot, and not give it according to the order of their classes. IV. Another, de Provinciis, by the same, A.U.C. 630. It enacted that the senators should appoint provinces for the consuls every year before their election.-V. Another, called agraria prima, by T. Sempronius Gracchus, the tribune, A U.C. 620. (Vid. Agrariæ Leges.) VI. Another, called agraria altera, by the same. It required that all the ready money which was found in the treasury of Attalus, king of Pergamus, who had left the Romans his heirs, should be divided among the poorer citizens of Rome, to supply them with all the various instruments requisite in husbandry, and that the lands of that monarch should be farmed out by the Roman censors, and the money drawn from thence should be divided among the people.-VII. Another, de Civitate Italis danda, by the same, that the freedom of the state should be given to all the

who made him the father of three sons, L. Annæus Seneca, the philosopher; M. Annæus Novatus, who, having been adopted by Junius Gallio, took the name of Junius Annæus Gallio, and was, as proprætor of Achaia, the judge of St. Paul (Acts, 18, 12); and Annæus Mela, the father of the poet Lucan. After the birth of his three sons, Seneca went back to Rome, and there passed the remainder of his life. We have two works of this writer remaining, one entitled Suasoriarum liber i., the other Controversiarum libri x. Each of these contains passages from discourses which had been pronounced on various occasions, and from debates which had taken place in the schools, in his presence, between the most celebrated rhetoricians. The subjects of these were fictitious causes or questions, proposed for discussion by the professors, such as the following: "Shall Alexander embark on the ocean?"-" Shall the three hundred Spartans at 'Thermopylæ, after being abandoned by the other Greeks, betake themselves to flight?"-"Shall Cicero apologize to Marc Antony ?"-"Shall Cicero consent to burn his works, if Antony insists upon the sacrifice?" &c.-Seneca addressed these works to his sons. discover in them some fine thoughts, and some traits of eloquence; but they are filled, at the same time, with subtle refinements and frigid declamation. We see plain indications of a declining taste. Neither of these productions is complete. They have been often

We

« PoprzedniaDalej »