It constitutes about Testament, among which are classed the
Writings
of
a seventh part of the whole work.
a seventh part of the whole work.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
1078–1081).
From this circumstance two
sterdam, 1639, 4to. ; subsequently by Hudson, in questions arise. Did Cedrenus borrow from Scy-
his “ Geographi Graeci Minores," and in the re- litzes, or Scylitzes from Cedrenus ? and, did Scy-
print of the same work by Gail, Paris, 1826 ; and litzes publish two editions of his history, or only
last of all by R. H. Klausen, attached to his frag- one? The former question is the more important.
ments of Hecataeus, Berlin, 1831.
As the history of Scylitzes, in its present form,
(Fabric. Bibl Graec. vol. iv. p. 606, &c. ; extends to a period more than twenty years after
Vossius, de Hist. Graecis, p. 166, ed. Westermann; that at which Cedrenus closes his work, the natural
Sainte-Croix, in Mém. de l'Acad. des Inscriptions, inference, if we judged from this circumstance
vol. xlii. p. 350 ; Niebuhr, Ueber das Alter des alone, would be that Scylitzes was the later writer.
Küstenbeschreibers Skylax von Karyanda, in his And this was the opinion of Fabrot, the Parisian
Kleine Schriften, vol. i. p. 105, &c. , translated in the editor of Cedrenus ; and of Henschenius. (Acta
Philological Museum, vol i. p. 245, &c. ; Ukert, Sanctorum Februar. a d. xi. Comment. de Impera-
Geographie der Griechen und Römer, vol. i. pt. ii. trice Theodora, $ 90, 97. ) As, however, the dates
p. 285, &c. ; the dissertations prefixed to Hudson's indicate that they were nearly contemporary, such
and Klausen's editions. )
an extensive incorporation as must have been prac-
SCYLAX (kúrat), an engraver of precious tised by one or the other could hardly have been
stones, whose time is unknown, but from whose practised without its being known ; and, if known,
hand we still possess some beautiful gems. (Stosch, there could be no reason why the borrower should
58, 59 ; Bracci, 101, 102, 103). [P. S. ) not avow the obligation. The question then turns
SCYLES (Exúans), son and successor of Aria- upon this point, has either of the two mentioned or
peithes, king of the Scythians in the time of He referred to the other? . Scylitzes, in his Prooemium,
rodotus. His mother was a Greek of Istria, who which is given in the original Greek by Montfaucon
taught him her own language, and imbued him (Biblioth. Coislin, p. 207, &c. ), from a MS. appa-
with an attachment to Greek customs and modes rently of the twelfth century, mentions Georgius
of life. The tastes thus acquired be used to gratify Syncellus (GEORGIUS, lit. and eccles. No. 46] and
at Olbia, a Milesian colony (as its inhabitants pro- Theophanes [THEOPHANES), as the only writers
fessed), at the mouth of the Borysthenes, where who, since the time of the ancients, had success-
he passed a great part of his time, having built a fully written history ; and says that, after them,
house there, and married a woman of the place. no one had devoted himself to the production of
Here he was detected by some of his countrymen similar works; that those who had attempted to
in the celebration of the Bacchic mysteries, where-write history had either given mere catalogues of
upon they withdrew their allegiance from him, and sovereigns, or had been influenced by the desire of
set up his brother, Octamasades, as king. Scyles, panegyrising or vituperating some prince or pa-
upon this, fled to Sitalces, king of Thrace ; but triarch or personal friend ; by which we suppose
the latter, on the invasion of his kingdom by a he means that they had written biography, and
Scythian army, surrendered him to Octamasades, that partially, instead of history. He enumerates
who caused him to be beheaded. (Herod. iv. 78 many writers of this class, as Theodorus Daph-
-80. )
[E. E. ] nopates [THEODORUS), Nicetas Paphlago [Nice-
SCYLITZES or SCYLITZA, JOANNES, a Tas, Byzantine writers, No. 9], Joseph Genesius
Byzantine historian, of the later period of the (Genesius), &c. But in neither class does he
empire, surnamed, from his office, CUROPALATES notice Cedrenus, whom, as the author of a recent
('Iwávvns Kouporahámns ó EKUAKT675); probably work of such extent, and to the merit of which,
also called (apud Cedren. Compend. sub init. ) had he transcribed it, he would thereby have borne
JOANNES THRACESIUS, and, from his office, Pro- a virtual testimony, he could hardly have over-
TOVESTIARIUS (ó TowTobeoriápos 'Iwdvons é Opa- looked. His silence, therefore, furnishes a strong,
;
3 C4
## p. 760 (#776) ############################################
760
SCYLITZES.
SCYLITZES.
if not a decisive argument against the priority and version is a manifest error, for the version itself
originality of Cedrenus. The title of the work comes down, as does the printed Greek tert, to the
from which this Prooemium is taken is thus given reign of Nicephorus Botaniotes. Gabius apparently
by Montfaucon, from the MS. , Súvoyıs iotopian translated the title of the MS. which he used ; and
συγγραφείσα παρά Ιωάννου κουροπαλάτου και | the name of Isaac Comnenus is probably an error
μεγάλου δρουγγαρίου της Βίγλας του Σκυλίτζη, (either of the transcriber of the MS. Or of the
Synopsis Iistoriarum Scripta a Joanne Scylitze Cu- translator) for Alexius Comnenus, Botaniotes' suc-
sopalata el Magno Drungurio Vigiliae. On the other cessor, to whose accession, as we shall presently see,
hand Cedrenus is a professed compiler : his work, the history extended in the author's purpose, if not in
which is also called úvollis io topiớv, Synopsis his performance. The earlier cessation of Cedrenus
Historiarum, is avowedly described in the title as narrative may be otherwise accounted for. It may
Outleyeira ék diapópw Bibalwv,“ ex diversis Libris be questioned whether he ever finished his work ;
collecta. " The Prooemium is so far identical with or whether, if he did, his work is extant in its
that of Scylitzes as to show that one has been entire forin (comp. Vossius, de Historicis Graec.
taken from the other, and adapted to the borrower's lib. ii. c. xxvi. ubi de Cedren. ): the actual conclu-
purpose. In a passage, however, peculiar to Ce-sion is abrupt ; and the point at which it terminates
drenus, he quotes as one of his chief authorities, a partakes not of the character of an historical epoch.
certain Joannes Protovestiarius, surnamed Thrace-To this it may be added that the extant work of
sius, whose manner of writing he describes in the Scylitzes, which is assumed to be the second edition,
very terins in which Scylitzes, in his Prooemium, does not make any reference to a former edition, or
had laid down his own principles of composition. bear any mark of a continuation having been ap-
The point at which Cedrenus describes the history pended at the place where the supposed first edition
of this Joannes Thracesius as commencing, is pre- concluded. Another consideration which weighs
cisely that at which the history of Scylitzes begins with us is this ; that the title of Protovestiarius
There can, therefore, we think, be no reasonable was, in the scale of Byzantine rank, above those of
doubt that Joannes Thracesius and Joannes Scy: Curopalata and Drungarius ; and was, therefore, it
litzes are the same person ; and their identity is is reasonable to suppose, the last attained (comp.
further established by a short piece in the Jus Codinus, de Official. Palat. CPolit. c. ii. ). We
Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius, mentioned below, see no reason, then, to suppose that there was more
in the title of which Joannes Thracesius is called than one edition.
Curopolata and Magnus Drungarius Vigiliarum. It remains to be considered at what date the
It is clear also that he wrote before Cedrenus; and history of Scylitzes was written, and to how late a
that the latter borrowed from him; and this is now period it extended. The abruptness of the termi-
the general conclusion of competent judges, includ nation of the work, as printed, in the middle of the
ing Vossius, Hankius, Pontunus, Goar, Labbe, short reign of Nicephorus Botaniotes, shows that
Lambecius, and Fabricius. It may be observed, we have it in an incomplete form, whether so left
however, that no other discredit than that of being by the author or derived from an imperfect copy.
a mere compiler justly attaches to Cedrenus from A MS. in the Imperial Library at Vienna, fully
this circumstance: he did not profess to be more described by Kollar (Supplement ad Lambecü Com-
than a compiler, and has fairly owned his obliga- mentar. lib. i. p. 613, &c. ), contains a variety of
tions both to Scylitzes, assuming the latter to be chronological and other tables, probably compiled
identical with Joannes Thracesius, and to other by Scylitzes (and which we shall presently notice),
writers from whom he borrowed. Had Scylitzes, and a copy of his Synopsis Historiarum, written, as
who does not mention Cedrenus, borrowed as Kollar judges, early in the twelfth century. This
largely from the latter and concealed his obliga- MS. is mutilated at the end of Scylitzes' Synopsis,
tion, he would have justly incurred the reproach so as to prevent our ascertaining at what point the
of endeavouring to deck himself out with stolen history concluded. But a list of Byzantine sore-
plumage.
reigns of both sexes, bearing the inscription of ev
The question whether Scylitzes published two τήδε τη βίβλφ αναγεγραμμένοι βασιλείς είσιν
editions of his history, though less important, de- cŮT01, Imperatores quorum Res in hoc Libro sunt
serves notice. Vossius, Hankius, and other critics con- conscriptae, sunt hi, ends with 'Alégios o Kominyòs,
tend that he did. Their opinion appears to rest on | έτη λς' μήνας δ' ημέρας ιδ', η γυνή αυτου Ειρήνη,
these circumstances : that, in the Latin translation Alerius Comnenus, annis septem et triginta, men-
of Scylitzes by Gabius (of which presently), the his. sibus quatuor, diebus quatuordecim. Uror ejus
tory is said in the title-page to extend to the reign of Irene. From this passage Kollar inferred that the
Isaac Comnenus, “ad imperium · Isaaci Comneni:" history included the whole reign of Alexius, and
that Cedrenus, who, in the latter part of his work, that the author must have written after its close in
transcribes Scylitzes, brings down his work only to A. d. 1118. But this inference, so far as it respects
A. D. 1057, and that, in speaking of Joannes Thra- the close of the history, is contradicted by the title
cesius, he gives him the title of Protovestiarius, of the history itself, which describes it as telev-
while in the MSS. of Scylitzes' own work he has τωσα ες την αναγόρευσιν 'Αλεξίου του Κομνηνού,
the titles of Curopalata and Magnus Drungarius In Alexii Comneni Coronatione desinens. The his-
Vigiliarum; and the work itself comes down to tory then included, or was intended to include, not
about 1080. From these premises it is inferred the whole reign of Alexius, but only its commence-
that Scylitzes first held the office of Protovestiarius, ment; though the extant, at least the published
and during that time published a first edition of copies do not reach even this point, thus evidencing
his work, coming down to A. D. 1057 ; and that their incompleteness. The writer, therefore, must
afterwards he attained the dignities of Curopalata have lived after the commencement ; and, if he
and Drungarius, and then published a second was the author of the table of sovereigns, after the
edition brought down to a later period. But this close of the reign of Alexius: but it may be doubted
reasoning is not satisfactory. The title of Gabius's whether that table was not added, or the length of
## p. 761 (#777) ############################################
SCYLITZES.
761
SCYLITZES.
1
66
1
each sovereign's reign inserted, by a subsequent appear, it may be hoped these tables will be pube
transcriber. All that can with certainty be concluded lished also. They are:- 1. Lúvouis TWv Xpows
is, that the printed editions and the known ΜSS. of | από της κτίσεως κόσμου, Synopsis annorum ο
the history do not complete the work, according to creatione mundi. It is little else than a list of
the description given in its title; and that the names, with their respective dates, beginning with
author filled the offices ascribed to him by Cedrenus Adam, and ending with the Roman emperors Dio-
and in the title of his own work. Whether he cletian and Maximian. 2. "Ooou ev Bučavtly dba-
lived after A. D. 1118 ; whether he held his several olevoar Xplotiavoi, Quot Byzantii imperium obti-
offices successively or simultaneously, and if suc- nuerunt Christiani, beginning with Constantine the
cessively, in what order, is quite uncertain. The Great, and ending with Nicephorus Botaniotes: the
theory of a double edition of his work, and the length of each emperor's reign is given. 3. Certain
succession of his offices deduced from that theory, historical epochs ; beginning Eiol oùv and 'Addu
rests, as we have shown, on no sufficient foundation. iws Toù KataKA VO MOŨ K. T. A. , Ab Adamo igitur
Even the assertion that he was a native of the usque ad Diluvium furerunt unni. 4. A list of
Thraccsian Thema is doubtful ; for Cedrenus, who the Kings of the Ten Tribes of Israel. 5. A list
calls him o Θρακήσιος, « Thracesius," does not of the High Priests of Ismel, beginning with
add to yévos, “ by birth," but od énovupov, “ by Aaron. 6. A list of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem.
surname," as if to guard against the otherwise 7. A list of the Bishops of Rome, ending with
obvious inference as to his birth-place. Possibly, Boniface II. , A. D. 530. 8. A list of the Bishops
like Georgius Trapezuntius (George of Trebizond), or Patriarchs of Byzantium, to Stephen, A. D. 886
he derived his surname from the original seat of his -893. 9. A list of the Patriarchs of Alexandria.
family. [GEORGIUS, literary and ecclesiastical, 10. A list of the Patriarchs of Antioch, ending
No. 48. ]
with the second patriarchate of Anastasius I. , A. D.
The work of Scylitzes, one of the most important 593. 11, 12. The Canonical Books of the Old and
of the Byzantine histories, has been singularly neg. New Testaments. 13. Controverted Books of the
lected. The unfounded opinion of Fabrot, the Pa- Old Testament, chiefly the Books of our Apocry-
risian editor of Cedrenus, that Scylitzes was merely pha. 14. Controverted Books of the New Testa-
the “ Cedreni simia,” led to the publication of only ment, including the Apocalypsis Joannis, and some
that part of Scylitzes which Cedrenus did not others not included in our canon, viz. , the Apoca-
transcribe, viz. , the part extending from 1057 to lypsis Petri, Barnabae Epistola, and the Evangelium
1080, and which those who suppose that there were secundum Hebraeos. 15. Spurious Books of the
two editions of the work regard as having been Old Testament. 16. Spurious Books of the New
added in the second edition.
It constitutes about Testament, among which are classed the Writings of
a seventh part of the whole work. The Paris Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Hernias.
edition of Cedrenus appeared in two vols. fol. 17. The Genealogy of the Roman Emperor Valen-
1647. The Excerpta ex Breviario Historico Joan- tinian I. Lambecius, and, after him, Fabricius,
nis Scylitzae Curopulatae, excipientia ubi Cedrenus doubted if all these tables were to be attributed to
desinit are in the second volume, and are illustrated Scylitzes : but Lambecius (according to Kollar)
with a Latin version (slightly altered from Gabius's) subsequently changed his opinion, and thought
and a few notes, by Goar. The Venice edition, they were his. (Kollar, Supplement, p. 618. )
fol. 1729, is a mere reprint of the foregoing ; though The Jus Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius (vol. i.
in the interim Montfaucon had published (Biblioth. p. 132, &c. ) contains, 'ThrouvTous ToŮ Kouporand-
Coislin. p. 207) the Prooemium, which, in an του και μεγάλου δρουγγαρίου της βίγλης Ιωάννου
αbridged or mutilated forτη, Cedrenus had adopted του Θρακησίου μετά την περί μνηστείας νεαράν γε-
as his own, and prefixed to his own work. In the νομένη προς τον αυτόν βασιλέα κύριον Αλέξιον περι
Bonn edition of Byzantine historians, it might Tivos dupisovlasémi taútpávaquelons, Suggestio C'u-
have been expected that the entire work of Scy- ropulatae, Magnique Drungarii Vigiliurum, Domini
litzes would bave appeared, even if the transcript Joannis Thracesii post promulgatam de Sponsalibus
of it in Cedrenus had been suppressed : but Bekker, Novellam obluta eilem Principi, Domino Alexio, de
the editor of Cedrenus, has been content to repeat ambiguitute quadam super haec enata. According to
the Excerpta of Fabrot, with the mere addition in Possevino (Apparatus Sacer. Catalog. ad fin. tom.
the margin of such supplements, both to Cedrenus, iii. p. 42), there were extant in MS. in the library
in the part transcribed from Scylitzes, and to of a convent of the monks of St. Basil, in the isle
the Excerpta, as could be obtained from MSS. , of Patmos, some other works of Scylitzes : – Joan-
including the Coislin MS. examined by Montfaucon, nis Scylitzae Varii Sermones Philosophici et Theolo-
but apparently not including the Vienna MS. The gici, of which the first was, nepi koopov xal ons
greater part of the Greek text of one of the most kar' aútov qúoews, De Mundo et ejus Natura : also
valuable of the Byzantine writers is yet, therefore, Ejusdem quaedam Epistolae. The dissertations
unpublished in its original and proper form. would be curious, as Scylitzes appears to have had
A Latin version of the whole work (with the ex. little respect for the property, whatever he may
ception of some lacunae), by:Joannes Baptista Gabius bave had for the doctrines of the Church. He vin-
(Giovanni Battista Gabio), Greek professor at Rome, dicates in his history (p. 808, ed. Paris, p. 642, ed.
was published, fol. Venice, 1570. A part of this Bonn) the conduct of Isaac Comnenus, in seizing
version accompanies the Greek text of the Excerpta the superfluous wealth of the monasteries, and
in the above editions. Gabio writes his author's wishes that he had been able to treat the whole
name Scillizza or Scyllizzes.
Church in a similar way. (See, however, Mont-
The tables prefixed to the work of Scylitzes in faucon, Bibl. Coisl. p. 206. ) Possibly, however,
'the Vienna MS. were conjectured by Kollar to the Patmos MSS. may contain the works of a
have been collected or compiled by Scylitzes as in-younger Joannes Scylitzes, different from the
troductory to his work. This is not unlikely ; and historian, who is mentioned by Nic. Comnenus
whenever the whole of the text of Scylitzes shall | Papadopoli, but whose writings Fabricius bad
.
1
## p. 762 (#778) ############################################
762
SCYLLA.
'SCYTHES.
not seen.
(Vossius, De Historicis Graecis, lib. ii. SCYLLIS. (DIPOEN US. )
c. xxvi. ; Hankius, De Byzantin. rerum Scriptoribus, SCYMNUS (Xxúuvos), of Chios, wrote a Pe
pars.
i. c.
C. xxvii. ; Lambecius, Comment. de Biblioth. riegesis, or description of the earth, which is referred
Cucsaraea, vol. ii. p. 232, &c. ed. Kollar ; Kollar, to in a few passages of Stephanus and other later
Supplement. ad Lambec. l. c. ; Cave, Hist. Litt. writers (Steph. Byz. s. vo. Nápos, 'Epucvarra,
vol. ii. p. 155, ed. Oxford, 1740-1743 ; Mont-'Ayaon, "Apews voos ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod.
faucon, Bill. Coislin, p. 206, &c. ; Goar, Notae iv. 284 ; Apollon. Hist. Mirab. 15, where we
Posteriores 'in Cedrcnum, sub init. ; Oudin, De should read Ikúuvos instead of Exutivos). A
Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, vol. ii. col. 745, &c. ; Fa- brief Periegesis, written in lambic metre, and con-
bric. Bill. Graec. vol. vii. pp. 464, &c. , 722, &c. , sisting of nearly one thousand lines, has come
vol. xi. pp. 644,651; Allatius, Diatriba de Gcorgiis, down to us. This poem, as appears from the
apud Fabric. vol. xii. p. 33; Labbe, Catalog. author's own statement, was written in imitation
Scriptor. llist. Byzant. Nos. ix. x. ; Appar. Hist. of a similar work in iambic verses, composed by the
Byzantin. pars ii. prefixed to the Paris edition of Athenian A pollodorus (see Vol. I. p. 234, b. ), and
the Byzantine writers. )
(J. C. M. ] is dedicated to king Nicomedes, whom some modern
SCYLLA (EXúlla) and Charybdis, the names writers suppose to be the same as Nicomedes III. ,
of two rocks between Italy and Sicily, and only king of Bithynia, who died B. c. 74 ; but this is quite
a short distance from one another. In the midst uncertain. A portion of this poem was first pube
of the one of these rocks which was nearest to lished by Hoeschel, under the name of Marcianus
Iuly, there dwelt, according to Ilomer, Scylla, a Heracleotes, along with other Greek geographers,
daughter of Cratacis, a fearful monster, barking Augsburg, 1600, 8vo. ; and again by Morell, also
like a dog, with twelve feet, six long necks and under the name of Marcianus, Paris, 1606, Svo.
mouths, each of which contained three rows of But Lucas Holstenius and Is. Vossius maintained
sharp teeth. The opposite rock, which was much that this poem was written by Scymnus Chius,
lower, contained an immense fig-tree, under which and is the work referred to in the passages of the
there dwelt Charybdis, who thrice every day ancient writers quoted above. Their opinion was
swallowed down the waters of the sea, and thrice adopted by Dodwell, in his dissertation De Scymno
threw them up again: both were formidable to the Chio, § 7, and the poem was accordingly printed
ships which had to pass between them (Hom. Od. under the name of Scymnus, by Hudson and by
xii. 73, &c. , 235, &c. ). Later traditions represent Gail, in the Geographi Graeci Minores, as well as
Scylla as a daughter of Phorcys or Phorbas, by by B. Fabricius, in his recent edition of the work,
Hecate Crataeis (Apollon. Rhod. iv. 828, &c. , with Leipzig, 1846. Meineke, however, has shown,
the Scholiast), or by Lamia ; while others make most satisfactorily, in his edition of the poem pube
her a daughter of Triton, or Poseidon and Crataeis lished shortly after that of Fabricius (Berlin, 1846),
(Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1714), or of Typhon and that the Periegesis of Scymnus Chius quoted by
Echidna (Hygin. Fab. praef. ). Some, again, de- the ancient writers was written in prose, and was
scribe her as a monster with six heads of different an entirely different work from the extant poem,
animals, or with only three heads (Tzetz. ad Ly the author of which is quite unknown.
coph. 650 ; Eustath. 1. c. ). One tradition relates that SCYMNUS, artists. 1. A statuary and silver.
Scylla originally was a beautiful maiden, who often chaser, of high celebrity, but none of whose works
played with the nymphs of the sea, and was beloved were known in Pliny's time. He was the pupil
by the marine god Glaucus. He applied to Circe for of Critios, and must therefore have flourished
means to make Scylla return his love ; but Circe, about Ol. 83, B. C. 448. (Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 8. 8.
jealous of the fair maiden, threw magic herbs into 19. $ 25. )
the well in which Scylla was wont to bathe, and by 2. An engraver of precious stones, one beautiful
these herbs the maiden was metamorphosed in such specimen of whose work is extant. It is not
a manner, that the upper part of her body remained known whether or not he was the same person as
that of a woman, while the lower part was changed the preceding. (R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn,
into the tail of a fish or serpent, surrounded by p.
sterdam, 1639, 4to. ; subsequently by Hudson, in questions arise. Did Cedrenus borrow from Scy-
his “ Geographi Graeci Minores," and in the re- litzes, or Scylitzes from Cedrenus ? and, did Scy-
print of the same work by Gail, Paris, 1826 ; and litzes publish two editions of his history, or only
last of all by R. H. Klausen, attached to his frag- one? The former question is the more important.
ments of Hecataeus, Berlin, 1831.
As the history of Scylitzes, in its present form,
(Fabric. Bibl Graec. vol. iv. p. 606, &c. ; extends to a period more than twenty years after
Vossius, de Hist. Graecis, p. 166, ed. Westermann; that at which Cedrenus closes his work, the natural
Sainte-Croix, in Mém. de l'Acad. des Inscriptions, inference, if we judged from this circumstance
vol. xlii. p. 350 ; Niebuhr, Ueber das Alter des alone, would be that Scylitzes was the later writer.
Küstenbeschreibers Skylax von Karyanda, in his And this was the opinion of Fabrot, the Parisian
Kleine Schriften, vol. i. p. 105, &c. , translated in the editor of Cedrenus ; and of Henschenius. (Acta
Philological Museum, vol i. p. 245, &c. ; Ukert, Sanctorum Februar. a d. xi. Comment. de Impera-
Geographie der Griechen und Römer, vol. i. pt. ii. trice Theodora, $ 90, 97. ) As, however, the dates
p. 285, &c. ; the dissertations prefixed to Hudson's indicate that they were nearly contemporary, such
and Klausen's editions. )
an extensive incorporation as must have been prac-
SCYLAX (kúrat), an engraver of precious tised by one or the other could hardly have been
stones, whose time is unknown, but from whose practised without its being known ; and, if known,
hand we still possess some beautiful gems. (Stosch, there could be no reason why the borrower should
58, 59 ; Bracci, 101, 102, 103). [P. S. ) not avow the obligation. The question then turns
SCYLES (Exúans), son and successor of Aria- upon this point, has either of the two mentioned or
peithes, king of the Scythians in the time of He referred to the other? . Scylitzes, in his Prooemium,
rodotus. His mother was a Greek of Istria, who which is given in the original Greek by Montfaucon
taught him her own language, and imbued him (Biblioth. Coislin, p. 207, &c. ), from a MS. appa-
with an attachment to Greek customs and modes rently of the twelfth century, mentions Georgius
of life. The tastes thus acquired be used to gratify Syncellus (GEORGIUS, lit. and eccles. No. 46] and
at Olbia, a Milesian colony (as its inhabitants pro- Theophanes [THEOPHANES), as the only writers
fessed), at the mouth of the Borysthenes, where who, since the time of the ancients, had success-
he passed a great part of his time, having built a fully written history ; and says that, after them,
house there, and married a woman of the place. no one had devoted himself to the production of
Here he was detected by some of his countrymen similar works; that those who had attempted to
in the celebration of the Bacchic mysteries, where-write history had either given mere catalogues of
upon they withdrew their allegiance from him, and sovereigns, or had been influenced by the desire of
set up his brother, Octamasades, as king. Scyles, panegyrising or vituperating some prince or pa-
upon this, fled to Sitalces, king of Thrace ; but triarch or personal friend ; by which we suppose
the latter, on the invasion of his kingdom by a he means that they had written biography, and
Scythian army, surrendered him to Octamasades, that partially, instead of history. He enumerates
who caused him to be beheaded. (Herod. iv. 78 many writers of this class, as Theodorus Daph-
-80. )
[E. E. ] nopates [THEODORUS), Nicetas Paphlago [Nice-
SCYLITZES or SCYLITZA, JOANNES, a Tas, Byzantine writers, No. 9], Joseph Genesius
Byzantine historian, of the later period of the (Genesius), &c. But in neither class does he
empire, surnamed, from his office, CUROPALATES notice Cedrenus, whom, as the author of a recent
('Iwávvns Kouporahámns ó EKUAKT675); probably work of such extent, and to the merit of which,
also called (apud Cedren. Compend. sub init. ) had he transcribed it, he would thereby have borne
JOANNES THRACESIUS, and, from his office, Pro- a virtual testimony, he could hardly have over-
TOVESTIARIUS (ó TowTobeoriápos 'Iwdvons é Opa- looked. His silence, therefore, furnishes a strong,
;
3 C4
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760
SCYLITZES.
SCYLITZES.
if not a decisive argument against the priority and version is a manifest error, for the version itself
originality of Cedrenus. The title of the work comes down, as does the printed Greek tert, to the
from which this Prooemium is taken is thus given reign of Nicephorus Botaniotes. Gabius apparently
by Montfaucon, from the MS. , Súvoyıs iotopian translated the title of the MS. which he used ; and
συγγραφείσα παρά Ιωάννου κουροπαλάτου και | the name of Isaac Comnenus is probably an error
μεγάλου δρουγγαρίου της Βίγλας του Σκυλίτζη, (either of the transcriber of the MS. Or of the
Synopsis Iistoriarum Scripta a Joanne Scylitze Cu- translator) for Alexius Comnenus, Botaniotes' suc-
sopalata el Magno Drungurio Vigiliae. On the other cessor, to whose accession, as we shall presently see,
hand Cedrenus is a professed compiler : his work, the history extended in the author's purpose, if not in
which is also called úvollis io topiớv, Synopsis his performance. The earlier cessation of Cedrenus
Historiarum, is avowedly described in the title as narrative may be otherwise accounted for. It may
Outleyeira ék diapópw Bibalwv,“ ex diversis Libris be questioned whether he ever finished his work ;
collecta. " The Prooemium is so far identical with or whether, if he did, his work is extant in its
that of Scylitzes as to show that one has been entire forin (comp. Vossius, de Historicis Graec.
taken from the other, and adapted to the borrower's lib. ii. c. xxvi. ubi de Cedren. ): the actual conclu-
purpose. In a passage, however, peculiar to Ce-sion is abrupt ; and the point at which it terminates
drenus, he quotes as one of his chief authorities, a partakes not of the character of an historical epoch.
certain Joannes Protovestiarius, surnamed Thrace-To this it may be added that the extant work of
sius, whose manner of writing he describes in the Scylitzes, which is assumed to be the second edition,
very terins in which Scylitzes, in his Prooemium, does not make any reference to a former edition, or
had laid down his own principles of composition. bear any mark of a continuation having been ap-
The point at which Cedrenus describes the history pended at the place where the supposed first edition
of this Joannes Thracesius as commencing, is pre- concluded. Another consideration which weighs
cisely that at which the history of Scylitzes begins with us is this ; that the title of Protovestiarius
There can, therefore, we think, be no reasonable was, in the scale of Byzantine rank, above those of
doubt that Joannes Thracesius and Joannes Scy: Curopalata and Drungarius ; and was, therefore, it
litzes are the same person ; and their identity is is reasonable to suppose, the last attained (comp.
further established by a short piece in the Jus Codinus, de Official. Palat. CPolit. c. ii. ). We
Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius, mentioned below, see no reason, then, to suppose that there was more
in the title of which Joannes Thracesius is called than one edition.
Curopolata and Magnus Drungarius Vigiliarum. It remains to be considered at what date the
It is clear also that he wrote before Cedrenus; and history of Scylitzes was written, and to how late a
that the latter borrowed from him; and this is now period it extended. The abruptness of the termi-
the general conclusion of competent judges, includ nation of the work, as printed, in the middle of the
ing Vossius, Hankius, Pontunus, Goar, Labbe, short reign of Nicephorus Botaniotes, shows that
Lambecius, and Fabricius. It may be observed, we have it in an incomplete form, whether so left
however, that no other discredit than that of being by the author or derived from an imperfect copy.
a mere compiler justly attaches to Cedrenus from A MS. in the Imperial Library at Vienna, fully
this circumstance: he did not profess to be more described by Kollar (Supplement ad Lambecü Com-
than a compiler, and has fairly owned his obliga- mentar. lib. i. p. 613, &c. ), contains a variety of
tions both to Scylitzes, assuming the latter to be chronological and other tables, probably compiled
identical with Joannes Thracesius, and to other by Scylitzes (and which we shall presently notice),
writers from whom he borrowed. Had Scylitzes, and a copy of his Synopsis Historiarum, written, as
who does not mention Cedrenus, borrowed as Kollar judges, early in the twelfth century. This
largely from the latter and concealed his obliga- MS. is mutilated at the end of Scylitzes' Synopsis,
tion, he would have justly incurred the reproach so as to prevent our ascertaining at what point the
of endeavouring to deck himself out with stolen history concluded. But a list of Byzantine sore-
plumage.
reigns of both sexes, bearing the inscription of ev
The question whether Scylitzes published two τήδε τη βίβλφ αναγεγραμμένοι βασιλείς είσιν
editions of his history, though less important, de- cŮT01, Imperatores quorum Res in hoc Libro sunt
serves notice. Vossius, Hankius, and other critics con- conscriptae, sunt hi, ends with 'Alégios o Kominyòs,
tend that he did. Their opinion appears to rest on | έτη λς' μήνας δ' ημέρας ιδ', η γυνή αυτου Ειρήνη,
these circumstances : that, in the Latin translation Alerius Comnenus, annis septem et triginta, men-
of Scylitzes by Gabius (of which presently), the his. sibus quatuor, diebus quatuordecim. Uror ejus
tory is said in the title-page to extend to the reign of Irene. From this passage Kollar inferred that the
Isaac Comnenus, “ad imperium · Isaaci Comneni:" history included the whole reign of Alexius, and
that Cedrenus, who, in the latter part of his work, that the author must have written after its close in
transcribes Scylitzes, brings down his work only to A. d. 1118. But this inference, so far as it respects
A. D. 1057, and that, in speaking of Joannes Thra- the close of the history, is contradicted by the title
cesius, he gives him the title of Protovestiarius, of the history itself, which describes it as telev-
while in the MSS. of Scylitzes' own work he has τωσα ες την αναγόρευσιν 'Αλεξίου του Κομνηνού,
the titles of Curopalata and Magnus Drungarius In Alexii Comneni Coronatione desinens. The his-
Vigiliarum; and the work itself comes down to tory then included, or was intended to include, not
about 1080. From these premises it is inferred the whole reign of Alexius, but only its commence-
that Scylitzes first held the office of Protovestiarius, ment; though the extant, at least the published
and during that time published a first edition of copies do not reach even this point, thus evidencing
his work, coming down to A. D. 1057 ; and that their incompleteness. The writer, therefore, must
afterwards he attained the dignities of Curopalata have lived after the commencement ; and, if he
and Drungarius, and then published a second was the author of the table of sovereigns, after the
edition brought down to a later period. But this close of the reign of Alexius: but it may be doubted
reasoning is not satisfactory. The title of Gabius's whether that table was not added, or the length of
## p. 761 (#777) ############################################
SCYLITZES.
761
SCYLITZES.
1
66
1
each sovereign's reign inserted, by a subsequent appear, it may be hoped these tables will be pube
transcriber. All that can with certainty be concluded lished also. They are:- 1. Lúvouis TWv Xpows
is, that the printed editions and the known ΜSS. of | από της κτίσεως κόσμου, Synopsis annorum ο
the history do not complete the work, according to creatione mundi. It is little else than a list of
the description given in its title; and that the names, with their respective dates, beginning with
author filled the offices ascribed to him by Cedrenus Adam, and ending with the Roman emperors Dio-
and in the title of his own work. Whether he cletian and Maximian. 2. "Ooou ev Bučavtly dba-
lived after A. D. 1118 ; whether he held his several olevoar Xplotiavoi, Quot Byzantii imperium obti-
offices successively or simultaneously, and if suc- nuerunt Christiani, beginning with Constantine the
cessively, in what order, is quite uncertain. The Great, and ending with Nicephorus Botaniotes: the
theory of a double edition of his work, and the length of each emperor's reign is given. 3. Certain
succession of his offices deduced from that theory, historical epochs ; beginning Eiol oùv and 'Addu
rests, as we have shown, on no sufficient foundation. iws Toù KataKA VO MOŨ K. T. A. , Ab Adamo igitur
Even the assertion that he was a native of the usque ad Diluvium furerunt unni. 4. A list of
Thraccsian Thema is doubtful ; for Cedrenus, who the Kings of the Ten Tribes of Israel. 5. A list
calls him o Θρακήσιος, « Thracesius," does not of the High Priests of Ismel, beginning with
add to yévos, “ by birth," but od énovupov, “ by Aaron. 6. A list of the Patriarchs of Jerusalem.
surname," as if to guard against the otherwise 7. A list of the Bishops of Rome, ending with
obvious inference as to his birth-place. Possibly, Boniface II. , A. D. 530. 8. A list of the Bishops
like Georgius Trapezuntius (George of Trebizond), or Patriarchs of Byzantium, to Stephen, A. D. 886
he derived his surname from the original seat of his -893. 9. A list of the Patriarchs of Alexandria.
family. [GEORGIUS, literary and ecclesiastical, 10. A list of the Patriarchs of Antioch, ending
No. 48. ]
with the second patriarchate of Anastasius I. , A. D.
The work of Scylitzes, one of the most important 593. 11, 12. The Canonical Books of the Old and
of the Byzantine histories, has been singularly neg. New Testaments. 13. Controverted Books of the
lected. The unfounded opinion of Fabrot, the Pa- Old Testament, chiefly the Books of our Apocry-
risian editor of Cedrenus, that Scylitzes was merely pha. 14. Controverted Books of the New Testa-
the “ Cedreni simia,” led to the publication of only ment, including the Apocalypsis Joannis, and some
that part of Scylitzes which Cedrenus did not others not included in our canon, viz. , the Apoca-
transcribe, viz. , the part extending from 1057 to lypsis Petri, Barnabae Epistola, and the Evangelium
1080, and which those who suppose that there were secundum Hebraeos. 15. Spurious Books of the
two editions of the work regard as having been Old Testament. 16. Spurious Books of the New
added in the second edition.
It constitutes about Testament, among which are classed the Writings of
a seventh part of the whole work. The Paris Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Hernias.
edition of Cedrenus appeared in two vols. fol. 17. The Genealogy of the Roman Emperor Valen-
1647. The Excerpta ex Breviario Historico Joan- tinian I. Lambecius, and, after him, Fabricius,
nis Scylitzae Curopulatae, excipientia ubi Cedrenus doubted if all these tables were to be attributed to
desinit are in the second volume, and are illustrated Scylitzes : but Lambecius (according to Kollar)
with a Latin version (slightly altered from Gabius's) subsequently changed his opinion, and thought
and a few notes, by Goar. The Venice edition, they were his. (Kollar, Supplement, p. 618. )
fol. 1729, is a mere reprint of the foregoing ; though The Jus Graeco-Romanum of Leunclavius (vol. i.
in the interim Montfaucon had published (Biblioth. p. 132, &c. ) contains, 'ThrouvTous ToŮ Kouporand-
Coislin. p. 207) the Prooemium, which, in an του και μεγάλου δρουγγαρίου της βίγλης Ιωάννου
αbridged or mutilated forτη, Cedrenus had adopted του Θρακησίου μετά την περί μνηστείας νεαράν γε-
as his own, and prefixed to his own work. In the νομένη προς τον αυτόν βασιλέα κύριον Αλέξιον περι
Bonn edition of Byzantine historians, it might Tivos dupisovlasémi taútpávaquelons, Suggestio C'u-
have been expected that the entire work of Scy- ropulatae, Magnique Drungarii Vigiliurum, Domini
litzes would bave appeared, even if the transcript Joannis Thracesii post promulgatam de Sponsalibus
of it in Cedrenus had been suppressed : but Bekker, Novellam obluta eilem Principi, Domino Alexio, de
the editor of Cedrenus, has been content to repeat ambiguitute quadam super haec enata. According to
the Excerpta of Fabrot, with the mere addition in Possevino (Apparatus Sacer. Catalog. ad fin. tom.
the margin of such supplements, both to Cedrenus, iii. p. 42), there were extant in MS. in the library
in the part transcribed from Scylitzes, and to of a convent of the monks of St. Basil, in the isle
the Excerpta, as could be obtained from MSS. , of Patmos, some other works of Scylitzes : – Joan-
including the Coislin MS. examined by Montfaucon, nis Scylitzae Varii Sermones Philosophici et Theolo-
but apparently not including the Vienna MS. The gici, of which the first was, nepi koopov xal ons
greater part of the Greek text of one of the most kar' aútov qúoews, De Mundo et ejus Natura : also
valuable of the Byzantine writers is yet, therefore, Ejusdem quaedam Epistolae. The dissertations
unpublished in its original and proper form. would be curious, as Scylitzes appears to have had
A Latin version of the whole work (with the ex. little respect for the property, whatever he may
ception of some lacunae), by:Joannes Baptista Gabius bave had for the doctrines of the Church. He vin-
(Giovanni Battista Gabio), Greek professor at Rome, dicates in his history (p. 808, ed. Paris, p. 642, ed.
was published, fol. Venice, 1570. A part of this Bonn) the conduct of Isaac Comnenus, in seizing
version accompanies the Greek text of the Excerpta the superfluous wealth of the monasteries, and
in the above editions. Gabio writes his author's wishes that he had been able to treat the whole
name Scillizza or Scyllizzes.
Church in a similar way. (See, however, Mont-
The tables prefixed to the work of Scylitzes in faucon, Bibl. Coisl. p. 206. ) Possibly, however,
'the Vienna MS. were conjectured by Kollar to the Patmos MSS. may contain the works of a
have been collected or compiled by Scylitzes as in-younger Joannes Scylitzes, different from the
troductory to his work. This is not unlikely ; and historian, who is mentioned by Nic. Comnenus
whenever the whole of the text of Scylitzes shall | Papadopoli, but whose writings Fabricius bad
.
1
## p. 762 (#778) ############################################
762
SCYLLA.
'SCYTHES.
not seen.
(Vossius, De Historicis Graecis, lib. ii. SCYLLIS. (DIPOEN US. )
c. xxvi. ; Hankius, De Byzantin. rerum Scriptoribus, SCYMNUS (Xxúuvos), of Chios, wrote a Pe
pars.
i. c.
C. xxvii. ; Lambecius, Comment. de Biblioth. riegesis, or description of the earth, which is referred
Cucsaraea, vol. ii. p. 232, &c. ed. Kollar ; Kollar, to in a few passages of Stephanus and other later
Supplement. ad Lambec. l. c. ; Cave, Hist. Litt. writers (Steph. Byz. s. vo. Nápos, 'Epucvarra,
vol. ii. p. 155, ed. Oxford, 1740-1743 ; Mont-'Ayaon, "Apews voos ; Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod.
faucon, Bill. Coislin, p. 206, &c. ; Goar, Notae iv. 284 ; Apollon. Hist. Mirab. 15, where we
Posteriores 'in Cedrcnum, sub init. ; Oudin, De should read Ikúuvos instead of Exutivos). A
Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, vol. ii. col. 745, &c. ; Fa- brief Periegesis, written in lambic metre, and con-
bric. Bill. Graec. vol. vii. pp. 464, &c. , 722, &c. , sisting of nearly one thousand lines, has come
vol. xi. pp. 644,651; Allatius, Diatriba de Gcorgiis, down to us. This poem, as appears from the
apud Fabric. vol. xii. p. 33; Labbe, Catalog. author's own statement, was written in imitation
Scriptor. llist. Byzant. Nos. ix. x. ; Appar. Hist. of a similar work in iambic verses, composed by the
Byzantin. pars ii. prefixed to the Paris edition of Athenian A pollodorus (see Vol. I. p. 234, b. ), and
the Byzantine writers. )
(J. C. M. ] is dedicated to king Nicomedes, whom some modern
SCYLLA (EXúlla) and Charybdis, the names writers suppose to be the same as Nicomedes III. ,
of two rocks between Italy and Sicily, and only king of Bithynia, who died B. c. 74 ; but this is quite
a short distance from one another. In the midst uncertain. A portion of this poem was first pube
of the one of these rocks which was nearest to lished by Hoeschel, under the name of Marcianus
Iuly, there dwelt, according to Ilomer, Scylla, a Heracleotes, along with other Greek geographers,
daughter of Cratacis, a fearful monster, barking Augsburg, 1600, 8vo. ; and again by Morell, also
like a dog, with twelve feet, six long necks and under the name of Marcianus, Paris, 1606, Svo.
mouths, each of which contained three rows of But Lucas Holstenius and Is. Vossius maintained
sharp teeth. The opposite rock, which was much that this poem was written by Scymnus Chius,
lower, contained an immense fig-tree, under which and is the work referred to in the passages of the
there dwelt Charybdis, who thrice every day ancient writers quoted above. Their opinion was
swallowed down the waters of the sea, and thrice adopted by Dodwell, in his dissertation De Scymno
threw them up again: both were formidable to the Chio, § 7, and the poem was accordingly printed
ships which had to pass between them (Hom. Od. under the name of Scymnus, by Hudson and by
xii. 73, &c. , 235, &c. ). Later traditions represent Gail, in the Geographi Graeci Minores, as well as
Scylla as a daughter of Phorcys or Phorbas, by by B. Fabricius, in his recent edition of the work,
Hecate Crataeis (Apollon. Rhod. iv. 828, &c. , with Leipzig, 1846. Meineke, however, has shown,
the Scholiast), or by Lamia ; while others make most satisfactorily, in his edition of the poem pube
her a daughter of Triton, or Poseidon and Crataeis lished shortly after that of Fabricius (Berlin, 1846),
(Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1714), or of Typhon and that the Periegesis of Scymnus Chius quoted by
Echidna (Hygin. Fab. praef. ). Some, again, de- the ancient writers was written in prose, and was
scribe her as a monster with six heads of different an entirely different work from the extant poem,
animals, or with only three heads (Tzetz. ad Ly the author of which is quite unknown.
coph. 650 ; Eustath. 1. c. ). One tradition relates that SCYMNUS, artists. 1. A statuary and silver.
Scylla originally was a beautiful maiden, who often chaser, of high celebrity, but none of whose works
played with the nymphs of the sea, and was beloved were known in Pliny's time. He was the pupil
by the marine god Glaucus. He applied to Circe for of Critios, and must therefore have flourished
means to make Scylla return his love ; but Circe, about Ol. 83, B. C. 448. (Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 8. 8.
jealous of the fair maiden, threw magic herbs into 19. $ 25. )
the well in which Scylla was wont to bathe, and by 2. An engraver of precious stones, one beautiful
these herbs the maiden was metamorphosed in such specimen of whose work is extant. It is not
a manner, that the upper part of her body remained known whether or not he was the same person as
that of a woman, while the lower part was changed the preceding. (R. Rochette, Lettre à M. Schorn,
into the tail of a fish or serpent, surrounded by p.
