681 ; the latter writer tells the story with a
Diatribe
in Dithyramb.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
185, c.
; for another story see Cic.
Fin.
p
especially by Quintilian (xi. 2. § 11; comp. Val. ii. 32). One of his epigrams (No. 197) was written
Max. i. 8 ; Aristeid. Orat. iv. p. 584 ; Phaed. Fab. on the occasion of the restoration of the sanctuary
iv. 24; Ovid. Ib. 513, 514, &c. ; see Schneidewin, of the Lycomidae by Themistocles. Respecting
pp. xi. foll. ). It appears that the Ode believed to the enmity between Simonides and the poet Timo-
have been sung on this occasion was that same creon of Rhodes, see Schneidewin, p. xviii.
p.
Epinician Ode to which allusion has been already The battle of Plataeae (B. C. 479) furnished
made, and of which we possess the half relating to Simonides with another subject for an elegy (Fr.
Scopas himself, though we have lost the other half, 59; comp. Epig. 199), and gave occasion for the
which referred to the Dioscuri.
celebrated epigram (No. 198), which he composed
That the story is altogether fabulous can by no for Pausanias, who inscribed it on the tripod dedi-
means be maintained ; although, in the form in cated by the Greeks at Delphi out of the Persian
which it has now come down to us, it must be spoils ; but which, on account of its arrogant
classed with those legends which embodied the pre-ascription of all the honour of the victory to Puu-
;
## p. 835 (#851) ############################################
SIMONIDES.
835
SIMONIDES.
sanias himself, was erased by the Lacedaemonians, | His sepulchre is said by Suidas (s. c. ) to have been
who substituted for it the names of the states ruthlessly destroyed by Phoenix, a general of the
which had taken part in the battle (Thuc. i. 132 ; | Agrigentines, who used its materials for the con-
Paus. iii. 8. & 1). Various stories are told respect struction of a tower, when he was besieging
ing the poet's intimacy with Pausanias ; and, Syracuse.
among them, that, the king having called upon the Little space is left to describe the personal and
poet for some wise saying, Simonides replied, poetical character of Simonides, and this has al-
“ Remember that thou art a man. ” Pausanias ready been done so well by Ottfried Müller, that
made light of the warning, until he was shut up it is hardly necessary to say very much. (Ilist. Lil.
in the brazen house, when he was heard to ex- Anc. Greece, vol. i. pp. 208, foll. ) Belonging to a
claim, 'n téve Keie, uéya ti åpa xpñua th ó nógos people eminent for their orderly and virtuous cha-
cou, dyo sè Úr' avoias ougèv avtov vuny elval racier (Pat. Protag. p. 34), c. , see Sullbaum's
(Plutarch, Consol. ad Apollon. p. 105, a ; Aelian, note), Simonides himself became proverbial for that
V. 11. ix. 41). The story certainly bears a very virtue which the Greeks called owopooúvn, tem-
suspicious likeness to the well-known tale of perance, order, and self command in one's own
Croesus and Solon.
conduct, and moderation in one's opinions and
Simonides had completed his eightieth year, when desires and views of human life ; and this spirit
his long poetical carcer at Athens was crowned by breathes through all his poetry. (Schn. p. xxxiii. )
the victory which he gained with the dithy- His reverence for religion is shown in his treat-
rambic chorus, in the archonship of Adeimantus, ment of the ancient myths. His political and
two years later than the battle of Plataeae (Ol. moral wisdom has already been referred to ; it often
75. , B. C. 477), being the fifty-sixth prize which assumed a polemic character ; and he appears to
he had carried off (Epig. 203, 204).
have been especially anxious to emulate the fame
It must have been shortly after this that he was of the Seven Wise Men, both for their wisdom
invited to Syracuse by Hiero, at whose court he itself, and for their brief sententious form of ex-
lived till his death in B. C. 467. On his way to pressing it ; and some ancient writers even reckoned
Sicily he appears to have visited Magna Graecia, him in the number of those sages. (Plat. Protag.
and at Tarentum he is said to have been a second p. 343, c. ; comp. Schn. p. xxxvi. foll. ) The leading
time miraculously preserved from destruction as principle of his philosophy appears to have been
the reward of his piety (Liban. vol. iv. p. 1101, the calm enjoyment of the pleasures of the present
Reiske ; Epig. 183, 184). He served Hiero by life, both intellectual and material, the making as
his wisdom as well as by his art, for, immediately light as possible of its cares, patience in bearing its
after his arrival in Sicily, he became the mediator evils, and moderation in the standard by which
of a peace between Hiero and Theron of Agrigen- human character should be judged. He appears
tum (Schol. ad Pind. O. ii. 29).
There are to have taken no pleasure in the higher regions of
several allusions to the wise discourses of the poet speculative philosophy: (See especially, Plat. l. c.
at the court of the tyrant (Plat. Epist. ii. ); and and foll. ; Schn. pp. xxxiv. xxxv. ) Of the nume-
Xenophon has put his Dialogue on the Evils and rous witty sayings ascribed to him, the following .
Excellencies of Tyranny (the Hiero) into the may serve as an example: to a person who pre
mouths of Hiero and Simonides. The celebrated served a dead silence during a banquet, he said,
evasion of the question respecting the nature of " My friend, if you are a fool
, you are doing a
God is ascribed by Cicero (de Nat. Deor. i. 22) to wise thing ; but if you are wise, a foolish one. ”
Simonides, as an answer to Hiero. He lived on (Plutarch, Conv. iii. Prooem. )
similar terms of philosophic intercourse with the Though he was moderate and indulgent in his
wife of Hiero.
views of human life, yet the moral sentiments em-
Of all the poets whom Hiero attracted to his bodied in his poems were so generally sound, that,
court, among whom were Pindar, Bacchylides, and in his own age, he obtained the approval of the
Aeschylus, Simonides appears to have been his race of men who fought at Marathon and Salamis,
favourite. He provided so munificently for his and in the succeeding period of moral and poetical
wants, that the poet, who always displayed a decline bis gnomic poetry was extolled by the ad-
strong taste for substantial rewards, was able to mirers of that earlier age, in contrast to the licen-
sell a large portion of the daily supplies sent him tious strains of Gnesippus, and his scolia still conti-
by the king ; and, upon being reproached for nued to be sung at banquets, though the
young
trading in his patron's bounty, he assigned as his generation” affected to despise them. (Aristoph.
motive the desire to display at once the munifi- Nub. 1355—1362; Ath. xiv. p. 638, e. ; Schol.
cence of Hiero and his own moderation. He still ad Aristoph. Vesp. 1217. ) Even the philosophers
continued, when at Syracuse, to employ his muse were indebted to Simonides and the other guomic
occasionally in the service of other Grecian states. poets for their most admired conceptions ; thus
Thus, as Cicero remarks (Cat. Maj. 7), he con- Prodicus, in his celebrated Choice of Hercules,
tinued his poetical activity to extreme old age; followed an Epinician Ode of Simonides, which
and Jerome mentions him among those swan-like again was a paraphrase of the well-known lines
poets, who sang more sweetly at the approach of of Hesiod (Op. et Di. 265), Tſis dpetas idpôro, &c.
death (Epist. 34). His remains were honoured (See Schn. p. xxxix. and Fr. 32. )
with a splendid funeral, and the following epitaph, Simonides is said to have been the inventor of
probably of his own composition, was inscribed the mnemonic art and of the long vowels and
upon his tomb (Tzetz. Chil. i. 24):
double letters in the Greek alphabet. The latter
statement cannot be accepted literally, but this is
“Εξ επί πεντήκοντα, Σιμωνίδη, ήρας νίκας
not the place to discuss it.
Και τρίποδας: θνήσκεις δ' εν Σικελό πεδίο.
The other side of the picture may be described
Κείω δε μνήμην λείπεις, “Έλλησι δ' έπαινον
almost in one word : Simonides made literature a
Εύξυνέτoν ψυχής σης επιγεινομένοις.
profession, and sought for its pecuniary rewards in
>
1
3 112
## p. 836 (#852) ############################################
P. 36
SIMONIDES.
SIMONIDES.
a spirit somewhat inconsistent with his proverbial | Melicerles) and elaborate finish, combined with the
moderation. He is said to have been the first truest poetic conception and perfect power of ex.
who took money for his poems; and the reproach pression ; though in originality and fervour he was
of avarice is too often brought against him by his far inferior, not only to the early lyric poetics,
contemporary and rival, Pindar, as well as by such as Sappho and Alcaeus, but also to his con-
subsequent writers, to be altogether discredited. temporary Pindar. He was probably both the
(Schn. pp. xxiv. -xxxii. ) The feelings of the poet most prolific and the most generally popular of all
himself upon the subject can be gathered from bis the Grecian lyric poets. The following is a list of
own expressions, if we may believe the stories re- those of his compositions of which we posses either
lated of him. His sense of the emptiness of inere the titles or fragments : - 1. A Poem, the precise
fame, his conviction that he deserved all he ob- forin of which is unknown, on “ The Empire of
tained, mingled with the bitter consciousness to Cambyses and Dareius” (“ Kauburov Kal Sapelou
which he sarcastically gave utterance, that mind Barreia). 2, 3. Elegies on the battles of Ar-
was at the command of money, may be illustrated temisium and Salamis (v év 'Apteuiglw vavuaxla.
by the following anecdotes. In the height of his dv Salquivı vavuaxia). 4. Eulogistic Poems
prosperity, he used to say that he had two coffers, in various metres (fyuuia). 5. Epinician Odes
the one for thanks, the other for money ; the former (frivikoi qôai). 6. Hynins or Prayers (@uvou,
always empty, and the latter always full. (Plut. Kateryal). 7. Paeans (Tarāves). 8. Dithyrambs
de Ser. Num. Vind. p. 555, f. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. (Subúpa ubui, also called Tpayqdidi, see Schmidt,
Pac.
681 ; the latter writer tells the story with a Diatribe in Dithyramb. p. 131). 9. Drinking
prudent reserve as to its truth. ) On one occasion songs (oródia). 10. Parthenia (Tapéévia). 11. Hy-
(if the details of the story be correct, it must have porchemes (utopxňuara). 12. Laments (pnvoi).
been near the commencement of his career), he had | 13. Elegies (èneyeial). 14. Epigrams (émiypáu-
wandered about in Asía, seeking to relieve his uata, átor xediáouata). The most remarkable of
poverty by his art, and had collected a considerable these poems were his Epinician Odes and Threnes,
sum, with which he was returning home, when the respecting the character of which see Müller (pp.
ship was wrecked on the coast of Asia Minor. 211, 212). The fragment of his Lament of Danaë
Simonides remained unconcerned, while all his is one of the finest remains of Greek lyric poetry
fellow-voyagers were collecting their goods, and, that we possess.
being asked the reason, he replied, “ I carry all my The general character of the dialect of Simonides
property about me. " When the ship broke up, is, like that of Pindar, the Epic, mirgled with
many, encumbered with their burthens, perished in Doric and Aeolic forms. Respecting the minute
the waves, the rest were plundered by robbers as peculiarities of his language and of his metres, see
soon as they reached the shore, and had to go
Schneidewin, pp.
xlvi. liii.
a-begging ; while the poet at once obtained shelter, Of the ancient commentaries on his life and
clothing, and money, in the neighbouring city of writings, by far the most important was that of
Clazomenae (Phaedr. Fab. iv. ). On being asked, Chamaeleon, notices from which are preserved by
by the wife of Hiero, which was the more powerful, | Athenaeus (x. p. 456, C. , xiii. p. 611, a, xiv.
the wealthy or the wise man, he replied, “ The p. 656, c. ). The Egyptian or Athenian gramma-
wealthy; for the wise may always be seen hanging | rian Palaephatus wrote υποθέσεις είς Σιμωνίδην.
about the doors of the rich. " (Aristot. Rhet. ii. 6. ) His fragments are contained in the chief collec-
These and similar stories may not be literally tions of the Greek poets, in Brunck's Analecta,
true, but they embody the feelings natural to the vol. i. pp. 120—147, who gives with them those
man who makes a traffic of his genius too well to which belong to the other poets of the same name,
be lightly passed over.
in Jacobs's Anthologia Graeca, vol. i. pp. 57—80,
That the system of patronage under which the in Schneidewin's standard edition, and in his De-
poet lived damaged the independence of his spirit lectus Poësis Graecorum, pp. 376—426, and in
and the uprightness of his conduct, is plain, not Bergk's Poëtae Lyrici Graeci, pp. 744—806. (For
only from the nature of the case, and from various the editions of portions see Hoffman, Lexicon Bill.
anecdotes, but also from the express and im- Script. Graec ).
portant statement of Plato, who makes Socrates 3. The younger Simonides of Ceos is said by
say that “ Simonides was often induced to praise a Suidas to have been, according to some, the son of
tyrant, or some other of such persons, and to write the daughter of the former, to have fourished be-
encomiums upon them, not willingly, but by com- fore the Peloponnesian War, and to have written
pulsion," as in the case, already referred to, of a revealoyia in three books, and Eupruata in
Scopas, the son of Creon. (Protag. p. 346, b. three books.
Our space does not permit us to discuss the criti-
4. A Magnesian epic poet of the time of An-
cism of Socrates on that Epinician Ode ; our con- tiochus the Great, whose exploits, and especially
viction is, after repeatedly studying it, in its con- his battle with the Gauls, be celebrated in a poem.
nectiou both with the whole dialogue and with the (Suid. s. v. ; Vossius, Hist. Graec. p. 161, ed.
life of Simonides, that it is meant for a bona fide Westermann. ).
exposition, and not a mere sophistical darkening of 5. Of Carystus or Eretria, an epic poet, only
a poem already obscure, for the purpose of perplex mentioned by Suidas (s. v. ), who gives a most con-
ing or confounding Protagoras ; the latter end had fused account of his works.
already been sufficiently attained. ) It is also clear 6. An historian, contemporary with the philo-
that the bitter enmities between Simonides and sopher Speusippus, to whom he wrote an account
Pindar were chiefly the fruit of their unworthy of the acts of Dion and Bion (Diog. Laërt. iv. 5).
competition for the favour of Hiero. (See Schnei- He must therefore have flourished in the latter
dewin, p. xxx. )
half of the fourth century B. C. He also wrote a
The chief characteristics of the poetry of Simo-work upon Sicily, which is quoted in the Scholia
nides were sweetness (whence his surname of to Theocritus (i. 65).
## p. 837 (#853) ############################################
SIMPLICIUS.
837
SIMPLICIUS.
19
7. A distinguished philosopher, who flourished But, disappointed in their hopes, they returned
in the reign of Jovian (Suid. s. v. ).
home, after Kosroës, in a treaty of peace concluded
Respecting the question, to which of these wri- with Justinian, probably in a. D. 533, bad stipu-
ters we should assign the several epigrams which lated that the above-inentioned philosophers should
are found in the Greek Anthology with those of be allowed to return without risk, and to practise
the great Simonides, see Jacobs, Anthol. Graec. the rites of their patemal faith (Agathins ii. 30 ;
vol. xiii. pp. 954, 955.
(P. S. ] comp. C. G. Zumpt, Ueber den Bestund der phi-
SIMONIDES, a Greek painter, of whom we losophischen Schulen in Athen, in the Schriften
know nothing except the statement of Pliny,“ Si der Berl. Akademie, 1843). Of the subsequent
monides (pinxit) Agatharcum et Mnemosynen fortunes of the seven philosophers we learn no-
(H. N. xxxv. 11. 8. 40. § 38). [P. S. ] thing. As little do we know wbere Simplicius
SIMPLEX, CAECI'LIUS, was raised to the lived and taught. That he not only wrote, but
consulship by Vitellius, and was consul suffectus taught, is proved by the address to his hearers in
along with C. Quintius Atticus from the 1st of the commentary on the Physica Auscultatio of
November, A. D. 69. (Tac. Hist. ii. Go, iii. 68 ; Aristotle (f. 173), as well as by the title of his
Dion Cass. Ixv. 17. )
commentary on the Categories. He had received
SIMPLICIUS (Equitalkios), a native of Ci- his training partly in Alexandria, under Ammo
licia (Agathias, ji. 30 ; Suid. s. v. apé obeis - it is nius (see especially Simplicius in U. de Cuelo,
inaccurately that Suid. s. v. Dumascius calls him a f. 113), partly in Athens, as a disciple of Da-
countryman of Eulamius the Phrygian), was a mascius ; and it was probably in one of these two
disciple of Ammonius (Simpl. in Phys. Ausc. f. 42, cities that he subsequently took up his abode ; for,
43, &c. ), and of Damascius (ibid. 150, a. b. , 183, with the exception of these cities and Constan-
b. , 186, &c. ), and was consequently one of the last ſtinople, it would have been difficult to find a town
members of the Neo-Platonic school. Since this which possessed the collections of books requisite
school had found its head-quarters in Athens, it for the composition of his commentaries, and he
had, under the guidance of Plutarchus the son of could hardly have had any occasion to betake
Nestorius, of Syrianus, Proclus, Marinus, Isidorus himself to Constantinople. As to his personal
and Damascius (from about A. D. 400 to 529), history, especially his migration to Persia, no
become the centre of the last efforts to maintain definite allusions are to be found in the writings
the ancient Hellenic mythology against the vic- of Simplicius. Only at the end of his explanation
torious encroachments of Christianity, and was of the treatise of Epictetus (p. 331, ed. Heins. )
therefore first attacked by the imperial edicts pro- Simplicius mentions, with gratitude, the conso-
mulgated in the fifth century against the heathen lation which he had found under tyrannical op-
cultus. Athens had preserved temples and images pression in such ethical contemplations ; from which
longer than other cities; yet Proclus, who had it may be concluded, though certainly with but a
rejoiced in dwelling between the temples of Aes- small amount of probability, that it was composed
culapius and Bacchus, lived long enough to be during, or immediately after, the above-mentioned
compelled to witness the removal of the consecrated persecutions. Of the commentaries on Aristotle,
statue of Minerva from the Parthenon. (Marinus, that on the books de Caelo was written before that
Vita Procli, c. 29. ) Proclus died in A. D. 485. on the Physica Auscultatio, and probably not in
The promise of the goddess, who had appeared to Alexandria, since he mentions in it an astrono-
him in a dream, that she would thenceforth inhabit mical observation made during his stay in that
his house, served to console him (ibid. c. 30). city by Ammonius (1. c. f. 113; Brandis, Scholia
Against personal maltreatment the followers of the in Arist. p. 496. 28). Simplicius wrote his com-
ancient faith found legal protection (Cod. Theod. mentary on the Physica Auscultatio after the death
16. tit. 10), until, under the emperor Justinianus, of Damascius, and therefore after his return from
they had to endure great persecutions. In the Persia (in Arist. Phys. Ausc. f. 184, &c. ). After
year 528 many were displaced from the posts the Phys. Ausc. Simplicius seems to have applied
which they held, robbed of their property, some himself to the Metaphysica, and then to the books
put to death, and in case they did not within on the soul (de Anima). In the commentary on
three months come over to the true faith, they the latter he refers to his explanations on the
were to be banished from the empire. In addition, Physica Auscultatio and on the Metaphysica (in
it was forbidden any longer to teach philosophy Arist. de Anima, 55, b.
p
especially by Quintilian (xi. 2. § 11; comp. Val. ii. 32). One of his epigrams (No. 197) was written
Max. i. 8 ; Aristeid. Orat. iv. p. 584 ; Phaed. Fab. on the occasion of the restoration of the sanctuary
iv. 24; Ovid. Ib. 513, 514, &c. ; see Schneidewin, of the Lycomidae by Themistocles. Respecting
pp. xi. foll. ). It appears that the Ode believed to the enmity between Simonides and the poet Timo-
have been sung on this occasion was that same creon of Rhodes, see Schneidewin, p. xviii.
p.
Epinician Ode to which allusion has been already The battle of Plataeae (B. C. 479) furnished
made, and of which we possess the half relating to Simonides with another subject for an elegy (Fr.
Scopas himself, though we have lost the other half, 59; comp. Epig. 199), and gave occasion for the
which referred to the Dioscuri.
celebrated epigram (No. 198), which he composed
That the story is altogether fabulous can by no for Pausanias, who inscribed it on the tripod dedi-
means be maintained ; although, in the form in cated by the Greeks at Delphi out of the Persian
which it has now come down to us, it must be spoils ; but which, on account of its arrogant
classed with those legends which embodied the pre-ascription of all the honour of the victory to Puu-
;
## p. 835 (#851) ############################################
SIMONIDES.
835
SIMONIDES.
sanias himself, was erased by the Lacedaemonians, | His sepulchre is said by Suidas (s. c. ) to have been
who substituted for it the names of the states ruthlessly destroyed by Phoenix, a general of the
which had taken part in the battle (Thuc. i. 132 ; | Agrigentines, who used its materials for the con-
Paus. iii. 8. & 1). Various stories are told respect struction of a tower, when he was besieging
ing the poet's intimacy with Pausanias ; and, Syracuse.
among them, that, the king having called upon the Little space is left to describe the personal and
poet for some wise saying, Simonides replied, poetical character of Simonides, and this has al-
“ Remember that thou art a man. ” Pausanias ready been done so well by Ottfried Müller, that
made light of the warning, until he was shut up it is hardly necessary to say very much. (Ilist. Lil.
in the brazen house, when he was heard to ex- Anc. Greece, vol. i. pp. 208, foll. ) Belonging to a
claim, 'n téve Keie, uéya ti åpa xpñua th ó nógos people eminent for their orderly and virtuous cha-
cou, dyo sè Úr' avoias ougèv avtov vuny elval racier (Pat. Protag. p. 34), c. , see Sullbaum's
(Plutarch, Consol. ad Apollon. p. 105, a ; Aelian, note), Simonides himself became proverbial for that
V. 11. ix. 41). The story certainly bears a very virtue which the Greeks called owopooúvn, tem-
suspicious likeness to the well-known tale of perance, order, and self command in one's own
Croesus and Solon.
conduct, and moderation in one's opinions and
Simonides had completed his eightieth year, when desires and views of human life ; and this spirit
his long poetical carcer at Athens was crowned by breathes through all his poetry. (Schn. p. xxxiii. )
the victory which he gained with the dithy- His reverence for religion is shown in his treat-
rambic chorus, in the archonship of Adeimantus, ment of the ancient myths. His political and
two years later than the battle of Plataeae (Ol. moral wisdom has already been referred to ; it often
75. , B. C. 477), being the fifty-sixth prize which assumed a polemic character ; and he appears to
he had carried off (Epig. 203, 204).
have been especially anxious to emulate the fame
It must have been shortly after this that he was of the Seven Wise Men, both for their wisdom
invited to Syracuse by Hiero, at whose court he itself, and for their brief sententious form of ex-
lived till his death in B. C. 467. On his way to pressing it ; and some ancient writers even reckoned
Sicily he appears to have visited Magna Graecia, him in the number of those sages. (Plat. Protag.
and at Tarentum he is said to have been a second p. 343, c. ; comp. Schn. p. xxxvi. foll. ) The leading
time miraculously preserved from destruction as principle of his philosophy appears to have been
the reward of his piety (Liban. vol. iv. p. 1101, the calm enjoyment of the pleasures of the present
Reiske ; Epig. 183, 184). He served Hiero by life, both intellectual and material, the making as
his wisdom as well as by his art, for, immediately light as possible of its cares, patience in bearing its
after his arrival in Sicily, he became the mediator evils, and moderation in the standard by which
of a peace between Hiero and Theron of Agrigen- human character should be judged. He appears
tum (Schol. ad Pind. O. ii. 29).
There are to have taken no pleasure in the higher regions of
several allusions to the wise discourses of the poet speculative philosophy: (See especially, Plat. l. c.
at the court of the tyrant (Plat. Epist. ii. ); and and foll. ; Schn. pp. xxxiv. xxxv. ) Of the nume-
Xenophon has put his Dialogue on the Evils and rous witty sayings ascribed to him, the following .
Excellencies of Tyranny (the Hiero) into the may serve as an example: to a person who pre
mouths of Hiero and Simonides. The celebrated served a dead silence during a banquet, he said,
evasion of the question respecting the nature of " My friend, if you are a fool
, you are doing a
God is ascribed by Cicero (de Nat. Deor. i. 22) to wise thing ; but if you are wise, a foolish one. ”
Simonides, as an answer to Hiero. He lived on (Plutarch, Conv. iii. Prooem. )
similar terms of philosophic intercourse with the Though he was moderate and indulgent in his
wife of Hiero.
views of human life, yet the moral sentiments em-
Of all the poets whom Hiero attracted to his bodied in his poems were so generally sound, that,
court, among whom were Pindar, Bacchylides, and in his own age, he obtained the approval of the
Aeschylus, Simonides appears to have been his race of men who fought at Marathon and Salamis,
favourite. He provided so munificently for his and in the succeeding period of moral and poetical
wants, that the poet, who always displayed a decline bis gnomic poetry was extolled by the ad-
strong taste for substantial rewards, was able to mirers of that earlier age, in contrast to the licen-
sell a large portion of the daily supplies sent him tious strains of Gnesippus, and his scolia still conti-
by the king ; and, upon being reproached for nued to be sung at banquets, though the
young
trading in his patron's bounty, he assigned as his generation” affected to despise them. (Aristoph.
motive the desire to display at once the munifi- Nub. 1355—1362; Ath. xiv. p. 638, e. ; Schol.
cence of Hiero and his own moderation. He still ad Aristoph. Vesp. 1217. ) Even the philosophers
continued, when at Syracuse, to employ his muse were indebted to Simonides and the other guomic
occasionally in the service of other Grecian states. poets for their most admired conceptions ; thus
Thus, as Cicero remarks (Cat. Maj. 7), he con- Prodicus, in his celebrated Choice of Hercules,
tinued his poetical activity to extreme old age; followed an Epinician Ode of Simonides, which
and Jerome mentions him among those swan-like again was a paraphrase of the well-known lines
poets, who sang more sweetly at the approach of of Hesiod (Op. et Di. 265), Tſis dpetas idpôro, &c.
death (Epist. 34). His remains were honoured (See Schn. p. xxxix. and Fr. 32. )
with a splendid funeral, and the following epitaph, Simonides is said to have been the inventor of
probably of his own composition, was inscribed the mnemonic art and of the long vowels and
upon his tomb (Tzetz. Chil. i. 24):
double letters in the Greek alphabet. The latter
statement cannot be accepted literally, but this is
“Εξ επί πεντήκοντα, Σιμωνίδη, ήρας νίκας
not the place to discuss it.
Και τρίποδας: θνήσκεις δ' εν Σικελό πεδίο.
The other side of the picture may be described
Κείω δε μνήμην λείπεις, “Έλλησι δ' έπαινον
almost in one word : Simonides made literature a
Εύξυνέτoν ψυχής σης επιγεινομένοις.
profession, and sought for its pecuniary rewards in
>
1
3 112
## p. 836 (#852) ############################################
P. 36
SIMONIDES.
SIMONIDES.
a spirit somewhat inconsistent with his proverbial | Melicerles) and elaborate finish, combined with the
moderation. He is said to have been the first truest poetic conception and perfect power of ex.
who took money for his poems; and the reproach pression ; though in originality and fervour he was
of avarice is too often brought against him by his far inferior, not only to the early lyric poetics,
contemporary and rival, Pindar, as well as by such as Sappho and Alcaeus, but also to his con-
subsequent writers, to be altogether discredited. temporary Pindar. He was probably both the
(Schn. pp. xxiv. -xxxii. ) The feelings of the poet most prolific and the most generally popular of all
himself upon the subject can be gathered from bis the Grecian lyric poets. The following is a list of
own expressions, if we may believe the stories re- those of his compositions of which we posses either
lated of him. His sense of the emptiness of inere the titles or fragments : - 1. A Poem, the precise
fame, his conviction that he deserved all he ob- forin of which is unknown, on “ The Empire of
tained, mingled with the bitter consciousness to Cambyses and Dareius” (“ Kauburov Kal Sapelou
which he sarcastically gave utterance, that mind Barreia). 2, 3. Elegies on the battles of Ar-
was at the command of money, may be illustrated temisium and Salamis (v év 'Apteuiglw vavuaxla.
by the following anecdotes. In the height of his dv Salquivı vavuaxia). 4. Eulogistic Poems
prosperity, he used to say that he had two coffers, in various metres (fyuuia). 5. Epinician Odes
the one for thanks, the other for money ; the former (frivikoi qôai). 6. Hynins or Prayers (@uvou,
always empty, and the latter always full. (Plut. Kateryal). 7. Paeans (Tarāves). 8. Dithyrambs
de Ser. Num. Vind. p. 555, f. ; Schol. ad Aristoph. (Subúpa ubui, also called Tpayqdidi, see Schmidt,
Pac.
681 ; the latter writer tells the story with a Diatribe in Dithyramb. p. 131). 9. Drinking
prudent reserve as to its truth. ) On one occasion songs (oródia). 10. Parthenia (Tapéévia). 11. Hy-
(if the details of the story be correct, it must have porchemes (utopxňuara). 12. Laments (pnvoi).
been near the commencement of his career), he had | 13. Elegies (èneyeial). 14. Epigrams (émiypáu-
wandered about in Asía, seeking to relieve his uata, átor xediáouata). The most remarkable of
poverty by his art, and had collected a considerable these poems were his Epinician Odes and Threnes,
sum, with which he was returning home, when the respecting the character of which see Müller (pp.
ship was wrecked on the coast of Asia Minor. 211, 212). The fragment of his Lament of Danaë
Simonides remained unconcerned, while all his is one of the finest remains of Greek lyric poetry
fellow-voyagers were collecting their goods, and, that we possess.
being asked the reason, he replied, “ I carry all my The general character of the dialect of Simonides
property about me. " When the ship broke up, is, like that of Pindar, the Epic, mirgled with
many, encumbered with their burthens, perished in Doric and Aeolic forms. Respecting the minute
the waves, the rest were plundered by robbers as peculiarities of his language and of his metres, see
soon as they reached the shore, and had to go
Schneidewin, pp.
xlvi. liii.
a-begging ; while the poet at once obtained shelter, Of the ancient commentaries on his life and
clothing, and money, in the neighbouring city of writings, by far the most important was that of
Clazomenae (Phaedr. Fab. iv. ). On being asked, Chamaeleon, notices from which are preserved by
by the wife of Hiero, which was the more powerful, | Athenaeus (x. p. 456, C. , xiii. p. 611, a, xiv.
the wealthy or the wise man, he replied, “ The p. 656, c. ). The Egyptian or Athenian gramma-
wealthy; for the wise may always be seen hanging | rian Palaephatus wrote υποθέσεις είς Σιμωνίδην.
about the doors of the rich. " (Aristot. Rhet. ii. 6. ) His fragments are contained in the chief collec-
These and similar stories may not be literally tions of the Greek poets, in Brunck's Analecta,
true, but they embody the feelings natural to the vol. i. pp. 120—147, who gives with them those
man who makes a traffic of his genius too well to which belong to the other poets of the same name,
be lightly passed over.
in Jacobs's Anthologia Graeca, vol. i. pp. 57—80,
That the system of patronage under which the in Schneidewin's standard edition, and in his De-
poet lived damaged the independence of his spirit lectus Poësis Graecorum, pp. 376—426, and in
and the uprightness of his conduct, is plain, not Bergk's Poëtae Lyrici Graeci, pp. 744—806. (For
only from the nature of the case, and from various the editions of portions see Hoffman, Lexicon Bill.
anecdotes, but also from the express and im- Script. Graec ).
portant statement of Plato, who makes Socrates 3. The younger Simonides of Ceos is said by
say that “ Simonides was often induced to praise a Suidas to have been, according to some, the son of
tyrant, or some other of such persons, and to write the daughter of the former, to have fourished be-
encomiums upon them, not willingly, but by com- fore the Peloponnesian War, and to have written
pulsion," as in the case, already referred to, of a revealoyia in three books, and Eupruata in
Scopas, the son of Creon. (Protag. p. 346, b. three books.
Our space does not permit us to discuss the criti-
4. A Magnesian epic poet of the time of An-
cism of Socrates on that Epinician Ode ; our con- tiochus the Great, whose exploits, and especially
viction is, after repeatedly studying it, in its con- his battle with the Gauls, be celebrated in a poem.
nectiou both with the whole dialogue and with the (Suid. s. v. ; Vossius, Hist. Graec. p. 161, ed.
life of Simonides, that it is meant for a bona fide Westermann. ).
exposition, and not a mere sophistical darkening of 5. Of Carystus or Eretria, an epic poet, only
a poem already obscure, for the purpose of perplex mentioned by Suidas (s. v. ), who gives a most con-
ing or confounding Protagoras ; the latter end had fused account of his works.
already been sufficiently attained. ) It is also clear 6. An historian, contemporary with the philo-
that the bitter enmities between Simonides and sopher Speusippus, to whom he wrote an account
Pindar were chiefly the fruit of their unworthy of the acts of Dion and Bion (Diog. Laërt. iv. 5).
competition for the favour of Hiero. (See Schnei- He must therefore have flourished in the latter
dewin, p. xxx. )
half of the fourth century B. C. He also wrote a
The chief characteristics of the poetry of Simo-work upon Sicily, which is quoted in the Scholia
nides were sweetness (whence his surname of to Theocritus (i. 65).
## p. 837 (#853) ############################################
SIMPLICIUS.
837
SIMPLICIUS.
19
7. A distinguished philosopher, who flourished But, disappointed in their hopes, they returned
in the reign of Jovian (Suid. s. v. ).
home, after Kosroës, in a treaty of peace concluded
Respecting the question, to which of these wri- with Justinian, probably in a. D. 533, bad stipu-
ters we should assign the several epigrams which lated that the above-inentioned philosophers should
are found in the Greek Anthology with those of be allowed to return without risk, and to practise
the great Simonides, see Jacobs, Anthol. Graec. the rites of their patemal faith (Agathins ii. 30 ;
vol. xiii. pp. 954, 955.
(P. S. ] comp. C. G. Zumpt, Ueber den Bestund der phi-
SIMONIDES, a Greek painter, of whom we losophischen Schulen in Athen, in the Schriften
know nothing except the statement of Pliny,“ Si der Berl. Akademie, 1843). Of the subsequent
monides (pinxit) Agatharcum et Mnemosynen fortunes of the seven philosophers we learn no-
(H. N. xxxv. 11. 8. 40. § 38). [P. S. ] thing. As little do we know wbere Simplicius
SIMPLEX, CAECI'LIUS, was raised to the lived and taught. That he not only wrote, but
consulship by Vitellius, and was consul suffectus taught, is proved by the address to his hearers in
along with C. Quintius Atticus from the 1st of the commentary on the Physica Auscultatio of
November, A. D. 69. (Tac. Hist. ii. Go, iii. 68 ; Aristotle (f. 173), as well as by the title of his
Dion Cass. Ixv. 17. )
commentary on the Categories. He had received
SIMPLICIUS (Equitalkios), a native of Ci- his training partly in Alexandria, under Ammo
licia (Agathias, ji. 30 ; Suid. s. v. apé obeis - it is nius (see especially Simplicius in U. de Cuelo,
inaccurately that Suid. s. v. Dumascius calls him a f. 113), partly in Athens, as a disciple of Da-
countryman of Eulamius the Phrygian), was a mascius ; and it was probably in one of these two
disciple of Ammonius (Simpl. in Phys. Ausc. f. 42, cities that he subsequently took up his abode ; for,
43, &c. ), and of Damascius (ibid. 150, a. b. , 183, with the exception of these cities and Constan-
b. , 186, &c. ), and was consequently one of the last ſtinople, it would have been difficult to find a town
members of the Neo-Platonic school. Since this which possessed the collections of books requisite
school had found its head-quarters in Athens, it for the composition of his commentaries, and he
had, under the guidance of Plutarchus the son of could hardly have had any occasion to betake
Nestorius, of Syrianus, Proclus, Marinus, Isidorus himself to Constantinople. As to his personal
and Damascius (from about A. D. 400 to 529), history, especially his migration to Persia, no
become the centre of the last efforts to maintain definite allusions are to be found in the writings
the ancient Hellenic mythology against the vic- of Simplicius. Only at the end of his explanation
torious encroachments of Christianity, and was of the treatise of Epictetus (p. 331, ed. Heins. )
therefore first attacked by the imperial edicts pro- Simplicius mentions, with gratitude, the conso-
mulgated in the fifth century against the heathen lation which he had found under tyrannical op-
cultus. Athens had preserved temples and images pression in such ethical contemplations ; from which
longer than other cities; yet Proclus, who had it may be concluded, though certainly with but a
rejoiced in dwelling between the temples of Aes- small amount of probability, that it was composed
culapius and Bacchus, lived long enough to be during, or immediately after, the above-mentioned
compelled to witness the removal of the consecrated persecutions. Of the commentaries on Aristotle,
statue of Minerva from the Parthenon. (Marinus, that on the books de Caelo was written before that
Vita Procli, c. 29. ) Proclus died in A. D. 485. on the Physica Auscultatio, and probably not in
The promise of the goddess, who had appeared to Alexandria, since he mentions in it an astrono-
him in a dream, that she would thenceforth inhabit mical observation made during his stay in that
his house, served to console him (ibid. c. 30). city by Ammonius (1. c. f. 113; Brandis, Scholia
Against personal maltreatment the followers of the in Arist. p. 496. 28). Simplicius wrote his com-
ancient faith found legal protection (Cod. Theod. mentary on the Physica Auscultatio after the death
16. tit. 10), until, under the emperor Justinianus, of Damascius, and therefore after his return from
they had to endure great persecutions. In the Persia (in Arist. Phys. Ausc. f. 184, &c. ). After
year 528 many were displaced from the posts the Phys. Ausc. Simplicius seems to have applied
which they held, robbed of their property, some himself to the Metaphysica, and then to the books
put to death, and in case they did not within on the soul (de Anima). In the commentary on
three months come over to the true faith, they the latter he refers to his explanations on the
were to be banished from the empire. In addition, Physica Auscultatio and on the Metaphysica (in
it was forbidden any longer to teach philosophy Arist. de Anima, 55, b.
