Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SCEPTRUM. SCHIOLA. () 1
rides and other artists, many of w llose w(rks are authors the sceptre is represented as belonging
still preserved. Respecting the various precious more especially to kings, princes, and leaders of
and other stones which the ancient artists used in tribes (Horn. II. ii. 186, 199, 265, 268, 279, xviii.
these works, see MUiller, Arechiol. ~ 313. 557, Od. ii. 37, 80, iii. 412): but it is also borne
As regards the technical part of the art of work- by judges (Horn. Od. xi. 568), by heralds (Ii. iii.
ing in precious stones, we only know the following 218, vii. 277, xviii. 505), and by priests and
particulars. The stone was first polished by the seers, (Hom. In. i. 15, Od. xi. 91; Aeschyl. Agaes.
politor, and received either a plane or convex sur- 1236.) It was more especially characteristic of
face; the latter was especially preferred, when the Asiatic manners, so that among the Persians whole
stone was intended to serve as a seal. The scalptor classes of those who held high rank and were inhimself used iron or steel instruments moistened vested with authority, including eunuchs, were
with oil, and sometimes also a diamond framed in distinguished as the sceptre-bearing classes (ol
iron. These metal instrumlents were either sharp eTsctrrrooxot, Xen. Cr1. vii. 3. ~ 17, viii. 1. ~ 38,
and pointed, or round. The ancients understood 3. ~ 15). The sceptre descended from father to
the use of diamond dust in this work. (Plin. H. N. son (Hom. II. ii. 46, 100-109), and might be
xxxvii. 76; Miiller, Arch. ~ 314. 2.) The stones committed to any one in order to express the
which were destined to be framed in rings, as transfer of authority. (Herod. vii. 52.) Those
well as those which were to be inlaid in gold or who bore the sceptre swore by it (Hom. In. i. 234
silver vessels, then passed from the hands of the -239), solemnly taking it in the right hand and
scalptos into those of the goldsmith (annularies, raising it towards heaven. (Hom. II. vii. 412, x.
compo70sito?). 321, 328.)
Numerous specimens of intaglios and cameos The original wooden staff, in consequence of its
are still preserved in the various museums of Eu- application to the uses now described, received a
rope, and are described in numerous works. For
the literature of the subject, anid an account of these
gems and their engravers, see WVinckelmann,
Geschi. d. Kunst, and other works; MUller, Archhol. ~ 315, &c., and Reoul-Rochette, Letsre dc
AlL Schorn, 2d ed. [L. S.]
SCALPTURA'TUM. [DoMvs, p. 431, a.]
SCAMNUM,dils. SCABELLUM,a step which /'
was placed before the beds of the ancients in order
to assist persons in getting into them, as some
were very high: others which were lower required t~
also lower steps, which were called scabellca. (Varro,
de Ling. Lat. v. 168; Isidor. xx. 11; Ovid, Ass G
Am. ii. 211.) A scamnum was sometimes also X
used as a foot-stool. (Ovid, Ar. Am. i. 162.) A
scaninumn extended in length becomes a bench5 i
and in this sense the word is frequently used.
The early Romians, before couches were introduced
among them, used to sit upon benches (scancia)
before the hearth when they took their meals.
(Ovid. Fast. vi. 30;,) The benches in ships were
also sometimes called scamnna. In the technical variety of ornaments or emblems. It early becanme
language of the agrimensores a scamnum was a a truncheon, pierced with golden or silver studs.
field which was broader than it was long, and one (Ii. i. 246, ii. 46.) It was enriched with gems
that was longer than broad was called striga. (Ovid. Mfet.-iii. 264), and made of precious metals
(Varii Auctor. Rei Agr. pp. 46,125, 198, ed. Goes.) or of ivory (i. 178, Fast. vi. 38.) The annexed
In the language of the Roman peasantry a scam- woodcut, taken from one of Sir tAm. Hamilton's
nuni was a large clod of earth which had not been fictile vases, and representing Aeneas followed by
broken by the plough. (Colunm. ii. 2.) [L. S.] Ascanitis and carrying off his father Anchises, who
SCAPHA. [NAVIS, p. 786, a.] holds the sceptre in his Right hands shows its form as
SCAPHEPHO'RIA. [HYDRIAPHORIA.] worn by kings. The ivory sceptre (ebyfelnees scipio,
SCENA. [THEATRUM.] Val. Max. iv. 4. ~ 5) of the kings of Rome, which
SCEPTRUM is a latinised form of the Greek descended to the consuls, was surmounted by all
aetc-frpo, which originally denoted a simple staff eagle. (Virg. Aeon. xi. 238; Serv. ad loc.; Juv. x.
or walking-stick. (Hom. II. xviii. 416; Aeschyl. 43; Isid. Orig. xviii. 2.) [INSIONE.] Jupiter
Agcanm. 74; Herod. i. 195.) The corresponding and Juno, as sovereigns of the gods, were repreLatin term is scipio, springing from the same root sented with a sceptre. (Ovid, II. cc.) LJ. Y.J
and having the same signification, but of less fre- SCHOENUS (6, i, oXolvos), literally, a rope
quent occurrence. of rushes, an Egyptian and Persian itinerary and
As the staff was used not merely to support the land measure (Herod. i. 66). Its length is stated
steps of the aged and infirm, but as a weapon of by Herodotus (ii. 6, 9) at 60 stadial or 2 paradefence and assault, the privilege of habitually car- sangs; by Eratosthenes at 40 stadia, and by others
rying it became emblematic of station and autho- at 32 or 30. (Plin. II. N. v. 9. s. 10, xii, 14. s. 30.)
rity. The straight staves which are held by two Strabo and Pliny both state that the schoenus
of the four sitting figures in the woodcut at p. 98, varied in different parts of Egypt and Persia.
wvhile a third holds the curved staff, or LITuvUs, in- (Strabo, p. 803; Plin. H. NV. vi. 26. s. 30; comp
dicate no less than their attitude and position, that Athen. iii. p. 122, ai.) [P.$.]
they are exercisinlg judicial functions. In ancient SCtIOLA [BA.1LEAE, p. 189, b,]
3' 2