A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SANCHUNIATHON. SANCHUNIATHON. 70a
Vos, or "Hospitum Exceptor," was born at Rome Philon Byblius. We likewise learn from Euseof a rich and noble family in the fifth century after bins that Porphyrius had made great use of the
Christ. He studied medicine, not as a profession, writings of Sanchuniathon (of course the translabut as a means of being useful to the poor, whom tion by Philon) in his work against the Christians,
he attended gratuitously and with great success. which has not come down to us. In that work he
While still young he removed to Constantinople, called Sanchuniathon a native of Berytus (Euseb.
where he continued his charitable ministrations by Praep. Ev. i. 6, x. 1 1). Next comes Eusebius
converting his house into a hospital for the sick himself, whose attention seems to have been first
poor; and where lie was ordained priest at about drawn to Sanchuniathon by the quotations in Porthe age of thirty. Here he became acquainted phyrius. It is evident from the language of Eusewith the emperor Justinian, whom he cured of a bius that he had consulted the translation of
painful and obstinate disease; and whom he per- Philon himself, and that his acquaintance with the
suaded to build a hospital instead of conferring any writer was not confined to the extracts in Porphyreward upon himself. Sampson did not live long rius, as some modern scholars have asserted.
after this event, but died about the year 530 or Eusebius also calls Sanchunliathon a native of
531. Numerous miracles are said to have been Berytus, but he says that his Phoenician history
wrought by him after his death, on account of was divided into nine (not eight) books by Philon.
which he has been canonized by the Romish and This is all the independent testimony we possess
Greek churches. His hospital, which was near the respecting Sanchuniathon and the Greek translachurch of St. Sophia, was twice destroyed by fire, tion by Philon, for it is pretty clear that subsebut was rebuilt, and existed in full usefulness long quent writers who speak of both borrow their
after his death. His memory is celebrated on accounts either from Porphyrius or Eusebius. The
June 27. There is a long and interesting life of most important later testimonies are those of TheoSt. Sampson by Simeon Metaphrastes, which is doretus and Suidas. The former writer says (de
inserted in the "Acta Sanctorum" (June, vol. v. Cur. Graec. Affiect. Serm. ii.): "Sanchuniathon, of
p. 261, &c.). See also Menolog. Graec. June 27, Berytus, wrote the T/ieologia (~eoAoyLa) of the
vol. iii. p. 144; Bzovius, Nomenclator Sanctor. Phoenicians, which was translated into Greek by
Professions Medicos. An account of St. Sampson's Philon, not the Hebrew but the Byblian." Theohospital may be found in Du Cange's CPolis doretus calls the work of Sanchuniathon a TheoChristiana, iv. 9. 9. [W. A. G.] logia, on account of the nature of its contents.
SANACHARIBUS. [SETHON.] Suidas (s. v.) describes Sanchuniathon as a Tyrian
SANATROCES, a king of Parthia. [AR- philosopher, who lived at the time of the Trojan
SACES XI.] war, and gives the following list of his works:
SANATRUCES, a king of Armenia. [AR- lepl rou'Epyou pvo-oAo.o yias, irit tze'rcappaeotrO
SACIDAE, p. 363, a.] (namely, by Philon). Inarpta Tvpiov Trn )boIviKwp
SANCHUNIATHON (eayXoum'Oosv'), an an- 1aiKEATc., Aiyv7risaKr}v O~EoAoyia, Ksal aiAAa va,'.
cient Phoenician writer, whose works were trans- But such an enumeration of different works is of
lated into Greek by Philon Byblius, who lived in little value from an inaccurate compiler like Suidas.
the latter half of the first century of the Christian They are probably only different titles of the same
aera. A considerable fragment of the translation work.
of Philon is preserved by Eusebius in the first Now it is quite clear from the preceding account
book of his Praeparatio Evangelica. The most that we have no evidence even for the existence of
opposite opinions have been held by the learned Sanchuniathon except the testimony of Philon
respecting the authenticity and value of the wri- Bybhlius himself. He is not mentioned by allny
tings of Sanchuniathon. The scholars of the writer before Philon Byblius, not even by Joseseventeenth century, Scaliger, Grotius, Bochart, phus or by Philon Judaeus, who might have been
Selden, and others, regarded them as genuine re- expected to have heard at least of his name. This
mains of the most remote antiquity, and expended, is suspicious at first sight. The discovery of old
or rather wasted, no small anlount of learning in books written by an author, of whom no one has
attempting to reconcile them with the statements ever heard, and in a language which few can read,
in the old Testament. Their views were carried is a kind of imposture known to modern as well as
out to the fullest extent by Richard Cumberland, ancient times. The genuineness and authenticity
bishop of Peterborough, who translated into En- of the work must rest entirely onil the nature of its
glish the extracts in Eusebius (London, 1720), contents; and even a superficial perusal of the exwith historical and chronological remarks, in which tracts in Eusebius will convince almost every
he asserts that all the anltediluvian patriarchs of scholar of the present day that the work was a
the Old Testament are to be found in Sanchunia- forgery of Philon. Nor is it difficult to see with
thon! Modern scholars, however, take a very what object the forgery was executed. Philon was
different view of Sanchuniathon and his writings; evidently one of the many adherents of the docbut before we state their opinions, it will be trine of Euhemerus, that all the gods were originadvisable to see what the ancient writers them- ally men, who had distinguished themselves in
selves say respecting him. The first author who their lives as kings, warriors, or benefactors of
mentions him is Athenaeus, who speaks (iii. p. man, and became worshipped as divinities after
126) of Suniaethon (of which variation in the their death. This doctrine Philon applied to the
name more will be said presently), and Mochus, as religious system of the Oriental nations, and espewriters on Phoenician matters (oucsI KIKad). The cially of the Phoenicians; and in order to gain
next writer who mentions him is Porphyrius (de more credit for his statements, he pretended that
Abstan. ii. 56, p. 94, ed. Holsten.), who says that they were taken from an ancient Phoenician
Sanchuniathon wrote a Phloenician history (Ibolii- writer. This writer he says was a native of BeryiKICj o' ropia) in the Phoenician language, which tus, lived in the time of Semiramis, and dedicated
was translated into Greek in eight books by his work to Abibalus, king of Berytus. Having