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

SCIRONIDES. SCOPAS. 753
SCIRAS or SCLE'RIAS (Scfpas,:ZAiqpiacs), Scironides was one of the generals left at Samos,
of Tarentum, was one of the followers of Rhinthon while Strombichides, with two colleagues, proin that peculiar sort of comedy, or rather burlesque ceeded to act against Chios: but, in B. c. 411,
tragedy, which was cultivated by the Dorians of Peisander induced the Athenians to recall PhryMagna Graecia, and especially at Tarentum. nichus and Scironides, and to transfer the com[RHINTHON.] His lMeleager is quoted by Athe- mand at Samos to Leon and Diomedon. (Thuc.
naeus, who describes the species of composition viii. 25-27, 30, 54.) [E. E.]
now referred, to by the phrase T's'I-aAlIc7s SCIRUS (`lcpos), a soothsayer of Dodona, who,
KaAouvtE'vq7 K9wLq5as (ix. p. 402, b.). He is in the reign of Erechtheus, came to Salamis, and
also quoted by other writers. The true form of was afterwards honoured in the island with heroic
his name is doubtful, but in the greater number honours. Salamis is further said to have been
of the few passages in which he is quoted he is called after him, Sciras. (Paus. i. 36. ~ 3; Strab.
called Sclerias. The genuineness of some of the ix. p. 393; Steph. Byz. s. v.) [L. S.]
fragments is also doubtful. (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. SCLl'RIAS. [ScIRAS.]
vol. ii. p. 491; Miuller, Dor. iv. 7. ~ 6.) [P. S.] SCOPAS (:~co7ras), an Aetolian, who held a
SCIRAS (mcLpds), a surname of Athena, under leading position among his countrymen at the
which she had a temple in the Attic port of Pha- period of the outbreak of the Social War, B. c.
leron, and in the island of Salamis (Paus. i. 1. 220. He was a kinsman of Ariston, who at this
~ 4; Herod. viii. 94). In the month of Sciro- time held the office of praetor, or general of the
phorion a festival was celebrated at Athens in Aetolian league, and the latter confided to him the
honour of her, which was called sclpadpo'pa (Har- chief conduct of affairs. On this account it was to
pocr. s. v. ZKl'pov). The foundation of the temple Scopas that Dorimachus applied for assistance after
at Phaleron is ascribed by Pausanias to a sooth- the ill success of his predatory expedition against
sayer, Scirus of Dodona, who is said to have come Messenia [DoRIMAcHUS], and although no preto Attica at the time when the Eleusinians were text had been given for involving the Aetolian
at war with king Erechthets. (Paus. i. 36. ~ 3; nation in war, these two chiefs were bold enough
comp. Strab. ix. p. 393; Steph. Byz. s. v. Kit- to undertake the enterprise on their own account.
pos.) [L. S.] In the spring of B. C. 220 accordingly they led an
SCIRON (icipceY or Iefdpwv). 1. A famous expedition against the Messenians, and not only
robber who haunted the frontier between Attica ravaged the territories of the latter, but when
and Megaris, and not only robbed the travellers Aratus himself at the head of the Achaean army
who passed through the country, but compelled had come to their support, totally defeated him at
them, on the Scironian rock to wash his feet, Caphyae, and effected their retreat unmolested
during which operation he kicked them with his (Polyb. iv. 5, 6, 9, 10-13.) This daring outrage
foot into the sea. At the foot of the rock there having naturally led to a public declaration of war
was a tortoise, which devoured the bodies of the by the Achaeans and their ally Philip king of
robber's victims. He was slain by Theseus, in the Macedonia against the Aetolians, the latter chose
same manner in which he had killed others (Plut. Scopas for their Strategus during the ensuing year,
Thes. 10; Diod. iv. 59; Strab. ix. p. 391; Paus. and entrusted to him the conduct of the war which
i. 44. ~ 12; Schol. ad Eurip. Hipp. 976; Ov. he had himself brought upon them. In the spring
AMet. vii. 445). In the pediment of the royal Stoa of 219 he invaded Macedonia with a large force,
at Athens, there was a group of figures of burnt laid waste the open country of Pieria without
clay, representing Theseus in the act of throwing opposition, and having made himself master of
Sciron into the sea. (Paus. i. 3. ~ 1.) Ditum, not only destroyed the town, but even
2. A son of Pylas and grandson of Lelex. He was plundered and burnt the celebrated temple which
married to the daughter of Pandion, and disputed gave name to the city. Meanwhile, however, he
with her brother Nisus the government of Me- neglected the defence of Aetolia itself, and left it
gara; but Aeacus, who was chosen umpire, decided open to Philip to obtain important advantages on
that Nisus should have the government of Megara, the side of Acarnania (Id. iv. 27, 62, v. 11). The
and Sciron the command in war (Paus. i. 39. ~ 5). next year (2118) he was sent by Dorimachus (who
Other traditions called this Sciron the husband had succeeded him in the supreme command) with
of Chariclo, and father of Endeis. (Plut. Tl/es. a mercenary force to the assistance of the Eleans
10.) [L. S.] (Id. v. 3), but we have no farther account of his
SCIRON or SCYRON (ZMilpwv or cKU'pcW), a operations in that year, or during the remainder of
Messenian who enjoyed a high estimation among the Social War. His name does not again occur
his countrymen, and held the office of Ephor at the until the year B. C. 211, when we find him again
time of the unprincipled aggression of the Aetolian holding the office of general, and in that capacity
Dorimachus [DoarMacHus]. He strongly urged presiding in the assembly of the Aetolians, which
his countrymen to exact reparation from the Aeto- concluded the alliance with the Roman praetor,
lians, and, by his conduct in the assembly on this M. Valerius Laevinus. The conquest of Acarnania
occasion, incurred the mortal enmity of Dorimachus. was the bait held out to all.are the Aetolians into
(Polyb. iv. 4.) [E. H. B.] this league, and Scopas immediately assembled his
SCIRO'N'IDES (1KmpwviLqs), an Athenian, was forces for the invasion of that country. But the
joined with Phrynichus and Onomacles in the cor- determined resistance of the Acarnanians themmand of an Athenian and'Argive force, which was selves, and the advance of Philip to their relief,
sent out to the coast of Asia Minor in B.C. 412. rendered his efforts abortive. The next year
After a successful engagement with the Milesians, ( B.. 210) we find him co-operating with Laethey prepared to besiege Miletus; but, on the vinus in the siege of Anticyra, which, after its
arrival of a Peloponnesian and Sicilian fleet, they capture, was given up to the Aetolians (Liv. xxvi.
sailed away to Samos, by the advice of Phryni- 24-26). After the close of the war with Philip,
thus, without risking a battle In the same year we are told that the Aetolians were distracted
VOL, I11. 3