Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/829

Rh SIDONIUS. Some have identified the subject of the present article with the Sicinnus who is mentioned by Athenaeus as the reputed inventor of the dance named '2,Iklvi/is. Athenaeus tells us that, according to some, he was a barbarian, according to others, a Cretan (Herod, viii. 75, 110; Plut. Them. 12, 16 ; Ath. i. 20, e, xiv. 630, b ; Casaub. ad Ath. I c.) [E. E.] SrCINUS {-ZUivos), a son of Thoas and a Naiad, from which the small island of Sicinus, near Euboea, was believed to have derived its name. (Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. i. 624 ; comp. Strab. X. p. 484.) [L. S.] SrCULUS, CALPU'RNIUS. [Calpur- NIUS.] SI'CULUS, CLOE'LIUS, the name of a pa- trician family of high rank in the early history of the republic. 1. Q. Cloelius Siculus, consul b. c. 498, with T, Larcius. According to Dionysius, Cloelius ap- pointed his colleague Larcius dictator, and fought under him in the battle against the Latins ; but Livy and other authorities make Larcius dictator three years earlier, namely in B.C. 501. (Liv. ii. 21 ; Dionys. v. 59, 71, 72, 75, 76.) 2. T. Cloklius Siculus, one of the first con- sular tribunes elected in B. c. 444. The manu- scripts of Livy have Caecilius ; but as Dionysius has T'nov ¥ivKiov 1,ik€u^ and the Caecilii were plebeians, Sigoriius changed Caecilius into Cloelius, which alteration Alschefski retains in the text. In B. c. 442 Cloelius was one of the triumrirs for founding a colony at Ard'ea. (Dionys. xi. 61, 62 ; Liv. iv. 7, 11.) 3. P. Cloelius Siculus, one of the consular tribunes B.C. 378. (Liv. vi. 31.) 4. Q. Cloelius Siculus, censor b. c. 378, with Sp. Servilius Priscus. (Liv. vi. 31.) 5. P. Cloelius Siculus, was consecrated rex sacrificus in b. c. 180. (Liv. xl. 42.) SI'CULUS FLACCUS. [Flaccus.] SI'CYON {:ZiKvcov), a son of Marathon, Me- tion, Erechtheus or Pelops, was the husband of Zeuxippe and the father of Chthonophyle. The town of Sic^'on, which before him was called Mecone or Aegialoe, was said to have received its subsequent name from him. (Pans. ii. 1. § 1, vi. 2. § 3 ; Strab. viii. p. 382.) [L. S.] SI DA (TiSv). 1. The wife of Orion, who was sent by Hera into Hades, because she pre- tended to be more beautiful than the goddess. (Apollod. i. 4. § 3.) 2. A daughter of Danaus, from whom a town of Laconia was believed to have derived its name. (Pans. iii. 22. § 9.) [L. S.] SIDE'RO (StSripw), the wife of Salmoneus, and step- mother of Tyro, was killed by Pelias at the altar of Hera. (Apollod. i. 9. § 8 ; Soph. Fragm. 573 ; conip. Pelias.) [L. S.] SIDO'NIUS (Xihtivios), a grammarian quoted in the Etymologicum Magnum (p. 124), and by the scholiasts on Homer and Pindar (Fabric. Bibl. Graec. vol. vi. p. 379), There was an Athenian sophist of this name, a contemporary of Demonax. (Lucian, Demon. 14.) SIDO'NIUS, C. SO'LLIUS APOLLINA'- RIS, to whom some authorities give the additional appellation of Modestus^ was born, in all proba- bility, at Lyons, about the year a. d. 431. His father and grandfather both bore the name Apol- Unaris^ and both filled the office of praetorian VOL. 111. SIDONIUS. 817 prefect in the Gaulish provinces. Gifted by nature with great quickness, Sidonius devoted himself with ardour to literary pursuits, and by assiduous application rapidly acquired such high fame, that while still very young he was ranked among the most learned and eloquent of his contemporaries. At an early age he married Papianilla, the child of Flavius Avitus, and upon the elevation of his father-in-law to the imperial dignity (a. d. 456), accompanied him to Rome, and celebrated his con- sulship in a poetical effusion still extant. The grateful prince raised the husband of his daughter to the rank of a senator, nominated him prefect of the city, and caused his statue to be placed among the effigies which graced the library of Trajan. The downfal of Avitus threw a cloud over the fortunes of the courtly bard, who having been shut up in Lyons, and having endured the hardships and perils of the siege, resolved, after the capture of the city by Egidius, to purchase pardon for the past and security for the future by a complimentary address to the victorious Majorian, whose exploits and virtues were extolled in strains still more hyperbolical than those inscribed to his predecessor. The propitiatory offering was graciously accepted ; the author was not only forgiven, but was re- warded with a laurelled bust, and with the title of count. After having passed some years in re- tirement during the reign of Severus, Sidonius was despatched to Rome (a. d. 467) in the character of ambassador from the Arverni to Anthemius, and on this occasion delivered a third panegyric in honour of a third prince, which proved not less successful than his former efforts, for he was nov*' raised to the rank of a patrician, again appointed prefect of the city, and once more honoured with a statue. But a still more remarkable tribute was soon afterwards rendered to his talents ; for al- though in no way connected with the clerical pro- fession, the vacant see of Clermont in Auvergne was forced upon his reluctant acceptance (a. d. 472) at the death of the bishop Eparchius. The task at first undertaken unwillingly, was faithfully performed. During the remainder of his life he devoted himself conscientiously to the duties of his sacred office, and especially resisted with energy the progress of Arianism, which was rapidly ex- tending its influence. Although generally respected and beloved, his career was by no means tranquil ; for when the Goths became masters of his diocese, he was compelled to withdraw for a season, and at a subsequent period, after his restoration, in con- sequence of the calumnious representations of two factious priests, he was for a time suspended from the exercise of his episcopal functions. The malice of his enemies, however, having been speedily ex- posed, he was triumphantly reinstated, and died not long afterwards on the 21st of August, A. D. 482, or, according to others, a. d. 484. The works of Sidonius transmitted to modem times consist of Poems and Letters. I. Carmina. Twenty-four pieces, composed in various measures upon various subjects. Of these the most important are: — 1. Panegyricus Avito Atigusto socero dictus^ extending to 602 hexameters with a prologue (praefatio) in eighteen and an epilogue {editio) in eight elegiac couplets. De- livered A. D. 456. 2. Panegyricus Julio Valeria Maioriano Augusto dicttis, extending to 603 hex- ameters, with a prologue in nine elegiac couplets. Delivered A. d. 458. 3. Panegyticus dictus A7ithemio 3u