Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/15

* SERVITUDE. SESSA AURUNCA. sons and infidels. Servants ('kids,' 'ledeniption- crs,' 'indented') included younfier sons of no- bility; political prisoners; religious malcon- tents; vagrants; convicts; tiernian, Swiss, French, and Dutch peasants; negroes and In- dians. Servitude declined as slavery ilevelo])ed; but a white-servant trade lasted luitil 1810. Con- sult authorities cited under Civil Law. SER'VIUS MA'RITJS (or JUuRCS), HoNO- K.vri s. A Roman grammarian of the fourth cen- tury. His most celebrated work is his commen- tary on Vergil, which is derived largely from the works of earlier scholars, and contains co])ioiis notes on Greek and Roman history, religion, and mythology. It is now impossible to determine just how mucli of the work was prepared by Servius and how much was added by the later transcribers. The corainentarv was edited by Thilo and Hagen (1881-87). 'Consult Thomas, Enxiii sur Servius (Paris, 1880). SESAME, ses'a-me. See SES.vjmi. SESAMOID BONE (from Ok. o-ijo-aMoeiS^i, sC>«iiiiocidi~s, like sesame, from ai)a&iiov, svsmnon, ariad/itj, si'samO, sesame -{- elSos, cUlos, form). A small bone developed in the substance of a tendon near certain joints. In the human subject the patella is the best example. Sesamoid bones are much more abundant in the great majority of manunals than they are in man. SESAMUM (Lat., from Gk. <rrifdfiov, sesa- moil). A genus of about 12 species of African or Indian annual hairy herbs, called sesame, ^in- gili, bene, til, etc., of the natural order Bignonia- ce;e, or, according to some botanists, Pedaliaceoe. The species are so similar as to be sometimes reckoned mere varieties of one species, Sesamum indicum. The sweet oleaginous seeds are used in Central Africa for making pudding. In Egypt they are eaten strewed on cake. The bland, long- keeping, fixed oil obtained from them is used as SESAMUM INDICUM. a food, like olive oil, and by the women of Egypt as a cosmetic. From ancient times it has been cidtivated in In<lia, China, Japan, and many tropical and sulitropical comtries. IC is one of the cpiickest plants to yield returns. The oil- cake, mixed with honey and preserved citron, is an I'rienlal luxury. The leaves of Sesamum aljound in mucibiginous substance, which they readily impart to water, making a rich bland mucilage, used in the southern parts of the United States as a demulcent drink. SESHA, sha'sha (Skt. icm, remainder, ser- pent ). In Hindu mytliologj', the king of the serpent race. Vishnu (q.v. ) sleeps on him as he fioats upon the primeval waters. He has a thou- sand heads, which serve as a canopy to the god; and he upholds the world, which rests on one of these heads. His yawn causes the earthquake, and by fire which comes from his l)ody the world is destroyed at the end of each kalpa (q.v.). SESI, or Sesi de lo Alto. The market name in Havana of an excellent food-fish ( A'f omo'Hi*, or IjKfjdiius, huccdiicllii), one of the pargos or snappers. It is prevailingly crimson and orange in color, marked by a jet-lilack spot at the base of the pectoral fin. whence its other names, 'oreille noire' (black ear) and "black-fin snapper.' It is known in Martinique as 'buccanelle.' SESOS'TRIS (Lat., from Gk. Sfoonrrpis I . The Creek name of a king of Egypt whose exploits are related by Herodotus, Diodorus, and other writers of antiquity. According to them the father of Sesostris, having learned by an oracle that his son was destined to attain universal em- pire, lad him educated in all warlike nccomplLsh- ments along with 1700 Egyptian boys all born on the same day with the ju'ince. On his acces- sion to the throne Sesostris fitted out a great army, officered by his 1700 comrades, and set forth to conquer the world. After conquering Ethiopia and marching to the farthest limits of India, he turned westward, subduing all lands in his progress through Asia, traversed Asia ilinor. invaded Europe, and subjugated Scythia and Thrace. On his return to Egypt his brollier, who had been Regent in his absence, plotted his de- struction, but Sesostris escaped from the snare and punislied its contriver. Now master of the known world, he devoted the rest of his reign to improving the condition of his couritry. and at the same time sought to peri)etuate his fame by erecting nuignificent buildings inscribed with his name and deeds. He divided Egypt into 36 nomes, constructed an extensive system of canals for irrigating the land, divided the population into castes, and fortified the country against in- vasion. He became blind in his old age and took his own life. It has long been recognized that Sesostris was not an historical personage. His name is apparently derived from the Egyptian name Senusert (i.e. Usertesen), and it is probable that one of the kings of the Twelfth Dynasty was the original hero of the legend. In later times, however, the boastful inscriptions of Rameses II. (q.v.), inscribed upon the walls of niunerous temples, seem to have led to the identification of that monarch with the popular hero. Consult: Wiedemann, Acfiyplischc Geschichte (Gotha, 1SS4-88) ; Jleyer. Gcschichle dcs alten Aef/!)iiten.i (Berlin, 1887) : Sethe, fiesosfris (Leipzig, ioOO) ; Budge, .1 Hist, nil of Efiypt (New York, 1902), SESSA AURUNCA, ses'sa ou-roon'ka, A city in the Province of Caserta, Italy, situated on an extinct volcano, 32 miles north-northwest of Naples (ilap: Italy, H 6). It has an ancient cathedral and a seminary. There are ruins of an amphitheatre. The city is famous for its