DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13855#0352
SIL1CERNIUM. 344 SITOS.
ing several standards, represents the perform-
ance of the sacrifice called stiovctaurilia.
The imperial standard from the time of Con-
stantine was called labarum ; on it a figure
or emblem of Christ was woven in gold upon
purple cloth, and this was substituted for the
head of the emperor. Since the movements
of a body of troops and of every portion of it
were regulated by the standards, all the evo-
lutions, acts, and incidents of the Roman
army were expressed by phrases derived from
this circumstance. Thus signa inferre meant
to advance, referre to retreat, and convertere
to face about; efferre, or castris vellere, to
march out of the camp ; ad signa cvnvenire,
to re-assemble. Notwithstanding some ob-
scurity in the use of terms, it appears that,
whilst the standard of the legion was properly
called aquila, those of the cohorts were in a
special sense of the term called signa, their
bearers being signifcri, and that those of the
manipuli or smaller divisions of the cohort
were denominated vexilia, their bearers being
vexillarii. In time of peace the standards
were kept in the Aerarium, under the care
of the Quaestor.
8ILICERNTUM. [Fuxvs.]
SIMPULUM or SIMPUVIUM, the name of
a small cup used in sacrifices, by which liba-
tions of wine were offered to the gods. It is
represented on the coin figured under Seces-
pita. There was a proverbial expression ex-
citarefluctus in simpulo, "tomake much ado
about nothing."
SIPA1UUM, a piece of tapestry stretched
on a frame, which rose before the stage of the
theatre, and consequently answered the pur-
pose of the drop-scene with us, although,
contrary to our practice, it was depressed
when the play began, so as to go below the
level of the stage (aulaca prcmuntur), and
was raised again when the performance was
concluded (tolhmtur). It appears that Iniman
figures were represented upon it, whose feet
seemed to rest upon the stage when this
screen was drawn up. These figures were
sometimes those of Britons woven in the
canvass, and raising their arms in the atti-
tude of lifting up a purple curtain, so as to
be introduced in the same manner as Atlantes,
Persae, and Caryatides. [Caryatides.] In
a more general sense, siparium denoted any
piece of cloth or canvass stretched upon a
frame.
SISTRUM (<reI<TTpo><), a mystical instru-
ment of music, used by the ancient Egyp-
tians in their ceremonies, and especially in
the worship of Isis. It was held in the right
hand (see cut), and shaken, from which cir-
cumstance it derived its name. The intro-
iuction of the worship of Isis into Italy
shortly before the commencement of the
Christian aera made the Romans familiar
with this instrument.
Sistra. (The two figures on the left hand from paintings
found at Portici ; the right-hand figure represents a Sis-
trum formerly belonging to the library of 2st. Genovefa at
Paris.)
SITELLA. [SlTL'LA.]
SITOPHYLACES (<m-ooWAaK.es), a board of
officers, chosen by lot, at Athens. They were
at first three, afterwards increased to fifteen,
of whom ten were for the city, five for the
Peiraeus. Their business was partly to watch
the arrival of the corn ships, take account of
the quantity imported, and see that the im-
port laws were duly observed; partly to
watch the sales of corn in the market, and
take care that the prices were fair and reason-
able, and none but legal weights and mea-
sures used by the factors; in which respect
their duties were much the same as those of
the Agoranomi and Metronomi with regard to
other saleable articles.
SITOS (o-itos), corn. The soil of Attica,
though favourable to the production of figs,
olives, and grapes, was not so favourable for
corn ; and accordingly a large quantity of
corn was annually imported. Exportation
was entirely prohibited, nor was any Athe-
nian or resident alien allowed to carry corn
to any other place than Athens. "Whoever
did so, was punishable with death. Of the
corn brought into the Athenian port two-
thirds was to be brought into the city and
sold there. No one might lend money on a
ship that did not sail with an express con-
dition to bring a return cargo, part of it corn,
to Athens. Strict regulations were made with
ing several standards, represents the perform-
ance of the sacrifice called stiovctaurilia.
The imperial standard from the time of Con-
stantine was called labarum ; on it a figure
or emblem of Christ was woven in gold upon
purple cloth, and this was substituted for the
head of the emperor. Since the movements
of a body of troops and of every portion of it
were regulated by the standards, all the evo-
lutions, acts, and incidents of the Roman
army were expressed by phrases derived from
this circumstance. Thus signa inferre meant
to advance, referre to retreat, and convertere
to face about; efferre, or castris vellere, to
march out of the camp ; ad signa cvnvenire,
to re-assemble. Notwithstanding some ob-
scurity in the use of terms, it appears that,
whilst the standard of the legion was properly
called aquila, those of the cohorts were in a
special sense of the term called signa, their
bearers being signifcri, and that those of the
manipuli or smaller divisions of the cohort
were denominated vexilia, their bearers being
vexillarii. In time of peace the standards
were kept in the Aerarium, under the care
of the Quaestor.
8ILICERNTUM. [Fuxvs.]
SIMPULUM or SIMPUVIUM, the name of
a small cup used in sacrifices, by which liba-
tions of wine were offered to the gods. It is
represented on the coin figured under Seces-
pita. There was a proverbial expression ex-
citarefluctus in simpulo, "tomake much ado
about nothing."
SIPA1UUM, a piece of tapestry stretched
on a frame, which rose before the stage of the
theatre, and consequently answered the pur-
pose of the drop-scene with us, although,
contrary to our practice, it was depressed
when the play began, so as to go below the
level of the stage (aulaca prcmuntur), and
was raised again when the performance was
concluded (tolhmtur). It appears that Iniman
figures were represented upon it, whose feet
seemed to rest upon the stage when this
screen was drawn up. These figures were
sometimes those of Britons woven in the
canvass, and raising their arms in the atti-
tude of lifting up a purple curtain, so as to
be introduced in the same manner as Atlantes,
Persae, and Caryatides. [Caryatides.] In
a more general sense, siparium denoted any
piece of cloth or canvass stretched upon a
frame.
SISTRUM (<reI<TTpo><), a mystical instru-
ment of music, used by the ancient Egyp-
tians in their ceremonies, and especially in
the worship of Isis. It was held in the right
hand (see cut), and shaken, from which cir-
cumstance it derived its name. The intro-
iuction of the worship of Isis into Italy
shortly before the commencement of the
Christian aera made the Romans familiar
with this instrument.
Sistra. (The two figures on the left hand from paintings
found at Portici ; the right-hand figure represents a Sis-
trum formerly belonging to the library of 2st. Genovefa at
Paris.)
SITELLA. [SlTL'LA.]
SITOPHYLACES (<m-ooWAaK.es), a board of
officers, chosen by lot, at Athens. They were
at first three, afterwards increased to fifteen,
of whom ten were for the city, five for the
Peiraeus. Their business was partly to watch
the arrival of the corn ships, take account of
the quantity imported, and see that the im-
port laws were duly observed; partly to
watch the sales of corn in the market, and
take care that the prices were fair and reason-
able, and none but legal weights and mea-
sures used by the factors; in which respect
their duties were much the same as those of
the Agoranomi and Metronomi with regard to
other saleable articles.
SITOS (o-itos), corn. The soil of Attica,
though favourable to the production of figs,
olives, and grapes, was not so favourable for
corn ; and accordingly a large quantity of
corn was annually imported. Exportation
was entirely prohibited, nor was any Athe-
nian or resident alien allowed to carry corn
to any other place than Athens. "Whoever
did so, was punishable with death. Of the
corn brought into the Athenian port two-
thirds was to be brought into the city and
sold there. No one might lend money on a
ship that did not sail with an express con-
dition to bring a return cargo, part of it corn,
to Athens. Strict regulations were made with