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scythes

n. (plural of scythe English)

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Scythes

Scythes ( Gr. , Skýthi̱s) was tyrant or ruler of Zancle in Sicily. He was appointed to that post in about 494 BC by Hippocrates of Gela.

The Zanclaeans had contacted Ionian leaders to invite colonists to join them in founding a new city on the Kale Acte , or north shore of Sicily. This offer had been accepted by a large number of Samians, together with some exiles from Miletus.

But when the colonists arrived at Locri, Scythes and the Zanclaeans were engaged in hostilities against the Sicels. Meanwhile, the Samians were persuaded by Anaxilas of Rhegium to take advantage of Scythes' absence, and occupy the city of Zancle itself. In response, Scythes asked for the assistance of his ally, Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela.

However, Hippocrates proved to be just as untrustworthy as the Samians. On his arrival, he placed Scythes and his brother, Pythogenes, in chains and sent them as prisoners to Inycum. He then betrayed his allies the Zanclaeans so that they fell into the hands of the Samians.

Scythes, however, was able to escape from Inycum and made his way to Himera. Once there he was able make his way to the court of Darius, king of Persia, where he was received with much distinction and rose to a high place in the king's favour.

Some time afterwards, Scythes was able to visit his native city, but again had to return to the Persian court, where he died at an advanced age, and in the possession of great wealth, while he enjoyed general esteem for the probity of his character. It is interesting that Herodotus designates Anaxilas and Hippocrates as tyrants of their respective cities, but he styles Scythes as king or monarch of the Zanclaeans.

Scythes is thought by some writers, including Perizonius, to have been the father of Cadmus of Kos. Others, such as Lodewijk Caspar Valckenaer, suppose that Scythes was the uncle of another Scythes in Kos, who was the father of Cadmus.

Usage examples of "scythes".

Dark smoke rolled up out of the chimney, wheels and rims leaned against the walls, bits of harness, broken plowshares, mended scythes, and such lay about the yard.

Outside the long, high walls, golden waves of ripe grain swayed in the gentle breeze as men with scythes reaped the harvest.

I rode through more than one empty hamlet, and as many where the path was blocked by fallen trees and villagers standing there with scythes and shovels to guard themselves from any who might bring the contagion into their homes.

As the sun rose, men began to arrive, carrying their scythes and rakes.

Men took up their scythes and rakes and piled into the waiting wagons, helping the women up alongside them.

The men with the scythes formed two lines, the spacing of the workers staggered.

After these men had swept their scythes through the rows of oats left behind, the rakers and gatherers began their work.

I reached down slowly, and a fistful of scythes sloughed off some topskin.