SILIUS ITALICUS, a Roman poet; was consul in the year of Nero’s death, and his chief work an epic “Punica,” relating the events of the Second Punic War, a dull performance.

SILLIMAN, BENJAMIN, American chemist and geologist, born in North Stratford (now Trumbull), Connecticut; graduated at Yale, and was called to the bar in 1802, but in the same year threw up law for science; became professor of Chemistry at Yale, a position he held for 50 years (till 1853); did much to stimulate the study of chemistry and geology by lectures throughout the States; founded (1818) the American Journal of Science, and was for 28 years its editor; during 1853-55 was lecturer on Geology at Yale; his writings include “Journals of Travels in England, Holland, and Scotland” (1779-1864).  BENJAMIN SILLIMAN, son of preceding, also an active scientist along his father’s lines; founded the Yale School of Science, and filled the chairs of Chemistry at Louisville (1849-1854) and at Yale (till 1869); was co-editor of the Journal of Science (1845-85), and wrote various popular text-books of chemistry and physics (1816-1885).

SILLOTH (3), a watering-place of Cumberland, on the Solway Firth, 20 m.  W. of Carlisle; has good docks and an increasing commerce.

SILURES, one of the ancient British tribes occupying the SE. of Wales; conjectured to be of Non-Aryan stock, and akin to the Iberians; offered a fierce resistance to the invading Romans.

SILVANUS, an Italian divinity, the guardian of trees, fields, and husbandmen; represented as a hale, happy, old man.

SILVER AGE, the age in the Greek mythology in succession to the Golden; gold being viewed as the reality, and silver the idle reflection.  See AGES and GOLDEN AGE.

SIMEON, ST., the aged seer who received the infant Christ in his arms as He was presented to the Lord by His mother in the Temple; usually so represented in Christian art.

SIMEON STYLITES, famous as one of the PILLAR SAINTS (q. v.).

SIMFEROPOL (36), a town in the Crimea, 49 m.  NE. of Sebastopol; surrounded by gardens, orchards, and vineyards; exports a great quantity of fruit.

SIMLA (15, but largely increased in summer), the chief town of a district in the Punjab, and since 1864 the summer hill-quarters of the British Government in India; beautifully situated on the wooded southern slopes of the Himalayas, 7156 ft. above sea-level, and 170 m.  N. of Delhi; has a cool and equable climate, and possesses two vice-regal palaces, government buildings, beautiful villas, &c.

SIMMS, WILLIAM GILMORE, a prolific American writer, born at Charleston, South Carolina; turned from law to literature; engaged in journalism for some years, and found favour with the public as a writer of poems, novels, biographies, &c., in which he displays a gift for rapid, vivid narrative, and vigour of style; “Southern Passages and Pictures” contains characteristic examples of his poetry, and of his novels “The Yemassee,” “The Partisan,” and “Beauchampe” may be mentioned (1806-1870).