SALA.  It seems that two rivers of this name were intended by Tacitus, One, now called the Issel, which had a communication with the Rhine, by means of the canal made by Drusus, the father of Germanicus.  The other SALA was a river in the country now called Thuringia, described by Tacitus as yielding salt, which the inhabitants considered as the peculiar favour of heaven.  The salt, however, was found in the salt springs near the river, which runs northward into the Albis, or Elbe.

SALAMIS, an island near the coast of Attica, opposite to Eleusis.  There was also a town of the name of Salamis, on the eastern coast of Cyprus, built by Teucer, when driven by his father from his native island.  Horace says, Ambiguam tellure nova Salamina futuram.

SAMARIA, the capital of the country of that name in Palestine; the residence of the kings of Israel, and afterwards of Herod.  Samaritans, the name of the people.  Some magnificent ruins of the place are still remaining.

SAMBULOS, a mountain in the territory of the Parthians, with the river Corma near it.  The mountain and the river are mentioned by Tacitus only.

SAMNIS, or SAMNITES, a people of ancient Italy, extending on both sides of the Apennine, famous in the Roman wars.

SAMOS, an island of Asia Minor, opposite to Ephesus; the birth-place of Pythagoras, who was thence called the Samian Sage.

SAMOTHRACIA, an island of Thrace, in the Egean Sea, opposite to the mouth of the Hebrus.  There were mysteries of initiation celebrated in this island, held in as high repute as those of Eleusis; with a sacred and inviolable asylum.

SARDES, the capital of Lydia, at the foot of Mount Tmolus, from which the Pactolus ran down through the heart of the city.  The inhabitants were called Sardicni.

SARDINIA, an island on the Sea of Liguria, lying to the south of Corsica.  It is said that an herb grew there, which, when eaten, produced a painful grin, called Sardonius risus.  The island now belongs to the Duke of Saxony, with the title of king.

SARMATIA, called also Scythia, a northern country of vast extent, and divided into Europaea and Asiatica; the former beginning at the Vistula (its western boundary), and comprising Russia, part of Poland, Prussia, and Lithuania; and the latter bounded on the west by Sarmatia Europaea and the Tanais (the Don), extending south as far as Mount Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, containing Tartary, Circassia, &c.

SAXA RUBRA, a place on the Flamminian road in Etruria, nine miles from Rome.

SCEPTEUCI, a people of Asiatic Sarmatia, between the Euxine and the Caspian Sea.

SCYTHIA, a large country, now properly Crim Tartary; in ancient geography divided in Scythia Asiatica, on either side of Mount Imaus; and Scythia Europaea, about the Euxine Sea and the Maeotic Lake.  See also SARMATIA.