Scipio Africanus (the Younger) or Scipio Aemilianus \i- I mil-e- , a-nos\ in full Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus (b. 185/184—d. 129 bc, Rome) Roman gen¬ eral credited with the final subjugation of Carthage. He was the natural son of Paullus and the adoptive son of Publius Scipio, son of Scipio Afri¬ canus the Elder. Polybius instilled in him the ideals of honour, glory, and military success. He first distinguished himself in the Third Macedonian War (168). He then campaigned in Spain and went on to Africa (150), where he displayed great military skill against Carthage while serving as military tribune, and demand arose that he take the command against Carthage. Though under age, he was elected consul in 147 and returned to Africa. He besieged and destroyed Carthage (146), ending the Third Punic War and establishing the province of Africa. Again made consul in 134, he was given command of the Celtiberian War (see Celtiberia), and he secured Spain by besieging and destroying Numantia (133). Back in Rome, he took an unpopular position on a bill supported by his friend Tiberius Gracchus; he was due to speak on the question when he died unexpectedly.
Picture with Light Centre, collage of paper with oil on cardboard by Kurt Schwitters, 1919; in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
COURTESY OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
scirocco ► scoter I 1705
scirocco See sirocco
scissors Cutting instrument or tool consisting of a pair of opposed metal blades that meet and cut when the handles at their ends are brought together. Modern scissors are of two types: the more usual pivoted blades have a rivet or screw connection between the cutting ends and the handle ends; spring shears have a C-shaped spring connection at the handle ends.
SCLC See Southern Christian Leadership Conference
scleroderma \ 1 skler-3-'d9r-m3\ or progressive systemic sclero¬ sis Vsis-'tem-ik-sklo-'ro-sosX Chronic disease that hardens the skin and fixes it to underlying structures. Swelling and collagen buildup lead to loss of elasticity. The cause is unknown. It usually begins at age 25-55, more often in women, with severe inflammation of underlying tissue and stiffness, pain, and skin tautness and thickening. Systemic problems that may arise years later include fever, trouble in breathing, fibrous tissue in the lungs, inflammation of heart muscle or membranes, gastrointestinal disorders, and kidney malfunction. Calcium deposits build up under the skin. The disease may finally stabilize or gradually regress. Steroids may help, and physical medicine and rehabilitation with heat, massage, and passive exercise (movement of the limbs by the therapist) help prevent limb fixation and deformity.
Scofield, (David) Paul (b. Jan. 21, 1922, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, Eng.) British actor. After entertaining the troops in World War II, he joined the theatre company at Stratford-upon-Avon (later the Royal Shakespeare Company) in 1946, winning acclaim as Henry V and Hamlet. He had his greatest success in A Man for All Seasons in London (1960) and New York City (1961-62) and reprised the role on film (1966, Academy Award). He continued to excel in stage productions, notably Uncle Vanya (1970) and Amadeus (1979). He appeared in the film versions of King Lear (1971), A Delicate Balance (1973), and Henry V (1989), and he later acted in the films Quiz Show (1994) and The Crucible (1996).
Scone VskiinV, Stone of Rectangular block of yellow sandstone deco¬ rated with a Celtic cross, which has been associated with the crowning of Scottish kings since medieval times. Legend says it was Jacob’s pil¬ low in the Holy Land, and it was taken to Ireland and then carried off by invading Scots. Kenneth I MacAlpin brought it to the Scottish village of Scone c. 840. Edward I took it to England (1296), where it was later placed under the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey as a symbol of the authority of English kings over Scotland. It was finally returned to Scot¬ land in 1996.
Scopas or Skopas Vsk6-pos\ (fl. 4th century bc, Greece) Greek sculp¬ tor and architect. Ancient writers ranked him with Praxiteles and Lysippus as one of the major sculptors of the late Classical period. He helped establish the expression of powerful emotions as an artistic theme. He apparently worked on three monuments: the temple of Athena Alea at Tegea, the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the Mausoleum at Halicar¬ nassus. Of many freestanding sculptures attributed to him, the Maenad in Dresden and the Pothos in Rome are the most noteworthy.
Scopes Trial (July 10-21, 1925) Widely publicized trial (called the “Monkey Trial”) in Dayton, Tenn. John T. Scopes (1900-70), a high- school teacher, was charged with teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which violated a state law prohibiting the teaching of any doc¬ trine that denied the divine creation of humans. The trial was broadcast live on radio and attracted worldwide interest. The prosecutor was Wil¬ liam Jennings Bryan; the defense attorney was Clarence Darrow. The judge limited arguments to the basic charge to avoid a test of the law’s consti¬ tutionality and a discussion of Darwin’s theory. Scopes was found guilty and fined $100; he was later acquitted on the technicality that he had been fined excessively. The law was repealed in 1967.
score In music, the parts of all the instruments or singers of an ensemble notated with simultaneous sounds aligned vertically, on a system of par¬ allel staffs arranged one above another. Polyphonic (multivoiced) music was being composed for some 600 years before the score came into regu¬ lar use in the 16th-17th centuries. Early examples of scores exist for works of the Notre-Dame school, and early composers may have used temporary scores during composition, perhaps on chalkboards, from which the parts for individual singers were then copied.
Scorel Vskor-oL, Jan van (b. August 1495, Schoorel, Habsburg Netherlands—d. Dec. 6, 1562, Utrecht) Dutch humanist, architect, engi¬ neer, and painter. He studied briefly with Jan Gossart, who encouraged
him to travel. Five years of work and study in Europe eventually took him to Rome. Returning to Holland in 1524, he introduced such Italian Renaissance elements as nudes, Classical draperies and architecture, and spacious imaginary landscapes. His greatest works are his portraits, which show his gift for characterization. He successfully combined the idealism of Renaissance Italy with the naturalism of northern European art in his paintings, and he bequeathed the style to successive generations of Dutch artists.
Scoresby Sound \'skorz-be\ Deep inlet, Norwegian Sea, eastern cen¬ tral coast of Greenland. It runs inland for 70 mi (110 km) and has numer¬ ous fjords (the longest is 280 mi, or 451 km) and two large islands. It was charted by William Scoresby in 1822.
scoria Vskor-e-oV Heavy, dark, glassy igneous rock that contains many bubblelike cavities. Foamlike scoria, in which the bubbles are very thin shells of solidified basaltic magma, occurs as a product of explosive erup¬ tions (as on Hawaii) and as frothy crusts on some lavas. Other scoria, sometimes called volcanic cinder, resembles clinkers, or cinders from a coal furnace.
Scorpio or Scorpius Latin "Scorpion'' In astronomy, the constel¬ lation lying between Libra and Sagittarius; in astrology, the eighth sign of the zodiac, governing approximately the period October 24-November 21. Its symbol, a scorpion, refers to the Greek myth of the scorpion that stung Orion. The story explains why the constellation of Orion sets as Scorpius rises in the sky. Another Greek myth says that a scorpion caused the horses of the sun to bolt when they were being driven by the inex¬ perienced Phaethon.