shuttle In the weaving of cloth, a spindle-shaped device used to carry the crosswise threads (weft) through the lengthwise threads (warp). Not all modern looms use a shuttle; shuttleless looms draw the weft from a nonmoving supply. Shuttle looms fall into two groups according to whether the shuttle is moved by hand or automatically. The second kind is often described as an automatic loom, but except for shuttle movement it is no more automatic in its operation than the hand-moved or so-called nonautomatic loom. See also flying shuttle.
Shwe Dagon Vshwa-,da-gun\ Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon) that is the centre of Burmese religious life. A Buddhist temple complex begun in the 15th century, the cone-shaped Shwe Dagon is constructed of brick and is completely covered with gold. Raised over a relic chamber, it was rebuilt several times and was brought to its present height of 326 ft (99 m) in 1841 by King Tharrawaddy. The pagoda sits atop a hill that rises 168 ft (51 m) above the city.
Shymkent \shim-'kent\ or Chimkent City (pop., 1999 est.: 360,100), south-central Kazakhstan. It lies at an elevation of 1,680 ft (512 m) in the foothills of the Ugam Range, north of Tashkent. Originally a settlement on the caravan route from Central Asia to China, it dates to at least the 12th century ad. Destroyed by nomad attacks several times, it became part of the khanate of Qo'qon in the early 19th century and was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1864. It lies on the Turkistan-Siberian Railroad, and its population grew dramatically in the 20th century. It is now an indus¬ trial and cultural centre.
SI system See International System of Units Sia See Hu, Sia, and Heh
Siad Barre Vse-.ad-'bar-aV Mohamed (b. c. 1919, Ganane, Italian Somaliland—d. Jan. 2, 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) President of Somalia, 1969— 91. He attended military school in Italy, and when Somalia achieved independence in 1960 he was made a colonel in its army. He seized power in a bloodless coup after the president’s assassination in 1969. Under Siad Barre, Somali forces invaded a disputed area in southeastern Ethiopia in 1977, but they were eventually repelled. His government was charged with widespread human rights abuses, and from 1988 government forces repeatedly clashed with rebels. With Somalia in a state of civil war and on the brink of mass starvation, he fled into exile in Nigeria in 1991.
Siam See Thailand
Siamese cat Breed of slender, short-haired domestic cat that originated in Thailand (Siam). The Siamese has a pale fawn or gray body with dark points on the ears, face, legs, and tail. The points may be dark brown (seal point), blue-gray (blue point), milk-chocolate brown (chocolate point), pinkish gray (lilac point), or reddish orange (red point). The head is wedge-shaped. The blue eyes are slanted and may be crossed, though crossed eyes and kinked tail are discouraged by breeders of show ani¬ mals. Siamese are considered highly intelligent and are very vocal, with a distinctive yowling mew.
Siamese fighting fish Freshwater ily Belontiidae or Anabantidae), noted for the males’ pugnacity toward one another. A native of Thai¬ land, it was domesticated there for use in contests. Combat consists mainly of fin nipping and is accom¬ panied by a display of extended gill covers, spread fins, and intensified colouring. This slender fish grows to about 2.5 in. (6.5 cm) long. In the wild it is predominantly greenish or brown, with red fins; domesticated, it has been bred with long, flowing fins and in a variety of colours, such as red, green, blue, and lavender.
Siamese twins See conjoined twins
Sian See Xi'an Siang River See Xiang River
Sibelius \si-'bal-y3s\, Jean orig. Johan Julius Christian Sibel¬ ius (b. Dec. 8, 1865, Hameenlinna, Fin.—d. Sept. 20, 1957, Jarvenpaa) Finnish composer. He played violin and composed as a child, and later he studied composition with Karl Goldmark (1830-1915). After initially concentrating on chamber music, he rapidly developed into an orchestral composer. He became involved with the movement for national indepen¬ dence from Russia, and his nationalism resulted in works based on Finn¬ ish folklore, such as Kullervo (1892), the Karelia suite (1893), Legends from the Kalevala (1893), and Finlandia (1900). His major achievements were his seven symphonies (1899-1924), the Violin Concerto in D Minor
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Siberia ► Siddons I 1747
(1903), and Tapiola (1926). His works, marked by a sweeping but mel¬ ancholy Romanticism, achieved international popularity. He wrote noth¬ ing in his last 30 years.
Siberia Region, north-central Asia, largely in Russia. It extends from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific Ocean and from the Arctic Ocean to central Kazakhstan and the boundaries of China and Mongolia; it covers more than 5,000,000 sq mi (13,000,000 sq km). It is notorious for the length and severity of its almost snowless winters. Temperatures of -90 °F (-68 °C) have been recorded. The first settlers probably arrived in southern Siberia in the Paleolithic Period. The area was under Chinese influence from c. 1000 bc, followed by the Turkic-Mongols in the 3rd century bc. Russian trappers and Cossack explorers (see Cossacks) colo¬ nized it in the late 16th century, and by the mid-18th century most of Siberia was under Russian rule. It was connected to other parts of Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Eastern Siberia was the scene of the anti- Bolshevik government of Aleksandr Kolchak (1918-20). It was made part of the Russian S.F.S.R. in 1922. Russia exiled criminals and political prisoners there, and in the 1930s Joseph Stalin set up forced-labour camps that fueled industrial growth. When Russian factories were relocated there during World War II, it played an important role in the war effort. It has deposits of coal, petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, iron ore, and gold; its chief industrial products include steel, aluminum, and machinery. South¬ ern Siberia produces wheat, rye, oats, and sunflowers. Its main cities include Novosibirsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Irkutsk.
Siberian husky Breed of dog developed in Siberia by the Chukchi people, who used it as a sled dog, companion, and guard. It was brought to Alaska in 1909 for sled-dog races and became established as a consis¬ tent winner. A graceful dog with erect ears and a dense, soft coat, it stands 20-24 in. (51-60 cm) and weighs 35-60 lbs (16-27 kg). It is usually gray, tan, or black and white; head markings may resemble a cap, mask, or spectacles. The breed, kept pure for hundreds of years in Siberia, is noted for intelligence and a gentle temperament.
Siberian peoples Any of a large number of small ethnic groups living in Siberia. Most engage either in reindeer herding or fishing, while some also hunt furbearing animals or farm and raise horses or cattle. In the past, many had both summer and winter dwellings, their winter homes some¬ times being partially or entirely underground and their summer homes being various styles of tent. Shamanism was common, and the family was the basic societal unit. The Soviet government attempted to settle Siberian peoples on collective farms and to introduce new occupations, but some groups, such as the Koryak and the Nenets, still engage in their traditional pursuits. Other Siberian peoples include the Chukchi, Evenk, Ket, Khanty, Mansi, Sakha, and Yukaghir. See also Paleo-Siberian languages.
Siberut V.se-bo-'ruA Island, Indonesia. The largest island in the Men- tawai group, it lies off the western coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It is 25 mi (40 km) wide and 70 mi (110 km) long. The coast is low and swampy; the inland is savanna. Agriculture is the chief occupation.
Sibyl Prophetess of Greek legend. She was a figure of the mythical past whose prophecies, phrased in Greek hexameters, were handed down in writing. In the late 4th century bc, the number of Sibyls multiplied, and the term sibyl was treated as a title. Sibyls were associated with various oracles, especially those of Apollo, who was said to be their inspiration. They were typically depicted as extremely old women who lived in caves and delivered their prophecies in an ecstatic frenzy. A famous collection of prophecies, the Sibylline Books , was traditionally kept in the temple of Jupiter, to be consulted only in emergencies.