SICYON, (Lat., from Gk. Eacv6v, Sikyon, Seky591). The principal city of a small but fertile State of ancient Greece, Sicyonia, situated in the north of the Pelopon nesus, having the Corinthian Gulf for its northern boundary, with Aehaia on the west. Phlius on the south, and Corinth on the east. Between the rivers Asopus and Helisson, on a triangular plateau. was situated Sicyon. about two miles south of the Corinthian Gulf, and ten north west of Corinth. Its position was one of great strength. The earlier city seems to have been situated at the foot of the plateau, to which it was removed by Demetrius Polioreetes in B.C. 303. The early history of Sicyon is involved in myths, but even in the legends a connection with Argos appears, particularly in the story of Adras tus. At the time of the Dorian invasion it was occupied. but tradition said in a peaceable fash ion, and the original population formed a fourth tribe along with the three Dorian tribes. The rule of the Dorian nobles was overthrown by Andreas, or Orthagoras, a member of a non Dorian family, who about B.c. 665 made himself tyrant—a position held by his house for about one hundred years. Under Clisthenes, early in the sixth century, the State seems to have reached a high degree of prosperity and warlike fame, especially through its part in the Sacred War and establishment of the Pythian games. In later history Sicyon regularly appears as a dependency of Sparta, until the rise of Thebes.
After its rebuilding by Demetrius it again fell under the rule of tyrants, but was finally freed and brought into the Aelnean League (u.c. 251) by Aratus. After the destruction of Corinth by the Romans, the Sicyonians for a time had charge of the Isthmian games. In later times it seems to have been an insignificant place. On its site is the modern village Vasiliko. There are still considerable remains of the Roman period, and also a Greek theatre, which has been exca vated by the American School at Athens. The ancient city was famous from early times for its bronze-casting, and especially for its painting.
SIDA (Neo-Lat., from Gk, oik, side, pome granate. water-lily). A large widely distributed genus of annual and perennial herbs and shrubs of the natural order Malvacetr, mostly natives of warm climates, and generally rich in mucilage. Some of the species have strong pliable fibres, which are employed for cordage and for textile purposes. One of the most valuable of these is Nida rhombifolia, a perennial tropical shrub also found in Australia and the 'United States. It is also said to be cultivated as a forage plant. Siila tilifrfolia—better mown as Abutilon uricenrr is an annual long cultivated in China, for its fibre, which is used like that of hemp. Tn parts of the United States it is a common weed known as velvetleaf,