Sirani, Giovanni Andrea, an Italian painter, was born in 1610 at Bologna, where he also died in 1670. He was a pupil of Guido, some of whose works he fin- ished. His own paintings are of a similar style, being on religious subjects, and found in several churches in Italy.
Sirani's three daughters were among his pupils, the eldest of whom, Elisabetta (born at Bologna in 1638, and died there in 1665), left a considerable number of paintings on religious subjects, after the style of Guido, which are quite celebrated even beyond the limits of her own country. See Hoefer, Kouv. Bio(j. Geiierale, s. V.
Sirath, in Islamism, is a bridge, narrower than a hair and sharper than a sword, which passes over the abyss of hell, and which all human beings must attempt to cross after their death. Moslems are enabled, by sus- taining angels, to pass over safely; but Christians, Jews, and other unbelievers fall into the abyss below. — VoU- mer, Wdrterb. d. Mythal. s. v.
Sireda, in Indian religion, is a name for chief priests among the Burmese, who enjoy the veneration of other priests and the people generally to a high degree. Their bodies are embalmed after death, and interred in the Con- vent of Immortality. — Vollmer, WOrterb. d. Mi/tliol. s. v.
Siren, a name for fabulous beings occurring in Gre- cian mythology and first mentioned in the Odyssey of Homer, who enticed seamen by the magic sweetness of their songs and then slew them. Ulysses escajjed their power by stopping the ears of his companions with wax and causing himself to be bomul to the mast of his vessel until beyond the reach of their mu- sical charms; and the Argonauts were jire- ._ served by the singing of Orpheus, which ex- celled that of the Si- rens. The number of the Sirens was at first two, but afterwards three. Their naines were said to be Aglai- opheme {clear roice) and Thel.xiepea (inaijic song), Pisinoe being afterwards added, and others being substitut- Antique Figure of a Siren.
SIRET
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SIRMOXD
ed by different writers — e. g. Parthenope. Ligea, and Leucosia. Tliey were fabled to have descendeil from Acheloiis, a river-i^od. by the muse Terpsichore or Cal- liope, or by Sterope, dausxhter of IVirthaoii, from Phorcys, or from the earth. Their form was also variously rep- resented— part woman and part tish or bird, endowed with wings, etc., the latter conception leading to their being sometimes identitied with the Harpies. The place of the abode of the sirens was also micertain — the Sicil- ian headland Felorum, the island of Capr.ea, the Sirenu- sian isles, the island Anthemusa. and the coast of Par- thenope (the mo<lern Xaples) all having been so desig- nated. At Parthenope the tomb of the siren of that name was shown: and a temple dedicated to the wor- ship of these beings stood near Surrentum. See VoU- mer, W'Orterb. d. .\fi//kol. s. v. ; Smith, Diet, of Mythol. s. v. : Anthou, Classical Diet. s. v.
Siret, Pierre Hlbert Christophe. a French preacher, was born at Kheims, Aug. 3, 1754, and was ad- mitted to the Congregation of the Canons of St. Gene- vieve, where he taught theology. He became prior of the abbey of the Yal des Ecoliers ; afterwards he devoted himself to preaching, and he has left some remarkable productions in that line. At the time of the Revolu- tion he was curate of Sourdin, near Provins: but he re- nounced the priesthood and held several civil otlices. He died at Paris, May 19, 1834 See Hoefer, Xouv. Bioij. Generale, s. v.
Siri, A'icTOR, an Italian historian, was bom in 1608, and was a monk of Parma, where he empl(\ved his leis- ure hours in writing a history of his times. Of the writings of Siri cardinal !Mazarin held a verj- high opinion, and persuaded Louis XIV to invite him to Paris. On his arrival he was preferred to a secular abbey; and, quitting his ecclesiastical functions, lived at court in great intimacy and confidence with the king and his ministers. He was made almoner and historiographer. Siri died in Paris, Oct. 6, 1685. He publisheii a kind of political journal. Memorie Recondite, afterwards collected into volumes, running up to the eighth (4to"): — // Mercurio, ovvero Istoria de' Correnti Tempi (^1647-82, 15 vols. 4to). He also published some mathematical works, and replies to his critics (1653, 1671), See Chalmers, Biog. Diet. ; Hoefer, Xuui: Biog. Generale, s. v.
Siricius, pope from 384 to 398, was a firm defender of the iirtlioilox faith and a zealous promoter of the power of the Church through the exercise of a rigid discipline. He condemned the monk Jovinian and bishop Konosus of Sardica (q. v.) as heretics, and zealously prosecuted the suppression of the Maiiich;tan and Priscillianist lieresies at Home. By carefully making use of circum- stances he succeeded in attaching Eastern lUyria to the see of Rome, and induced the bishop of Thessalonica to acknowledge himself the vicar of Home for that prov- ince. He was the first to make celibacy a law of the Church, and furnished in his f-Jpist. ad Ilimerium Episc. Tarriicoiifnsem the earliest decretal to this end. Epis- tles from his pen are still extant. See Petr. Constant. Kpuit. limn. Punt ijicnm in (Jieseler's Lehrbiich d. Kirchen- f/fsckirhtr. i, 2 ; IJonn, p. 333. and comp. p. 199, 276. See Herziig. Real-EitcykUip. s. v.