1. Tyrant or ruler of Zancle in Sicily, about 494 B. C. The Zanclaeans had sent to Ionia to
invite colonists to join them in founding a new city on the Καλὴ
Ἀκτή, or north shore of Sicily, and the offer had been accepted by a large body
of Samians, together with some fugitives from Miletus; but when they arrived at Locri,
Scythes, at the head of the Zanclaeans, was engaged in hostilities against the Sicels, and the
Samians were persuaded by Anaxilas of Rhegium to take advantage of his absence, and occupy the
city of Zancle itself. Hereupon Scythes called in the assistance of his ally, Hippocrates,
tyrant of Gela, but the latter proved no less perfidious than the Samians, and immediately on
his arrival threw Scythes himself and his brother Pythogenes into chains, and sent them
prisoners to Inycus, while lie betrayed his allies the Zanclaeans into the hands
of the Samians. Scythes, however, contrived to make his escape to Himera, and from thence
repaired to Asia, to the court of Dareius, king of Persia, where he was received with much
distinction, and rose to a high place in the king's favour. He afterwards revisited his native
city, but again returned to the Persian court, where he died at an advanced age, and in the
possession of great wealth, while he enjoyed general esteem for the probity of his character
(Hdt. 6.23, 24; Ael. VH 8.17). It is remarkable that Herodotus, while he designates Anaxilas and
Hippocrates as tyrants (τύραννοι) of their respective
cities, styles Scythes king (βασιλεύς) or monarch
(μούναρχος) of the Zanclaeans.