SYNTIPAS  , the

Greek form of Sindibad or Sendabar, an Indian philosopher supposed to have lived about 'co B.C., and the reputed author of a collection of tales known generally in Europe as the story of the Seven Wise Masters . They enjoyed immense popularity, and appeared in many Oriental and Western languages, A Greek translation (probably from a Syriac version), the earliest specimen of Romaic prose (trth century), is extant under the title of The most pleasing Story of Syntipas the Philosopher . It is preceded by an introduction in iambic verse by a certain Michael Andreopulos, who states that it was executed by order of Michael, probably the duke of Melitene in Armenia . The translator is evidently a Christian, although he has generally preserved the Oriental colouring . The main outline is the same in the different versions, although they vary in detail and include different stories . A certain prince, who had taken a vow of silence for a time on the advice of his tutor, was tempted by his stepmother . Her advances having been rejected, she accused him to his father, who decided to put him to death . The device of the Arabian Nights is introduced by the wise men of the court, who in turn relate stories to dissuade the king from over-hasty punishment, each story being answered by the queen, who desires instant action to be taken . When the period of silence is over the prince speaks and establishes his innocence . In the Greek version the king is a king of Persia, named Cyrus, and Syntipas himself is the prince's tutor (text in A . Eberhard, Fabulae Ramanensea, i., 1872, " Teubner Series ") . For a discussion of the whole subject, see D .

Comparetti, Ricerche intorno al libro di Sindibad (1869; Eng. trans. by H . C . Coote, Folk-Lore Society, 1882) ; W . A . Clouston, The Book of Sindibad (from the Persian and Arabic, 1884; from the Syriac, by H . Gollancz, 1897); J . C . Dunlop, Hist. of Prose Fiction (new ed., 1888), vol. ii.; C . Krumbacher, Geschichte der byzantinischen Litt . (2nd ed., 1897) . Sixty-two Aesopic fables, also translated from Syriac into Greek, are attributed to this same Syntipas (ed . C .

F . Matthai, 1781) .