Skytalism

From Ancient Greek σκυταλισμός (skutalismós, “clubbing”), from σκυτάλη (skutálē) or σκύταλον (skútalon, “club”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism: forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to skytale +‎ -ism.

Skytalism

1. (historical) Alternative form of Scytalism.
   • 1852, George Grote, History of Greece, Vol. X, pp. 425–6:

     But the city where intestine commotion took place in its most violent form was Argos... This gloomy series of events was termed the Skytalism, or Cudgelling, from the instrument (as we are told) by which these multiplied executions were consummated; though the name seems more to indicate an impetuous popular insurrection than deliberate executions... We are told that the assembled Athenian people, when they heard the news of the Skytalism at Argos, were so shocked at it, that they caused the solemnity of purification to be performed round the assembly.

   • 1877, Charles Sankey, The Spartan and Theban Supremacies, p. 189:

     ‘Skytalism’ at Argos... The excitement of the people was inflamed by the harangues of demagogues, and the mob, arming itself with cudgels, commenced a general massacre.

   • 2024, Vassilios P. Vertoudakis, "Fake News and Misinformation during War or Civil Conflict...", Fake News in Ancient Greece..., pp. 213 ff.:

     The events of the so-called Skytalism, narrated by Diodorus Siculus, constituted unprecidented incidents of violence...