PrefaceThis little book tries to describe what an intelligent person would see and hear in ancient Athens, if by some legerdemain he were translated to the fourth century B.C. and conducted about the city under competent guidance. Rare happenings have been omitted and sometimes, to avoid long explanations,probablematters have been stated as if they were ascertained facts; but these instances are few, and it is hoped no reader will be led into serious error.The year 360 B.C. has been selected for the hypothetical time of this visit, not because of any special virtue in that date, but because Athens was then architecturally almost perfect, her civic and her social life seemed at their best, the democratic constitution held its vigor, and there were few outward signs of the general decadence which was to set in after the triumph of Macedon.I have endeavored to state no facts and to make no allusions, that will not be fairly obvious to a reader who has merely an elementary knowledge of Greek annals, such information, for instance, as may be gained through a good secondary school history of ancient times. This naturally has led to comments and descriptions which more advanced students may find superfluous.The writer has been under a heavy debt to the numerous and excellent works on Greek “Private Antiquities” and “Public Life” written in English, French, or German, as well as to the various great Classical Encyclopædias and Dictionaries, and to many treatises and monographs upon the topography of Athens and upon the numerous phases of Attic culture. It is proper to say, however, that the material from such secondary sources has been merely supplementary to a careful examination of the ancient Greek writers, with the objects of this book kept especially in view. A sojourn in modern Athens, also, has given me an impression of the influence of the Attic landscape upon the conditions of old Athenian life, an impression that I have tried to convey in this small volume.I am deeply grateful to my sister, Mrs. Fannie Davis Gifford, for helpful criticism of this book while in manuscript; to my wife, for preparing the drawings from Greek vase-paintings which appear as illustrations; and to my friend and colleague, Professor Charles A. Savage, for a kind and careful reading of the proofs. Thanks also are due to Henry Holt and Company for permission to quote material from their edition of Von Falke’s “Greece and Rome.”W. S. D.University of Minnesota,Minneapolis, Minnesota.May, 1914.ContentsChapter I. The Physical Setting of Athens.1. The Importance of Athens in Greek History2. Why the Social Life of Athens is so Significant3. The Small Size and Sterility of Attica4. The Physical Beauty of Attica5. The Mountains of Attica6. The Sunlight in Attica7. The Topography of the City of Athens8. 360 B.C.—The Year of the Visit to AthensChapter II. The First Sights in Athens.9. The Morning Crowds bound for Athens10. The Gate and the Street Scenes11. The Streets and House Fronts of Athens12. The Simplicity of Athenian LifeChapter III. The Agora and its Denizens.13. The Buildings around the Agora14. The Life in the Agora15. The Booths and Shops in the Agora16. The Flower and the Fish Vendors17. The Morning Visitors to the Agora18. The Leisured Class in Athens19. Familiar Types around the Agora20. The Barber ShopsChapter IV. The Athenian House and its Furnishings.21. Following an Athenian Gentleman Homeward22. The Type and Uses of a Greek House23. The Plan of a Greek House24. Modifications in the Typical Plan25. Rents and House Values26. The Simple yet Elegant Furnishings of an Athenian HouseChapter V. The Women of Athens.27. How Athenian Marriages are Arranged28. Lack of Sentiment in Marriages29. Athenian Marriage Rites30. The Mental Horizon of Athenian Women31. The Honor paid Womanhood in Athens32. The Sphere of Action of Athenian WomenChapter VI. Athenian Costume.33. The General Nature of Greek Dress34. The Masculine Chiton, Himation, and Chlamys35. The Dress of the Women36. Footwear and Head Coverings37. The Beauty of the Greek Dress38. Greek Toilet FrivolitiesChapter VII. The Slaves.39. Slavery an Integral Part of Greek Life40. The Slave Trade in Greece41. The Treatment of Slaves in Athens42. Cruel and Kind Masters43. The “City Slaves” of AthensChapter VIII. The Children.44. The Desirability of Children in Athens45. The Exposure of Infants46. The Celebration of a Birth47. Life and Games of Young Children48. Playing in the Streets49. The First Stories and Lessons50. The Training of Athenian GirlsChapter IX. The Schoolboys of Athens.51. The Athenians Generally Literate52. Character Building the Aim of Athenian Education53. The Schoolboy’s Pedagogue54. An Athenian School55. The School Curriculum56. The Study of the Poets57. The Greeks do not study Foreign Languages58. The Study of “Music”59. The Moral Character of Greek Music60. The Teaching of Gymnastics61. The Habits and Ambitions of Schoolboys62. The “Ephebi”Chapter X. The Physicians of Athens.63. The Beginnings of Greek Medical Science64. Healing Shrines and their Methods65. An Athenian Physician’s Office66. The Physician’s Oath67. The Skill of Greek Physicians68. Quacks and CharlatansChapter XI. The Funerals.69. An Athenian’s Will70. The Preliminaries of a Funeral71. Lamenting the Dead72. The Funeral Procession73. The Funeral Pyre74. Honors to the Memory of the Dead75. The Beautiful Funeral MonumentsChapter XII. Trade, Manufactures, and Banking.76. The Commercial Importance of Athens77. The Manufacturing Activities of Athens78. The Commerce of Athens79. The Adventurous Merchant Skippers80. Athenian Money-changers and Bankers81. A Large Banking Establishment82. Drawbacks to the Banking Business83. The Pottery of Athens84. Athenian Pottery an Expression of the Greek Sense of BeautyChapter XIII. The Armed Forces of Athens.85. Military Life at Athens86. The Organization of the Athenian Army87. The Hoplites and the Light Troops88. The Cavalry and the Peltasts89. The Panoply of the Hoplites90. The Weapons of a Hoplite91. Infantry Maneuvers92. The Preliminaries of a Greek Battle93. Joining the Battle94. The Climax and End of the Battle95. The Burial Truce and the Trophy after the Battle96. The Siege of Fortified Towns97. The Introduction of New TacticsChapter XIV. The Peiræus and the Shipping.98. The “Long Walls” down to the Harbor Town99. Munychia and the Havens of Athens100. The Glorious View from the Hill of Munychia101. The Town of Peiræus102. The Merchant Shipping103. The Three War Harbors and the Ship Houses104. The Great Naval Arsenal105. An Athenian Trierarch106. The Evolution of the Trireme107. The Hull of a Trireme108. The Rowers’ Benches of a Trireme109. The Cabins, Rigging, and Ram of a Trireme110. The Officers and Crew of a Trireme111. A Trireme at Sea112. The Tactics of a Naval Battle113. The Naval Strength of AthensChapter XV. An Athenian Court Trial.114. The Frequency of Litigation in Athens115. Prosecutions in Athens116. The Preliminaries to a Trial117. The Athenian Jury Courts118. The Juryman’s Oath119. Opening The Trial. The Plaintiff’s Speech120. The Defendant’s Speech. Demonstrations by the Jury121. The First Verdict122. The Second and Final Verdict123. The Merits and Defects of the Athenian Courts124. The Usual Punishments in Athens125. The Heavy Penalty of Exile126. The Death Penalty of AthensChapter XVI. The Ecclesia of Athens.127. The Rule of Democracy in Athens128. Aristocracy and Wealth. Their Status and Burdens129. Athenian Society truly Democratic up to a Certain Point130. The Voting Population of Athens131. Meeting Times of the Ecclesia132. The Pnyx (Assembly Place) at Athens133. The Preliminaries of the Meeting134. Debating a Proposition135. Voting at the Pnyx136. The Ecclesia as an Educational InstrumentChapter XVII. The Afternoon at the Gymnasia.137. The Gymnasia. Places of General Resort138. The Road to the Academy139. The Academy140. The Social Atmosphere and Human Types at the Academy141. Philosophers and Cultivated Men at the Gymnasia142. The Beautiful Youths at the Academy143. The Greek Worship of Manly Beauty144. The Detestation of Old Age145. The Greeks unite Moral and Physical Beauty146. The Usual Gymnastic Sports and their Objects147. Professional Athletes: the Pancration148. Leaping Contests149. Quoit Hurling150. Casting the Javelin151. Wrestling152. Foot Races153. The Pentathlon: the Honors paid to Great AthletesChapter XVIII. Athenian Cookery and the Symposium.154. Greek Meal Times155. Society desired at Meals156. The Staple Articles of Food157. Greek Vintages158. Vegetable Dishes159. Meat and Fish Dishes160. Inviting Guests to a Dinner Party161. Preparing for the Dinner: the Sicilian Cook162. The Coming of the Guests163. The Dinner Proper164. Beginning the Symposium165. The Symposiarch and his Duties166. Conversation at the Symposium167. Games and Entertainments168. Going Home from the Feast: Midnight RevelersChapter XIX. Country Life around Athens.169. The Importance of his Farm to an Athenian170. The Country by the Ilissus: the Greeks and Natural Beauty171. Plato’s Description of the Walk by the Ilissus172. The Athenian Love of Country Life173. Some Features of the Attic Country174. An Attic Farmstead175. Plowing, Reaping, and Threshing176. Grinding at the Mill177. The Olive Orchards178. The Vineyards179. Cattle, Sheep, and Goats180. The Gardens and the ShrineChapter XX. The Temples and Gods of Athens.181. Certain Factors in Athenian Religion182. What constitutes “Piety” in Athens183. The Average Athenians Idea of the Gods184. Most Greeks without Belief in Immortality185. The Multitude of Images of the Gods186. Greek Superstition187. Consulting Omens188. The Great Oracles189. Greek Sacrifices190. The Route to the Acropolis191. The Acropolis of Athens192. The Use of Color Upon Athenian Architecture and Sculptures193. The Chief Buildings on the Acropolis194. The Parthenon195. A Sacrifice on the Acropolis196. The Interior of the Parthenon and the Great Image of Athena197. Greek PrayersChapter XXI. The Great Festival of Athens.198. The Frequent Festivals in Athens199. The Eleusinia200. The Holy Procession to Eleusis201. The Mysteries of Eleusis202. The Greater Dionysia and the Drama203. The Theater of Dionysus204. The Production of a Play205. The Great Panathenaic Procession206. The View from the Temple of Wingless VictoryIndex[Illustration: ]Athenian AcropolisMaps, Plans, and Illustrations.1. Athenian Acropolis2. Sketch Map of Attica3. Sketch Map of Athens4. Peasant going to Market5. At the Street Fountain6. A Wayside Herm7. A Carpenter8. Conjectural Plan for the house of a Wealthy Athenian9. Spinning10. The Maternal Slipper11. Athenian Funeral Monument12. At the Smithy13. Hoplite in Armor14. The Town of Peiræus and the Harbors of Athens15. Fishermen16. An Athenian Trireme17. The Race in Armor18. Itinerant Piper with his Dog19. Women pounding Meal20. Gathering the Olive Harvest21. Rural Sacrifice to a Wooden Statue of Dionysus22. Sketch Map of the Acropolis of Athens23. Sacrificing a Pig24. Athena Parthenos25. Comic Actors dressed as Ostriches26. Actor in Costume as a Fury
This little book tries to describe what an intelligent person would see and hear in ancient Athens, if by some legerdemain he were translated to the fourth century B.C. and conducted about the city under competent guidance. Rare happenings have been omitted and sometimes, to avoid long explanations,probablematters have been stated as if they were ascertained facts; but these instances are few, and it is hoped no reader will be led into serious error.
The year 360 B.C. has been selected for the hypothetical time of this visit, not because of any special virtue in that date, but because Athens was then architecturally almost perfect, her civic and her social life seemed at their best, the democratic constitution held its vigor, and there were few outward signs of the general decadence which was to set in after the triumph of Macedon.
I have endeavored to state no facts and to make no allusions, that will not be fairly obvious to a reader who has merely an elementary knowledge of Greek annals, such information, for instance, as may be gained through a good secondary school history of ancient times. This naturally has led to comments and descriptions which more advanced students may find superfluous.
The writer has been under a heavy debt to the numerous and excellent works on Greek “Private Antiquities” and “Public Life” written in English, French, or German, as well as to the various great Classical Encyclopædias and Dictionaries, and to many treatises and monographs upon the topography of Athens and upon the numerous phases of Attic culture. It is proper to say, however, that the material from such secondary sources has been merely supplementary to a careful examination of the ancient Greek writers, with the objects of this book kept especially in view. A sojourn in modern Athens, also, has given me an impression of the influence of the Attic landscape upon the conditions of old Athenian life, an impression that I have tried to convey in this small volume.
I am deeply grateful to my sister, Mrs. Fannie Davis Gifford, for helpful criticism of this book while in manuscript; to my wife, for preparing the drawings from Greek vase-paintings which appear as illustrations; and to my friend and colleague, Professor Charles A. Savage, for a kind and careful reading of the proofs. Thanks also are due to Henry Holt and Company for permission to quote material from their edition of Von Falke’s “Greece and Rome.”
W. S. D.
University of Minnesota,Minneapolis, Minnesota.May, 1914.
[Illustration: ]Athenian Acropolis
Athenian Acropolis