GLIMPSES OF ANCIENT GREEK LIFE.
[1.] “Chiton,” kīˈton; “Peplos,” pepˈlos. (See “Brief History of Greece,” p. 81.)
[2.] “Himation,” hī-maˈtion. (See “Brief History of Greece,” p. 85; note.)
[3.] “Archytas,” ar-kīˈtas. (About 400 B. C.) He was one of the most illustrious men of antiquity. He was seven times elected general of his city (Tarentum), though it was customary for the office to be held only for one year. He was a philosopher, mathematician, and a writer. Only fragments of his works remain; they relate to metaphysics, ethics, logic and physics.
[4.] “Italian Morra,” morˈrä. A simple game, played with the fingers and requiring expertness. If played by only two, standing by a table, one lays on it—say three fingers—and calls out some different number, say five. The other speaks and acts at the same instant, giving also a number; and simultaneously puts down his fingers. If the whole number of fingers on the table match or equal the number given by either, the other “makes his point” and tallies one. Repeating the trial, say ten times, he who makes the most points wins.
[5.] “School.” See “Brief History of Greece,” p. 67; note.
[6.] “Palæstra,” pa-lesˈtra. A school or place for athletic exercises.
[7.] “Phocylides,” pho-cylˈi-des. (About 560 B. C.) An Ionian poet. His poetry has come down to us in fragments, only about eighteen in number, and is chiefly lyric and reflective.
[8.] “Learn by heart.” During the most flourishing period of Athenian literature manuscripts were indifferently written, without marks of punctuation. They were scarce and costly, and could only be read by those who had literary training. Under these circumstances the Greeks could never become a reading people, and they became acquainted with the productions of their poets, only by hearing them recited in public by bards or rhapsodists, the latter being a body of professional reciters. It is said when Pisistratus wished to make a collection of the poems of Homer, he offered sums of money to as many of this class as would come to him and repeat, before a copyist, all of the parts that they had learned by heart.
[9.] “Barathrum.” Literally a deep, or abyss, used as a name for the lower world.
[10.] “Ce-aˈdas.”