[68] From one daric to one daric and a half per month, $5 to $7.50.
[69] For the second of the great victories of Alexander.
[70] Thipsach or “The Passage.”
[71] The battle of Cunaxa, in which Cyrus fell, was fought on Sept. 3d. The day at which we have now arrived is Oct. 31st.
[72] For convenience’ sake I have translated the dates of the Attic year which Callias, of course, used with the corresponding days in our reckoning. October 27 would be the “fifth day of the middle of Boedromia.” Each month was divided into three portions, often days each, respectively called beginning, middle, and ending. The days of the last were reckoned backwards. If this month had twenty-nine days only, the third division had nine.
[73] According to some accounts no competitor was crowned unless he was successful in all. But victory in five exercises so dissimilar could seldom, if ever, have been gained. Quoit-throwing, for instance, corresponding to our “putting the stone,” required lofty stature and great muscular strength, and would very seldom be the specialty of a very fleet runner.
[74] The Island of Pelops or Peloponnesus.
[75] The legend was that Poseidon and Athene contended together for the honor of being the patron Deity of Attica. This was to be adjudged to the Power which should present it with the most useful gift. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, and produced the horse; Athene bade the olive spring forth, and was judged to have surpassed her rival. Reference is made to this legend in the most beautiful of the choral odes of Sophocles, the “Praise of Colonas” in the second of the two plays in the Story of Œdipus.
[76] The examination of accounts (euthuna) was one of the most important constitutional usages in the Athenian commonwealth. All magistrates on coming out of office, and ambassadors returning from a mission had to undergo it. The existence of this usage would make the difference in the eyes of an Athenian between a constitutional and a despotic government. The other Greek States, though we know but little of their internal arrangements, probably had some similar institution.
[77] Rather more than £400.