P. 47—“Bosporus,” bos´po-rus. Literally the ox-ford. The name given to any straits by the Greeks, but particularly to that uniting the Sea of Azof with the Black Sea. The country on both sides this latter was called Bosporus. Its cities became important commercial centers, and from them large supplies of corn were annually sent to Athens. It was in this country that Gylon made his money.
P. 47—“Demochares,” de-moch´a-res.
P. 48—“Aphobus,” aph´o-bus; “O-ne´tor.”
P. 48—“Palæstra,” pa-læs´tra. In Greece a place for wrestling was called palæstra.
P. 48—“Plato.” The philosopher. After having been instructed by the best teachers of his time Plato became a follower of Socrates. After the death of the latter he traveled in many countries, seeking knowledge, and at last returned to Athens to open a school in his garden, near the academy. Here Plato taught and wrote almost continuously until his death, about 348 B. C. His works have come down to us very complete and perfect. They are mainly in the form of dialogues, Socrates being one of the chief characters. His most important doctrines are the existence of the soul before entering the body, its independence of the body, and its immortality.
P. 48—“Isokrates,” i-soc´ra-tes. (436-338 B. C.) One of the ten Attic orators. He was carefully educated, but as he was too timid to come forward as an orator, he devoted himself to teaching the art and writing speeches for others. Although he took no part in public affairs he loved his country, and despairing of its freedom after the battle of Chæroneia, he took his own life. His style was artificial and labored, but exercised immense influence upon oratory at Athens.
P. 49—“Isæus,” i-sæ´us. One of the ten Attic orators. Instructed by Lysias and Isokrates. We have no particulars of his life. Eleven of his orations in existence are remarkable for their vigor and purity of style.
P. 49—“Thucydides,” thu-cyd´i-des. (471?-400?) The historian. Little more is known of his life than is related by Timayenis (vol. i., p. 337). The accounts of his death are uncertain. The work which gives him his place in history is his account of the Peloponnesian war.
P. 49—“Lysias,” lys´i-as. (B. C. 458-378.) An Attic orator. When a youth, Lysias emigrated to a colony in Italy, where he finished his education. After the defeat of the Athenians in Sicily he returned to Athens, but only to be imprisoned as an enemy of the government. He escaped, and on the overthrow of the tyranny of the thirty tyrants went back to Athens, where he wrote speeches. Only thirty-five are now extant, but they are said to be specimens of the best Attic Greek.
P. 49—“Bema,” be´ma. The Greek for the stage on which speakers stood.