Philothea Part 28

"Patriotic song of Callistratus." p. 56.

Translated from the Greek, by the Rt. Rev. G. W. Doane, Bishop of New Jersey.

"While our rosy fillets shed," &c. p. 57.

The 43d Ode of Anacreon. This and other extracts from the same poet are translated by Thomas Moore, Esq.

"All ending in ippus and ippides." p. 61.

Ippus is the Greek for horse. Wealthy Athenians generally belonged to the equestrian order; to which the same ideas of honour were attached as to the knights, or cavaliers, of modern times. Their names often signified some quality of a horse; as Leucippus, a white horse, &c.

"Describing her pompous sacrifices to Demeter." p. 64.

None but Greeks were allowed to enter the temples of this G.o.ddess.

"Urania alone confers the beauty-giving zone." p. 69.

Urania was the Heavenly Venus, who presided over the pure sentiment of love, in distinction from Aphrodite, who presided over the sensual pa.s.sion.

"The Pleiades mourning for their lost sister." p. 74.

One of the stars in the constellation of the Pleiades is said to have disappeared. They were fabled as seven sisters, and one lost her place in the sky by marrying a mortal.

"More happy than the G.o.ds is he." p. 75.

Second Ode of Sappho, translated by F. Fawkes, Esq.

"He has clothed the Graces." p. 76.

Socrates was originally a sculptor. He carved a beautiful group of the Graces; said to have been the first that were represented with clothing.

"Too frugal to buy coloured robes." p. 76.

The common people in Athens generally bought white garments, for the economy of having them dyed when they were defaced.

"Every human being has, like Socrates, an attendant spirit." p. 89.

In the Phoedrus of Plato, Socrates is represented as saying, "When I was about to cross the river, a demoniacal and usual sign was given me; and whenever this takes place, it always prohibits me from accomplis.h.i.+ng what I was about to do. In the present instance, I seemed to hear a voice, which would not suffer me to depart till I had made an expiation; as if I had offended in some particular a divine nature."

"His statue stands among the Olympionicae." p. 92.

The victors at the Olympic Games had their statues placed in the groves.

These statues were called Olympionicae.

"Count me on the summer trees." p. 98.

Part of the 14th Ode of Anacreon.

"As soon would I league myself with Odomantians." p. 112.

The Odomantians of Thrace, near the river Strymon, had the same grasping, avaricious character, attributed to the Jews in modern times.

"Concealed their frauds amid the flames of the Treasury." p. 113.

The Treasury in Athens was burned to the ground, by the Treasurers, who took that method to avoid being called to account for the money they had embezzled.

"That comes of having the Helots among them." p. 116.

The freemen of Sparta were forbidden the exercise of any mechanical or laborious employment. All these duties devolved upon the Helots; while their masters spent their time in dancing, feasting, hunting, and fighting.

"He approves the law forbidding masters to bestow freedom." p. 117.

There was a Spartan law forbidding masters to emanc.i.p.ate their slaves.

About two thousand, who were enfranchised by a public decree, for having bravely defended the country during the Peloponessian war, soon after disappeared suddenly, and were supposed to have been secretly murdered.

"Whip them, merely to remind them of bondage." p. 117.

The Helots were originally a brave people; but after they were conquered by the Spartans, no pains were spared to render them servile and degraded. Once a year they publicly received a severe flagellation, merely to remind them that they were slaves. They were never allowed to learn any liberal art, or to sing manly songs. In order to expose them to greater contempt, they were often obliged to perform indecent dances, and to get brutally drunk, that their master's children might learn to despise such uncomely things.

"Things as trifling as the turning of a sh.e.l.l." p. 120.

This was an Athenian proverb, applied to things that were done quickly, or changed easily.

"You must indeed wrestle at Cynosarges." p. 120.

This was a name of Hercules; and because he was illegitimate, it was applied to a place near the Lyceum, where those of half Athenian blood, were wont to exercise in gymnastic sports. Themistocles, being partly of foreign extraction, induced the young Athenian n.o.bles to go there and wrestle with him, that the distinction might be done away.

"Festival Anthesteria." 120.