DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0145
OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS.
123
ed, (xs^asvoff rov ''Ofji^gov, in imitation of Homer, whose heroes used to feast
in that manner. Beside other provisions, the tenths of all the bellies of
animals offered in sacrifice were always reserved for them ; which, if
any man neglected to send, he was liable to be punished by the prytanes,
as we learn from Aristophanes (1).
Kai c-s payee toIc TlMT-lvirii,
p%<; 'i^ovra. icoiKia.;.
Your frauds I'll to the prytanes disclose,
Since you with sacrilegious stealth keep back
The tithes of sacred victims' bellies.
It must not be omitted in this place, that such as had received any ho-
nour or privilege from the city, were under its more particular care and
protection ; and the injuries done to them were resented as public affronts
to the whole commonwealth : insomuch, that whoever did fjbgtgiir, Ka<ra,§-
(ftiv, xaxuig e'nreTv, affront, strike, or speak ill of any such person, was bv
the law declared («.V</xoj) infamous (2). More might be said about the
honours conferred after death upon such as had been eminently service-
able to the commonwealth, in the celebration of their funerals, and the
pious care of their memories ; but this I shall leave to be spoken of in
another place, and shall only add, that not themselves only, but their pos-
terity reaped the fruits of their virtues ; for if any of their children were
left in a poor condition, they seldom failed of obtaining a plentiful provi-
sion from the public : thus Aristides's two daughters were publicly mar-
ried out of the Prytaneum, the city decreeing each of them three hun-
dred drachms for her portion. Nor is it to be wondered (saith Plutarch)
that the people of Athens should take care of those that lived in the city,
since, hearing that Aristogiton's grand-daughter was in a low condition in
the isle of Lemnus, and by means of her poverty like to want a husband,
they sent for her to Athens, married her to a person of considerable qua-
lity, and bestowed upon her a large farm as a dowry. Of which bounty
and humanity (saith he) this city of Athens, even in this age, has given
divers demonstrations, for which she is deservedly had in great honour and
admiration (3).
It will not be improper to add, in the last place, that whilst the ancient
virtue and glory of the Atheuians lasted, it was exceeding difficult to ob-
tain any of the public honours : insomuch that when Miltiades petitioned
for a crown, after he had delivered Greece from the Persian army at Ma-
rathon, he received this answer from one of the people, that when he con-
quered alone he should be crowned alona. But in Aristophanes's age, hon -
ours were become more common. Thus he complains (4) ;
--K*l <?p*-r>iyo; fc'if' av it;
Teev TTporS (txtyitii mtx3-', epi/uevoc KxeafyeTOV
Oil (xctyficrbat $'xtr{v.--
Not one of the generals in the former ages desired a public maintenance ,
but now,unless the privilege of having the first seats, and a maintenance is
given to them, they say they will not fight. In later ages, how lavish the
(l) Equitibus. ,
(-%) Demosth, in Midiana,
(3) Plutarch, Aristide.
(4) Equitibus, act. i. seen. 3,
123
ed, (xs^asvoff rov ''Ofji^gov, in imitation of Homer, whose heroes used to feast
in that manner. Beside other provisions, the tenths of all the bellies of
animals offered in sacrifice were always reserved for them ; which, if
any man neglected to send, he was liable to be punished by the prytanes,
as we learn from Aristophanes (1).
Kai c-s payee toIc TlMT-lvirii,
p%<; 'i^ovra. icoiKia.;.
Your frauds I'll to the prytanes disclose,
Since you with sacrilegious stealth keep back
The tithes of sacred victims' bellies.
It must not be omitted in this place, that such as had received any ho-
nour or privilege from the city, were under its more particular care and
protection ; and the injuries done to them were resented as public affronts
to the whole commonwealth : insomuch, that whoever did fjbgtgiir, Ka<ra,§-
(ftiv, xaxuig e'nreTv, affront, strike, or speak ill of any such person, was bv
the law declared («.V</xoj) infamous (2). More might be said about the
honours conferred after death upon such as had been eminently service-
able to the commonwealth, in the celebration of their funerals, and the
pious care of their memories ; but this I shall leave to be spoken of in
another place, and shall only add, that not themselves only, but their pos-
terity reaped the fruits of their virtues ; for if any of their children were
left in a poor condition, they seldom failed of obtaining a plentiful provi-
sion from the public : thus Aristides's two daughters were publicly mar-
ried out of the Prytaneum, the city decreeing each of them three hun-
dred drachms for her portion. Nor is it to be wondered (saith Plutarch)
that the people of Athens should take care of those that lived in the city,
since, hearing that Aristogiton's grand-daughter was in a low condition in
the isle of Lemnus, and by means of her poverty like to want a husband,
they sent for her to Athens, married her to a person of considerable qua-
lity, and bestowed upon her a large farm as a dowry. Of which bounty
and humanity (saith he) this city of Athens, even in this age, has given
divers demonstrations, for which she is deservedly had in great honour and
admiration (3).
It will not be improper to add, in the last place, that whilst the ancient
virtue and glory of the Atheuians lasted, it was exceeding difficult to ob-
tain any of the public honours : insomuch that when Miltiades petitioned
for a crown, after he had delivered Greece from the Persian army at Ma-
rathon, he received this answer from one of the people, that when he con-
quered alone he should be crowned alona. But in Aristophanes's age, hon -
ours were become more common. Thus he complains (4) ;
--K*l <?p*-r>iyo; fc'if' av it;
Teev TTporS (txtyitii mtx3-', epi/uevoc KxeafyeTOV
Oil (xctyficrbat $'xtr{v.--
Not one of the generals in the former ages desired a public maintenance ,
but now,unless the privilege of having the first seats, and a maintenance is
given to them, they say they will not fight. In later ages, how lavish the
(l) Equitibus. ,
(-%) Demosth, in Midiana,
(3) Plutarch, Aristide.
(4) Equitibus, act. i. seen. 3,