Smith, William: A smaller dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (London, 1871)

CODEX. 1)5 COEXA.

name given to a small measure like our
spoonful.

CODEX, identical •with caudex, as Claudius
and Clodius, claustrum and clostrum, cauda
and coda, originally signified the trunk or
stem of a tree. The name codex was especi-
ally applied to wooden tablets bound together
and lined with a coat of wax, for the purpose
of writing upon them, and when, at a later
age, parchment or paper, or other materials
were substituted for wood, and put together
in the shape of a book, the name of codex was
still given to them. In the time of Cicero
we find it also applied to the tablet on which
a bill was written. At a still later period,
during the time of the emperors, the word
was used to express any collection of laws or
constitutions of the emperors, whether made
by private individuals or by public authority,
as the Codex Gregorianus, Codex Thcodosi-
anus, and Codex Justinian'eus.

COEMPTIO. [Matrimonium.]

COEXA (Selirvov), the principal meal of the
Greeks and Romans, dinner. (1) Greek.
Three names of meals occur in the Iliad and
Odyssey—ariston {apLurov), deipnon (Selirvov),
dorpon (Sopnov). The word ariston uni-
formly means the early, as dorpon does the
late meal; but deipnon, on the other hand,
is used for either, apparently without any
reference to time. In the Homeric age it
appears to have been usual to sit during meal-
times. Beef, mutton, and goat's flesh were
the ordinary meats, usually eaten roasted.
Cheese, flour, and occasionally fruits, also
formed part of the Homeric meals. Bread,
brought on in baskets, and salt (aAj, to which
Homer gives the epithet feios), are mentioned.
The Greeks of a later age usually partook of
three meals, called acratisma (axpaTtcrfia),
ariston, and deipnon. The last, which corre-
sponds to the dorpon of the Homeric poems,
was the evening meal or dinner ; the ariston
was the luncheon ; and the acratisma, which
answers to the ariston of Homer, was the
early meal or breakfast. The acratisma was
taken immediately after rising in the morning.
It usually consisted of bread, dipped in un-
mixed wine (a*:paTos), whence it derived its
name. Next followed the ariston or luncheon ;
but the time at which it was taken is uncer-
tain. It is frequently mentioned in Xeno-
phon's Anabasis, and appears to have been
taken at different times, as would naturally
be the case with soldiers in active service.
We may conclude from many circumstances
that this meal was taken about the middle of
the day, and that it answered to the Itoman
prandium. The ariston was usually a simple
meal, but of course varied according to the
habits of individuals. The principal meal

was the deipnon. It was usually taken
rather late in the day, frequently not before
sunset. The Athenians were a social people,
and were very fond of dining in company.
Entertainments were usually given, both in
the heroic ages and later times, when sacri-
fices were ottered to the gods, either on public
or private occasions ; and also on the anni-
versary of the birthdays of members of the
family, or of illustrious persons, whether
living or dead. When young men wished to
dine together the)- frequently contributed
each a certain sum of money, called symbols
(<7i>H0oA>j), or brought their own provisions
with them. When the first plan was adopted,
they were said oltv'o trvufiohuv itnrvtlv, and one
individual was usually entrusted with the
money to procure the provisions, and make
all the necessary preparations. This kind of
entertainment, in which each guest contri-
buted to the expense, is mentioned in Homer
under the name of epavos. An entertainment
in which each person brought his own provi-
sions with him, or at least contributed some-
thing to the general stock, was called a Se"mvov
an-6 o-jnipiSos, because the provisions were
brought in baskets.—The most usual kind of
entertainments, however, were those in which
a person invited his friends to his own house.
It was expected that the}- should come dressed
with more than ordinary care, and also have
bathed shortly before. As soon as the guests
arrived at the house of their host, their shoes
or sandals were taken off by the slaves and
their feet washed. After their feet had been
washed, the guests reclined on the couches.
It has already been remarked that Homer
never describes persons as reclining, but
always as sitting at their meals ; but at what
time the change was introduced is uncertain.
The Dorians of Crete always sat; but the
other Greeks reclined. The Greek women
and children, however, like the Roman, con-
tinued to sit at their meals. [Accubatio.]
It was usual for only two persons to recline
on each couch. After the guests had placed
themselves on the couches, the slaves brought
in water to wash their hands. The dinner
was then served up ; whence we read of tcLs
Tpa7re'fas ticr$epeii>, by which expression we
are to understand not merely the dishes, but
the tables themselves, which were small
enough to be moved with ease. In eating,
the Greeks had no knives or forks, but made
use of their fingers only, except in eating
soups or other liquids, which they partook of
by means of a spoon, called fivcrriXri, ixvarpov,
or p.uo-Tpos. It would exceed the limits of
this work to give an account of the different
dishes which were introduced at a Greek
dinner, though their number is far below