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

PANEGYRIS. 28,3 P ARAL U.S.

commence by boxing or by wrestling, ac-
cordingly as be thought he should be more
successful in the one than in the other. The
victory was not decided until one of the parties
was killed, or lifted up a finger, thereby
declaring that he was unable to continue the
contest either from pain or fatigue.

PANEGYRIS (jrwqyvpis), signifies a meet-
ing or assembly of a whole people for the
purpose of worshipping at a common sanctu-
ary. The word is used in three significa-
tions :—1. For a meeting of the inhabitants
of one particular town and its vicinity ; 2.
For a meeting of the inhabitants of a whole
district, a province, or of the whole body of
people belonging to a particular tribe [Delia ;
Panioxia] ; and 3. For great national meet-
ings, as the Olympic, Pythian, Isthmian, and
Nemean games. Although in all panegyreis
which we know, the religious character forms
the most prominent feature, other subjects,
political discussions and resolutions, as well
as a variety of amusements, were not ex-
cluded, though they were perhaps more a
consequence of the presence of many per-
sons than objects of the meeting. Every
panegyris, moreover, was made by trades-
people a source of gain, and it may be pre-
sumed that such a meeting was never held
without a fair, at which all sorts of things
were exhibited for sale.

PANIONIA {iroviMvia), the great national
panegyris of the Ionians on mount Mycale,
where the national god Poseidon Heliconius
had his sanctuary called the Panionium. One
of the principal objects of this national meet-
ing was the common worship of Poseidon, to
whom splendid sacrifices were offered on the
occasion. But religious worship was not the
only object foi which they assembled at the
Panionium ; on certain emergencies, espe-
cially in case of an)7 danger threatening their
country, the Ionians discussed at their meet-
ings political questions, and passed resolutions
which were binding upon all.

PANOPLIA (7rai'07rAta), a panoply or suit
of armour. The articles of which it consisted
both in the Greek and in the Roman army,
are enumerated under Akjia.

PANTOMlMUS, the name of a kind of
actors peculiar to the Romans, who very
nearly resembled in their mode of acting the
modern dancers in the ballet. They did not
speak on the stage, but merely acted by
gestures, movements, and attitudes. All
movements, however, were rhythmical like
those in the ballet, whence the general term
for them is saltatio, saltare; the whole art
was called musica muta; and to represent
Niobe or Leda was expressed by saltare
A'ioben and saltare Ledam. During the time

of the republic the name pantomimus doc?
not occur, though the art itself was known to
the Romans at an early period ; for the first
histriones said to have been introduced from
Etruria were in fact nothing but pantomimic
dancers [Histrio], whence we find that
under the empire the names histrio and pan-
tomimus were used as synonymous. The pan-
tomimic art, however, was not carried to any
degree of perfection until the time of Augustus.
The greatest pantomimes of this time were
Bathyllus, a freedman and favourite of Mae-
cenas, and Pylades and Ilylas. Mythological
love-stories were from the first the favourite
subjects of the pantomimes, which were dis-
graced by the most licentious scenes. In
Sicily pantomimic dances were called ballismi
(/3aAAio>ioi), whence perhaps the modern
words ball and ballet.

PAPYRFS. [Libkr.]

PARADISFS (n-apaSeicros), the name given
by the Greeks to the parks or pleasure-
grounds, which surrounded the country re-
sidences of the Persian kings and satraps.
They were generally stocked with animals
for the chase, were full of all kinds of trees,
watered by numerous streams, and enclosed
with walls.

PARAGRAPH E (Trapa-ypa^Tj). This word
does not exactly correspond with any term
in our language, but may without much impro-
priety be called a plea. It is an objection
raised by the defendant to the admissibility
of the plaintiff's action. The paragraphs,
like every other answer (avriypaip-q) made by
the defendant to the plaintiff's charge, was
given in writing ; as the word itself implies.
If the defendant merely denied the plaintiff's
allegations, a court was at once held for the
trial of the cause. If, however, he put in a
paragraphs, a court was to be held to try the
preliminary question, whether the cause
could be brought into court or not. Fpon
this previous trial the defendant was consi-
dered the actor. If he succeeded, the whole
cause was at an end ; unless the objection
was only to the form of action, or some other
such technicality, in which case it might be
recommenced in the proper manner. If,
however, the plaintiff succeeded, the original
action, which in the mean time had been
suspended, was proceeded with.

PARALFS (™paAos), and SALAMINIA
(craAa^u'i'a). The Athenians from very early
times kept for public purposes two sacred or
state vessels, the one of which was called Para-
his and the other Salaminia: the crew of the
one bore the name of trapaAixai or 7r-apaAoi, and
that of the other craAap.iViot. The Salaminia
was also called ArjAi'a or ©eupi's, because it
was used to convey the Oewpoi to Delos, on