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

SYLLOGEIS.

357

SYMPOSIUM.

pared with, the modern one of granting letters
of marque and reprisal.

SYLLOGEIS (o-vAAoyels), usually called
SuAAoyei; tou <5?j|u.ou, or the Collectors of the
People, were special commissioners at Athens,
who made out a list of the property of the
oligarchs previously to its confiscation.

SYMBOLAEOX, SYNALLAGMA, SYN-
THECE (cnifif}6\aiov, crwaAAayfxa, avvdijKT)),
are all words used to signify a contract, but
are distinguishable from one another. 2u;u.-
fioXaiov is used of contracts and bargains
between private persons, and peculiarly of
loans of money. Thus, o-vixfiaXelv eis av&pd-
TroW is, to lend upon the security of a slave.
2uraAAay/j.a signifies any matter negotiated
or transacted between two or more persons,
whether a contract or anything else. 'S.w-
617/0) is used of more solemn and important
contracts, not only of those made between
private individuals, but also of treaties and
conventions between kings and states.

SYMPOSIUM (a-vix-oa-iov, comissatio, con-
vivium), a drinking-party. The symposium
must be distinguished from the deipnon (Setvr-
vov\ for though drinking almost always fol-
lowed a dinner-party, yet the former was
regarded as entirely distinct from the latter,
was regulated by different customs, and fre-
quently received the addition of many guests,
who were not present at the dinner. For
the Greeks did not usually drink at their
dinner, and it was not till the conclusion of
the meal that wine was introduced. Sym-
posia were very frequent at Athens. Their
enjoyment was heightened by agreeable con-

drinking was the main object of the sym-
posia : wine from the juice of the grape (octos
d|u.776'Aivo?) was the only drink partaken of by
the Greeks, with the exception of water.
The wine was almost invariably mixed with
water, and to drink it unmixed (a/cpa-rov) was
considered a characteristic of barbarians.
The mixture was made in a large vessel
called the Crater, from which it was con-
veyed into the drinking-cups. The guests at
a symposium reclined on couches, and were
crowned with garlands of flowers. A master
of the revels (a.p\iuv -nj? noaecos, <rv^noaiapxos,
or /3ii<r(.Aeus) was usually chosen to conduct
the symposium, whose commands the whole
company had to obey, and who regulated the
whole order of the entertainment, proposed
the amusements, &c. The same practice
prevailed among the Romans, and their sym-
posiarch was called Magister, or Rex Con-
vivii, or the Arbiter Bibendi. The choiee
was generally determined by the throwing of
astragali or tali. The proportion in which
the wine and water were mixed was fixed by
him, and also how much each of the com-
pany was to drink, for it was not usually
left to the option of each of the company to
drink as much or as little as he pleased.
The cups were always carried round from
right to left (en\ Sefid), and the same order
was observed in the conversation, and in
everything that took place in the entertain-
ment. The company frequently drank to the
health of one another, and each did it espe-
cially to tbe one to whom he handed the
same cup. Respecting the games and amuse-

versation, by the introduction of music and : ments by which the symposia were enlivened,
dancing, and by games and amusements of it is unnecessary to say much here, as most
various kinds : sometimes, too, philosophical | of them are described in separate articles in
subjects were discussed at them. The sym- \ this work. Enigmas or riddles (axvLyiLaTa.
posia of Plato and Xenophon give us a lively 1 or ypifyoi) were among the most usual and
idea of such entertainments at Athens. The favourite modes ,of diversion. Each of the
name itself shows, that the enjoyment of company proposed one in turn to his right-

Sympobilim (_From a Tainting on a Vase.)