, 1876-02-12

THE ANCIENT QREEKS. .......
But lttlo information can be gathered Abous
tho common dwelling-houss OF tho ancient
Greeks Homer describes only pa!acos; anA
yitrurius accounts relato only to thu magnificent !
houses Of tho wealthy after tho time Of Alexander.
Iu tho desolato Isle Of De!os sho1e exists tue |
remnant Of simple 0scok houso Of ancient times;
but those who haye visited It have not described
Ill tts parts. It has beautiful, small vestibulo
or open hail. with two Ionic columns in front
from which rooms open on each htde, aud from
tho back Of which extends long hall. This Is,
IN eane.n plan, like what wo SUPPOSE the common
houses 70 have boon, oxcbpt that there wha Gon-
ernlly an opcn courtyard, which Was much shorter
From tho sidoB Of this courtyard, opening into the
| colounaaos, wero small rooms, ueea for store
rooms, sleapiog- for tucn-6crynuts etc. Ill
Tits courtyard usually stood Htntue OF Zeua, or an
altar dedicated to him, u to was tho protector
| Of tho home. Al the rear OF tho court CON-
nenced the dwelling proper, rs Inhabited by the
family. First, with tH ontiro aide opening upon
| tho court was tho public and most import anE
room Of tho house, called tue hall Of the men.
| Here VAS probably placed tho holy hearth. do
voted To l1estia, the all.prescryiug goddess, to
whom worship waa offered whonever Change
of ony importance took place lu tho family sucl.
| II birth or dea.h, departure or return. 1t "aa
also tho rcfugo OF any ono needing pFotcc'
tiop; oven tho slaves of tho house tied
10 Il 70 escape punishtnens. At tlo sldes OF thts
hall wero tho moro important bedrooms of the
family, anil III the rear Of hall aud bedrooms
wero lbs rooms appropriated 10 the mistress OF
| the house and hcr lnRlLs. whero they bfun and
| woye, and performed tho yaEIona household
duties OF tho family. This holy lcaFtA was par
tally at first used for cooking, but afterwards
! another room was devotod to kliclen-nees.
Thero waa generally garden adjoining ING
Non,en's apartments, and frequently secoha
story Of rooms above those already descTioea.
This IL the truth Al nearly a. eau bo atce1tanod
, sny descriptions OF tho GEcUk house
. that .csnntn to ua being OF tho mora
, luxurious enlarged houses Of later period, ln
: tho frat days Of Greece tho private dWoiIinRb
i weJe very etmple, while tho people took pride III
the grandeur Of taeir tomples. their Ty1nnhsla'
their ma1ket-piacea, theIE hsppo.lrumes, thell
/ | stadia for foot-racea, mad their 1heatros. ~
!. The t}reoks devoted no much tiuio TO tho o1cT'
Q clsea which develop bodily strength and beauty
: aud games showing physical pro"css made st
!, largo part OF thois religious festivals, thai
r their Eymntsia became lhor most tlnpostan
: buildtHgs. the very centre ot city,fe aud larg'
q towns often CONTAINED several. Tho EyuanAalu11
d was constructed much like the dwelling.houso
with d rooleaK court, surrounded BY colonna1as
!, With roo1ns adjoining. These roouas were nse.
! for various purposes for tho bath, Tor Eubbp
v THE body With oil oc.. as Hcl! ~ Tor kao 1lscnH
o stons OF tho 1hotoriciana and pl'llosorhotsi ~
II | ceptre room In the roar OF Tho court being
j. large hal! for tho practice Of tho yot,ng moi
1t ! Ruu containing Boats for spectators. Many RyH'
t, naaia dinored from thIa description OF . yer
h | simple one nnd sotno Lad a lonS, covered pa
% sage, containing Oh each side platform io
!, walkers and, in tho middle, lowos spAee ia
B. wroatlersi whiso thero Nese often gsrdeas, IN