Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-08-10
The Ancient Greeks.
How They Measured Time---Iow They
spent the Day.

spent the Day.
What apparatus had the Greeks for meas
urng the time, a thing which we deem in
dispensable for our daily occupations?
Such measurement does not seem to have
been regarded as of so much consequence
in Greek antiquity; at all events, for
long period, the means for exact division
were wanting. The Greeks had no exact
arrangement of days extending from mid
night to midnight, with twenty-four hours
of equal length, but, instead, they distin-
guished between day time and night time,
calculating from sunrise to sunset, and,
naturally, the length of a day or night
would differ according to the time of year
The day they divided into twelve equal
parts but the length of these, of course,
would vary according to the length of the
day. For this purpose they made use of
the shadow cast by the sun, the most prim
tive apparatus being the shadow pointer,
which was simply stick fixed in the earth,
or column, the length of whose shadow
supplied the standard for calculating the
hours. The length of the shadow would
obviously change from morning to evening,
but the change would vary according to
the time of year. so that the succession of
the seasons had to be taken into account.
Such shadow pointers seem to have stood
III public places, where every one could
make use of them with the help of the
lines drawn on the ground: they could only
be set up in private dwellings when these
had large open spaces to which the sun
could have access all day long. sun dials
were not invented until a much later period,
probably about 27O b. c.; water clocks,
however, are said TO have been made by
Plato, and the instrument was of great
value because it enabled one to calculate
the hours OF the night as well as of the
day. These water clocks like our hour
glasses, marked definite period of time
by the flowing away of a certain quantity
OF water.
1t seems probable that early rising was
the rule at Athens, and that not only the
artisans began their work directly after
sunrise, but that the schools, too, opened
very early. The morning toilet did not
occupy much time In washing, slave
poured water over his master from a ever,
and some substitute for soap, such as full
ler's earth, or I've, was used Breakfast
was a scanty meal, consisting generally of
unmixed wine and bread. After that ar
tisans, or others who had a definite trade,
went to their daily occupations; but the
citizens who had no regular profession
would, unless attracted by some such pur-
suit as hunting, spend the morning hours
in visiting their friends, practising gymnas
tics, or visiting the barber TO have their
hair arranged or their boards cut or shaved.
The barber shops were meeting places for
all who desired to hear the news, a custom
which still prevails in that part of Italy
which used TO be known as Magma Grecia.
1t is well known that the news of the de-
feat of the Atheuian expedition to Sicily
was first made known in a barber shop in
the PirBus. The second part of the day
was devoted to visiting the market, which
was not only a market proper, but bazaar
and exchange. Marketing at Athens was
not undertaken by the women or their ser
wants, but by the masters of the household,
who were accompanied by slaves, and them
selves purchased the food, and in particular
the fish, which they desired. 1t was not
until the third century that it was consid-
cred unseemly for the master OF the house
TO make his own purchases.
At midday the market was usually over,
then the men went home and took a slight
repast, not by any means the chief meal,
but rather something like our luncheon.
Many people contented themselves with
the remains of the previous days dinner,
but others had fresh warm dishes served
some took little midday nap. but this was
not very general. Men of serious DISPOSE
ton devoted these hours to intellectual
pursuits, while those who were inclined to
idleness would go, even in the afternoon. to
houses devoted TO dice throwing and drink.
ing. The club rooms, which were specially
devoted to social intercourse, were doubt
less very full at this time Between the
third and fourth divisions of the day the
Athenians generally took a warm bath as
preparation for dinner. 1t has not been
ascertained TO what extent the state owned
the bathing establishments. II is certain
that many of them We're maintained by
private persons. Those bathers who had
plenty of slaves used to bring one with
them TO carry the necessary utensils, such
as towels, oil TASKS, and strigils or scrapers,
and to watch over his masters clothes
The scene in the bath houses an hour be-
fore dinner was extremely animated
Talking and joking went on, and some
times even singing, though that was re-
garded as unseemly; in the rooms devoted
10 refreshment, knuckle bones. or dice, or
ball were played, and an opportunity for
wine drinking was given, at least in later
times. Toward sunset, or in winter after
sunset, the men returned home for the
principal meal, or else went to the house
of some friend-I who had invited guests.
In the latter case the meal was a good deal
prolonged, and followed by drinking, which
extended far into the night. Those who
dined at home were in the habit of retiring
early, unless the cares of business or study
kept them awake by lamplight.