The herald., 1897-04-20

century before Christ the custom was in
troduced of carrying in the procession
/ Athene's sacred garment. 1t was woven
by a select number of virgins. superin-
! tended by two others not above IL years
| of age nor under II. whose garments
! were white, set off with ornaments OF
| gold The "peplus," or garment, was
| of a white color, without sleeves, and
embroidered with gold. Upon it were
| described the achievements of the god
dess. and the exploits of Jupiter and the
other gods were also represented, and in
its conveyance much ceremonial was OBJ
served.
WAS 1T A CABLE ROAD?
In the "ceramicus," without the city.
there was an engine built In the form of a
ship, upon which Athene's garment was
hung as a SAIL This naval model was
drawn. not by horses. but by "subter-
ranean machines" to the temple of Ceres
Eleusinia. and from thence to the cita-
del, where the "peplus" was placed upon
Athene's statue, which was laid upon a
bed woven or strewed with flowers.
Persons of all ages, of every sex and
quality, attended the procession, which
was led by old men and women, carrying
olive branches in their hands, who
were known as bearers of the green
boughs."
Next followed men Of full age, with
shields and spears. They were attended
by the foreigners" who carried small
boats as token of their origin, and these
were called the "boat-bearers." After
them came the women, attended by the
wives of the foreigners, distinguished as
water bearers" from the vessels they
carried in their hands. Next to these
came young men, crowned with mlllet
and singing hymns to the goddess, and
after them followed select virgins of the
noblest families, called "basket-bear-
ers," because they carried baskets in
which were certain things necessary for
the celebration. These virgins were at
tended by the daughters of the foreign
ers, who carried umbrellas and the little
seats from which they were called seat
carriers" The boys brought up the rear,
clothed in coats generally worn at pro-
cessions.
The subject of the frieze at the Par
thenon is an idealized treatment of this
great procession, and a considerable
number of these sculptures are now in
the British museum, among those known
as the "Elgin marbles" OF the other
noted festivals of Greece may be merely
mentioned the Olympia, in Ellis; the
Pythian games. celebrated in the vicinity
of Delphi: the Isthmian. on the Corinth-
ian isthmus, and the Nemean, al Nemea.
city of Argolis. In all of the games
the exercises were divided into five
classes: Running. leaping, wrestling,
throwing the quot and hurting the jave-
lin or boxing Besides these exercises of
bodily strength and agility. there were
contests in music, poetry and eloquence.
Thus the games furnished poets, musi-
clans and authors the best opportunities
to present their productions to the pub
lie, and the fame of the victors was
spread far and wide.
The Greeks did their best to exclude
Asiatic wealth and luxury; still it is
learned from Aristophanes that vanity
prevailed among them and that even in
times of greatest need the women were
much concerned about their personal
adornment.
CONTRASTS OF GRECIAN CHAR
ACTER
Under a democracy of the annual
archons the Athenians signalized them
selves by their valor in the field, munifi-
cence and cultivation of the fine arts.
But there are few instances in the histo-
ry of Athens that can be cited in proof
that the jealousy and frenzy of the peo-
pie did not persecute and disturb the
peace of the man who had fought their
battles and exposed his life in defense
of the country. In such short space of
time it was marvellous what number
of truly illustrious citizens lived, equally
celebrated for their learning and their
humanity. Plutarch says that the good
men whom Athens produced were the
most just and equitable in the world;
but that its bad citizens-and needless
to say they were in the preponderance-
could not be surpassed in any age or
country for their impiety, perfidiousness
or cruelty.
Two years ago, when an attempt was
made to revive the Olympic games at
Athens, the celebration was spoken of
and written about as Continuance OF
the splendid traditions of the race" In
this strain also is much being said at
present about the GLORIOUS inheritance"
CT the race" In that most delightful
musical absurdity of Gilbert and
Sullivan, 1.-THE Pirates of Penz-
ance," character is introduced
who laid the fattering unction to
his soul that in becoming possessed Of
q well appointed domain he had also ac-
quired the right to pose as scion Of the
aristocratic family, the lineaments OF
whose ancestors looked down scornfully
from the walls upon him. The Greeks
are in much the same position today as
the hero of the comic opera who bought
his ancestors by the batch. They are
not really Greeks at all, but a hybrid
combination of Slav, Turk and sundry
other ethnic strains. Whatever of right,
whatever of justice, whatever of bravery
inheres in the Greek OF today is alto
gether apart from the Greek of classic
times, and the talk of his emulating the
heroic deeds of his ancestors is vastly
wide of the actual fact.
THE ROMAN SPECTACLE