THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS. BY HEINRICH HASE, PH. D. INSPECTOR OF THE COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES AND MEDALS Translated from the German. LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. MDCCCXXXVI. 101. PREFACE. AMONG the works on the subject of Grecian Antiquities which have been hitherto published in English for the use of younger readers, it would be difficult to find any so well fitted for its purpose, as to make a new attempt unnecessary. The German books from which the author of this volume has taken a large portion of his facts and observations, contain, of course, much fuller and more complete information than it was practicable to compress within the narrow limits to which he had confined himself; but they are also too voluminous either to attract, or materially to assist, beginners in Greek literature.. Some work appeared to be wanting, which, without being unnecessarily diffuse, should give a notion of the discoveries of modern scholars, and particularly of German scholars: and, at the same time, it seemed very desirable that the whole should be so put together, as to furnish something more interesting than a mere book of reference. The translator hopes that this compilation will be found to effect the objects proposed, better than any which has yet been submitted to English readers. A few omissions have been made, and a few not very important alterations; and some short notes and references have been supplied. More of the latter would have been given, had it been possible to do so, without adding too much to the size of the volume. As some abruptness may be remarked in the beginnings and endings of chapters, it may be proper to add, that no division of the text exists in the original. June, 1836. CONTENTS. i Origin and Extension of the names Hellas, Græcia, and Achaia-Ex- tent and Boundaries of the country known under these names- Physical Geography-Mountains, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Seas, Harbours-Influence of the Sea on National Character-Climate peculiarly favourable to vegetable and animal life and perfection— Mineral productions-Metals-Marbles of Pentelicos and Paros- Salt-Vegetable productions - Cerealia-Antiquity and Sacred Character of Barley-Profusion and beauty of Flowers-Trees- Dodonean Oaks-Fruits-The Vine-Mode of making Wine in Greece-The Olive-Medicinal Plants-Animals-Traditions of the Lion-The Wolf-Lycanthropy-The Molossian Hound, and Spartan Greyhound-Origin and high estimation of the Horse- Sacred Character of the Ox in primitive times-Birds-Song of Rhodian Children in honour of the Swallow-The Cicada kept in cages by Greek Ladies-Fishes-The Greeks bad Fishermen- Perfect organization of the Human Species in Greece-Laws of Beauty-Proportions of the Human Body-Aborigines of Greece- Pelasgi-Hellenes-Origin of the name Pelasgi-Traditions con- cerning them-Tyrrhene Pelasgi-Thraces-Universal belief of the descent of Civilization from some Mountain in the North- PAGE |