HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 23 



education of a young Athenian lasted until his twentieth year. Tt was 

 intrusted to the parents, particularly the mother, until the age of seven. 

 At that period the boy passed into the hands of a tutor, who took him to 

 the public schools. Special care was bestowed on the production of a 

 perfect physical and mental organization. The instruction aimed at a 

 high order of liberal and generous feelings and sentiments, and was made 

 up of the arts that bore reference to the Muses, chiefly of music, poetry, 

 eloquence, and gymnastic exercises. The youths studied also the elements 

 of their native tongue, as well as grammar ; and later they attended upon 

 the sophists and philosophers, whose information was sought principally 

 with regard to its practical usefulness. PI. ^^figs. 17 and 18, a philosopher 

 and a poet. Originally, rhetoric and philosophy did not compose part of 

 national education ; but after the Peloponnesian war, w^hen the influence of a 

 good orator became obvious, the schools of the rhetoricians and philosophers 

 were crowded. Gj^mnastic exercises would sometimes comrrience at the 

 early age of seven years. They were performed in the three gymnasia 

 erected by the state. These buildings were large, and surrounded 

 by beautiful gardens. They contained spaces for the exercises, and 

 large rooms for the philosophers, rhetoricians, and sophists. At eighteen 

 took place the declaration of manhood, and the young man was bound over 

 to the service of his country. At twenty he entered upon the full 

 enjoyment of all his rights as a citizen. PI. ^^^fig. 3, a Grecian youth; 

 pi. 10, fig. 1, the academic grove at Athens; pi. ^^ fig. 1, a game of 

 manual skill ; fig. 2, swinging. 



The domestic life of the Greeks during the heroic ages was simple, 

 though among the upper classes it was not wholly destitute of a certain 

 elegance. Their food consisted of wheat and barley bread, fruits, milk, the 

 flesh of oxen, sheep, swine, goats, deer, also of poultry and fish. Wine and 

 water constituted the customary drink. Great banquets were among their 

 chief amusements, and served as celebrations of religious and private 

 festivals. The ornests were arrano;ed around the table accordins; to a 



<-> ~ o 



certain order of rank, and the pleasures of the feast were enhanced by 

 singing, dancing, and instrumental music. 



The men wore a garment of cloth, without sleeves, which was lifted, 

 when required by their occupation, by a girdle. Over this was thrown a 

 mantle, suspended by a clasp to the shoulders. The inner garment was 

 preferred of snowy white and of fine texture ; the mantle, on the contrary, 

 which served also as a covering at night, was of thick cloth, but, nevertheless, 

 richly ornamented. Except during war and in travelling, the feet and head 

 were uncovered. Long hair was worn by the men. The women exchanged 

 the old Doric vestment, with its double girdle or sash, for the simple Ionian 

 garment. This was made of linen or cotton, and consisted of an under robe, 

 with sleeves, above which was worn a state-dress ; the latter was very wide, 

 and woven with great art. It also covered the head, and was secured by 

 numerous clasps. At a later period this mode of living and of dressing 

 underwent various changes. 



The fare of the Spartans was simple in the extreme, having no object 



195 



