Sweet-flavored. Then again they turned the soil, The ground though golden, wrought with wondrous art, 2 The seventh month of the old, and the first month of the new Attie year, was called Hecatombeon, and more anciently Kronion. According to Theophrastus, the Greeks were accustomed to plough in opposite seasons--after the Summer Solstice, in Metageitnion-and after the Winter Solstice, in Gamelion.' But it is obvious, that Gamelion is improperly contrasted with Metageitnion. The Summer Solstice took place in Hecatombaon by the consent not only of Aristotle, already cited, but of Theophrastus himself; and if we revert to the passage quoted from Dionysius, we shall find, that the Summer tropic accorded with the tenth day of the month. But twenty days of this month remained; and if the Greeks ploughed after each Solstice, as Theophrastus says, they must have ploughed in Gamelion and in Hecatombæon. The seventh picture represents people ploughing, and probably indicates the labors of the people in the seventh month of the old year. 8. Let us now consider the eighth picture. V. 550. Next in the shield he placed a field of corn, Where with sharp sickles armed the peasants reaped. The reapers' supper there the women made,- The eighth month of the old year was called Metageitnion. If the Greeks began to plough and to sow immediately after the tenth of Hecatombaon, they might reap before the end of Metageitnion. This will not appear extraordinary, when we consider the quickness of vegetation in Greece. Besides, the Greeks in the early ages, as Goguet has remarked, cut down the corn while yet green. But there are authorities of more consequence to our purpose. Fifteen days after the termination of the month Metageitnion, the Eleusinian Mysteries commenced.3 It seems reasonable to suppose, that the greater part of the corn would be cut down, in most seasons, a fortnight before the celebration of the mysteries drew the people from all quarters of Greece to Eleusis, for the purpose of adoring the Goddess of the harvest. But this will bring the time of the harvest within the month Metageitnion. It, therefore, appears to me, that the eighth picture was emblematical of the eighth month. * 1 L. vii. c. 1. 2 L. iv. c. xii. 3 Arch. Græc. 1. ii. 9. We now come to the ninth division. V. 561. Here he engraved a vineyard fair of gold, : A youth on his shrill lyre played pleasingly, Joined in the song, and followed in the dance. The ninth month of the old Attic year was Boedromion. It included part of August with part of September; and that it was the season for gathering grapes is consequently evident. On the twentieth day of Boedromion the image of Iacchus, or Bacchus, was borne in procession to Eleusis; and the God of wine was adored together with the parent of fruitful harvests. It was at this season, that the people carried green branches in honor of Bacchus; that singing, and dancing, and sounding their cymbals, they followed the statue of the God from Athens to Eleusis by the sacred way; and that at night, with flaming torches in their hands, they invited Iacchus to descend upon the plain, and to join them in the mystic dance. I may now, perhaps, be permitted to say, that the ninth picture was descriptive of the ninth month. 10. The tenth partition is thus represented. V. 573. A herd of oxen next the artist framed With horns erect; of gold and tin inlaid; But from their stalls the lowing cattle rushed, 2 That murmuring ran, impetuous, through the reeds. Followed by nine swift dogs. But on a bull, The prime among the herds, that moaned the while, Ran to his rescue; but the lions tore His entrails out, and drank his purple blood. In vain the herdsmen cheered and urged their dogs, Nor in close combat dared to meet the foe. 11. The eleventh picture may be considered with the tenth. Within the bosom of a pleasant vale; And sheds, and sheltered folds, and covered pens. The tenth and eleventh months of the old Greek year, Maimacterion and Pyanepsion, comprehended part of September, with the whole of October, and part of November. Then the harvest was already Plutarch. in Phoc. 2 Aristoph. in Ran. Act. i. Sc. vii. over, the grapes were gathered, and the herds and flocks were spread over the country. This statement suffices to show, that the representations in the tenth and eleventh divisions of the shield corresponded with the season of the year. 12. The twelfth and last picture is not the least pleasing. V. 590. Now in the shield the skilful God designed, Of Gnossus. There together knit, the youths, The maidens with their flowery crowns were dight; The twelfth month of the old year was called Posideon, in honor of Neptune, In this month was celebrated a very ancient festival called Haloa,' otherwise Thalysia. As it was held for the purpose of returning thanks to the Gods for the fruits of the earth, and as it was probably the last which was celebrated in the old year, it seems not unlikely, that Homer may have alluded to it in the last of his rural pictures. The dance, which is introduced, was said to have been taught to the Greeks by Theseus, when he returned from Crete. It was upon his landing in the island of Delos, that he erected a statue, which had been the gift of Ariadne, to Venus; and that, with the young men who were with him, he danced round the altars of the Goddess to the music of the lyre. In this dance they turned and moved in various directions, to imitate the windings of the Cretan Labyrinth. 2 But it is time, Sir, that I close this letter, and that I ask pardon of you and your readers, for having so long trespassed on your attention. Logie Almond, 1812. I am, Sir, your humble servant, W. DRUMMOND. 1 Harpocrat. 2 Callimach. Hymn. in Delum. HESPERIE TRIUMPHI. Εγγυάσομαι Μή μιν, ὦ Μοῖσαι, φυγόξενον στρατὸν, Μηδ' ἀπείρατον καλῶν, ̓Ακρόσοφον δὲ καὶ αἰχματὰν ἀφίξεσθαι· τὸ γὰρ Εμφυὲς, οὔτ ̓ αἴθων ἀλώπηξ Οὔτ ̓ ἐρίβρομοι λέοντες, Pindar. Olymp. 11th. BELLIGERI laudes populi, palmamque recentem, Aggredior; memorare ausus, quo turbine duras Quæ memorent, quantâ et vestri cum laude nepotes Gallia jamdudum victricia signa per orbem At non ignavis tantas Hispanica pubes Idem omnes simul ardor agit, vi turpia collo Nec solùm hanc proceres inter, summosque furentis, Quin sæpe, ut referunt, per operta silentia noctis Telum infert, somnoque gravem detorquet in hostem. |