Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SY MPOSIUM. SYMPOSIUM. 1083
generally determined by the throwing of Astragali but this says nothing against the general practice,
or Tali; but we find in Plato (Syriup. p. 213, e.) and Xenophon in his Symposium represents SoAlcibiades constituting himself Symposiarch. The crates mightily pleased with the mimetic dancing
proportion in which the wine and water were and other feats performed on that occasion. The
mixed was fixed by him, and also how much each female dancers and the players on the flute and
of the company was to drink. The servants the cithara were frequently introduced at the
(oliox0ot and olv'jpol aepCTror'es), usually young Symposia of young men for another purpose, and
slaves, who had to mix the wine and present it to were oftentimes actually Eiaipat [HETAERAE],
the company, were also under his orders; but if as we see clearly represented on many ancient vases.
there was no Symposiarch, the company called for (See for example Mals. Borbon. vol. v. t. 51.) Rethe wine just as they pleased. (Xen. Syisrp. ii. 27.) specting the different kinds of dances performed at
Befire the drinking commenced, it was agreed Symposia, see SALTATIO.
upoll in what way they should drink (Plat. Sysmp. Representations of Symposia are very common
p. 176, a. b.), for it was not usually left to the on ancient vases. Two guests usually reclined on
option of each of the company to drink as much or each couch (KAis7), as is explained on p. 305, and
as little as he pleased, but he was compelled to illustrated by the following cut from one of Sir WV.
take whatever the Symposiarcih might order. At Hamilton's vases, where the couch on the right
Athens they usually began drinking out of small hand contains two persons, and that on the left is
cups (tErpta lrorlpia, Athen. x. p. 431, e.), but as represented with only one, which does not appear
the entertainment went on, larger ones were intro- to have been the usual practice. The guests wear
duced. (Diog. Laert. i. 104.) In the Symposium garlands of flowers, and the two who are reclining
of Plato (pp. 213, 214) Alcibiades and Sociates on the same couch hold a qpLdXr7 each in the right
each empty an immense cup, containing eight co- hand.
tylae, or nearly four English pints; and frequently
such cups were emptied at one draught (&arverrloT
or aX/vr2 7risveln, aiccVOeTiCs, Athen. x. p. 431, b.;
Lucian, Levipth. 8; Suidas, s. v.'Aus-ri)..
The cups were always carried round from right'/' I'
to left (erl ao5cd), and the same order was ob- X
served in the conversation and in everything that'
took place in the entertainment (En ar ciLe,, ),,l.l,ial fVEII
Plat. Rep. iv. p. 420, e., de' l &E5iicoXyoe EtrrEZY, _;' / H
Sycnp. p.214,b.; Athen. xi.p. 463, e.). The com-
pany frequently drank to the health of one another
(7rporaneive splXo-raiLas, Lucian, Gall. 12; Athen.
xi. p. 498, d.), and each did it especially to the one
to whom he handed the same cup. This seems to
have been the custoim, which Cicero alludes to,
when he speaks of "drinking after the Greek Sometimes there were four or five persons on
fashion." (Graeco wore bibere, yVerr. i. 26; con- one couch, as in the following woodcut, taken
pare Tisc. i. 40, Giraeci ils coeanviis solcnt nomi- from Millin (Peintizres de Vases Antiques, vol. ii.
Ware, cui poculnum traditzrci sunt.) pl. 58). Three young and two older men are re.
Music and dancing were usually introduced, as dining on a couch (IcRivir), with their left arms
already stated, at Symposia, and we find few re- resting on striped pillows (7rpooescpdXAa or 67raypresentations of such scenes in ancient vases with- uICcIla). Before the couch are two tables. Three,out the presence of female players on the flute and of the men are holding a calix or tcxtL suspended
the cithara. Plato, indeed, decidedly objects to by one of the handles to the fore-finger, the fourth
their presence, and maintains that it is only men holds a LpdX?7, and the fifth a QpldCX- in one hand
incapable of amusing themselves by rational con- and a pivrnd in the other. [CALIX; PHIALA;
versation, that have recourse to such means of en- RIHYTON.] In the middle Comos is beating the
joyment (Protag. p. 347, c. d., SyIIp. p. 176, e.); tympanum.
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