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

1 126 THEORICA. TITEORICA.
that went to consult the God at Delphi, and those It was then determined that the entrance should
that led the solemn procession to Delos, where the no longer be gratuitous. The fee for a place was
-Athenians established a quadriennial festival, in fixed at two obols, which was paid to the lessee of
revival of the ancient Ionian one, of which Homer the theatre, (called asEarpCv6js, a'aTpomr&c~ms, or
speaks. (Thucyd. iii. 104). The expense of these apXLT'eKc'rWV,) who undertook to keep it in repair,
-embassies was defrayed partly by the state and and constantly ready for use, on condition of being
partly by wealthy citizens, to whom the manage- allowed to receive the profits. This payment conment of them was entrusted, called &pxtO'sopol, tinned to be exacted after the stone theatre was
chiefs of the embassy. This was a sort of built. Pericles, to relieve the poorer classes,
AseLrovpyta, and frequently a very costly one; as passed a law which enabled them to receive the
the chief conductor represented the state, and was price of admission from the state; after which all:expected to appear with a suitable degree of those citizens whp were too poor to pay for their
splendour; for instance, to wear a golden crown, places applied for the money in the public assembly,
to drive into the city with a handsome chariot, which was then frequently held in the theatre.
retinue, &c. Nicias, who was very rich, is re- (Schbmann, Id. p. 219.) In process of time this
ported to have incurred great expenses on his donation was extended to other entertainments beembassy to Delos, beyond what was required of sides theatrical ones - the sum of two oboli being
him; and Alcibiades astonished all the spectators given to each citizen who attended; if the festival
at Olympia by the magnificence of his horses, lasted two days, four oboli; and if three, six oboli
chariots, &c., and the profuseness of his expendi- but not beyond. Ience all theoric largesses reture. (Bickh, Publ. Eeoc. of. Allens, p. 214, &c. ceived the name of &lweAL'a. The sums thus
2d ed.; Thirlwall, Hist. of Greece, vol. iii. pp. 217, given varied at different times, and of course de330.) [DELIA.] pended on the state of the public exchequer.
The Salaminian, or Delian, ship was also called These distributions of money, like those of grain
(Scwpls YaDs, and.was principally used for convey- and flour, were called tayvo.al[, or taao'-res.
ing embassies to Delos, though, like the Paralus, They were often made at the Dionysia, when the
it was employed on other expeditions besides. allies were present, and saw the surplus of their
(Suidas, i. c.; Bickh, Id. p. 240.) [C. R. K.] tribute distributed from the orchestra. The appeTHEO'RIA (aewpLa). [THEORI.] tite of the people for largesses grew by encourageTHEO'RICA (asewptzK). Under this name at ment, stimulated from time to time by designing
Athens were comprised the monies.expended on demagogues; and in the time of Demosthenes
festivals, sacrifices, and public entertainments of they seem not to have been confined to the poorer
various kinds; and also monies distributed among classes. (Philip. iv. 141.) Bbckh calculates that
the people in the shape of largesses from the state. from 25 to 30 talents were spent upon them annuThere were, according to Xenophon, mare festi- ally. (Publ. Econ. of Athens, p. 224, 2d ed.)
vals at Athens than in all the rest of Greece. (De So large an expenditure of the public funds
Rep. Ath. iii. 8.) Besides those which were open upon shows and amusements absorbed the reto the whole body of the people, there were many sources, which were demanded for services of a
confined to the members of each tribe, deme, and more important nature. By the ancient law the
house. These last were provided for out of the whole surplus of the annual revenue which reprivate funds of the community who celebrated mained after the expense of the civil administra.
them. At the most important of:the public festi- tion (T& 7repio,'ra XptuaTra T7rs loetcilaeos) was to
vals, such as the Dionysia, Panatkenaea, Eleusinia, be carried to the military fund, and applied to the
Thargelia, and some others, there were not only defence of the commoinwealth. Since the time of
sacrifices, but processions, theatrical exhibitions, Pericles various demagogues had sprung up, who
gymnastic contests, and games, celebrated with induced the people to divert all that could be
great splendour and" at a great expense. A portion spared from the other branches of civil expendiof the expense was defrayed by the individuals, ture into the Theoric fund, which at length swalupon whom the burden of XerTovpyia devolved; lowed up the whole surplus, and the supplies
but a considerable, and perhaps the larger, part needed for the purpose of war or defence were
was defrayed by the public treasury. Demos- left to depend upon the extraordinary contributhenes complains, that more money was spent on a tions, or property-tax (ietopopat). An attempt was
single Panathenaic or Dionysiac festival than on made by the demagogue Eubulus, of whom Theoany military expedition. (Philip. i. 50.) The reli- pompus says, that 7aEs rpoo'd4ovs KcaTaul(eoq0op&~,
gious embassies to Delos and other places, and aeIE'El (Athen. iv. p. 166), to perpetuate this
especially those to the Olympian, Nemean, Isth- system. He passed a law, which made it a capital
mian, and Pythian games, drew largely upon the offence to propose that the Theoric fund should be
public exchequer, though a part of the cost fell applied to military service. In B. C. 353 Apolloupon the wealthier citizens who conducted them. dorus carried a decree empowering the people to
(Schiimann, Ant. Jur. publ. Gr. p. 305.) determine whether the surplus revenue might be
The largesses distributed among the people had applied to the purpose of war; for which he was inltheir Origin at an early period, and in a measure dicted by a ypaq) worapavxuwv, convicted and fined;
apparently harmless, though from a small begin- and the decree was annulled, as a matter of course.
ning they afterwards rose to a height most in- (Demosth. c. Neaer. 1346-1348.) The law of
jurious to the commonwealth. The Attic drama Eubulus was a source of great embarrassment to
used to be performed in a wooden theatre, and the Demosthenes, in the prosecutions of his schemes
entrance was free to all citizens who chose to go. for the national defence; and he seems at last, but
It was found, however, that the crushing to get in not before B. c. 339, to have succeeded in repealled to much. confusion and even danger. On one ing it. (Harpocr. and Suidas, s. v. OEwpacdi and
occasion, about B. c. 500, the scaffolding which E60ovXos: Bbckh. Id. i. pp. 219 —223; Schisupported the roof fell in, and caused great alarm. mann, Id. p. 307.)