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

HOSPITIUM. HOSPITIUM. 619
portance attached to this part of horticulture is it has never had in any other state. It was in
proved not only by the description of Pliny, and Greece, as well as at Rome, of a twofold nature,
the notices of other writers (Plin. H. N. xvi. 33. either private or public, in as far as it was either
s. 60, xxi. II J. s. 39, xxii. 22. s. 34; Martial, iii. established between individuals, or between two
19), but also by the fact.that topiaries is the only states. (I-Iosptim l pivatum and hospitiumn pbli.name used in good Latiil writers for the orna- curn, ZEvLa and 7rpoSEvia.)
mental gardener. Cicero (Pared. v. 2) mentions 1. GREEK. In ancient Greece the stranger,
the topiclrus amothe he higher class of slaves. as such (iS'os and hostis), was looked upon as an
Attached to the garden were places for exercise, enemy (Cic. de 0:. i. 12; IHerod. ix. 11; Plut,
the gestatio and sippodromus. The gestatio was a Aristid. 10); but whenever he appeared amoni
sort of avenue, shaded by trees, for the purpose of another tribe or nation without any sign of hostile
taking gentle exercise, such as riding in a litter. intentions, he was considered not only as one who
(Plin. Epist. v. 6, ii. 17.) The hippodrosmus (not, required aid, but as a suppliant, and Zeus was the
as one reading gives the word in Pliny, ]zypodro- protecting deity of strangers and suppliants. (ZEUs
muss) was a place for running or horse exercise, in'VEios and iKErTsoios: HIom. Od. xiv. 57, &c. 283,
the form of a circus, consisting of several paths ix. 270, xiii. 213, vii. 164: compare Apollon.
divided by hedges of box, ornamented with topi- Aryonaeut. ii. 1134; Aelian. V. H. iv. 1.) This
arian work, and surrounded by large trees. (Plin. religious feeling was strengthened by the belief
1. c.; Martial, xii. 50, lvii. 23.) that the stranger might possibly be a god in disThe flowers which the Romans possessed, though guise. (Odyss. xvii. 484.) On his arrival therefew in comparison with the species known to us, fore, the stranger, of whatever station in life he
were more numerous than some writers have re- might be, was kindly received, and provided with
presented; but the subject still requires investiga- everything necessary to make him comfortable,
tion. Their principal garden-flowers seem to have and to satisfy his immediate wants. The host did
been violets and roses, and they also had the cro- not inquire who the stranger was, or what had led
cus, narcissus, lily, gladiolus, iris, poppy, amaranth, him to his house, until the duties of hospitality
and others. were fulfilled. During his stay, it was a sacred
Conservatories and hot-houses are not mentioned duty of his host to protect him against any perby any writer earlier than the first century of our secution, even if he belonged to a politically hostile
era. They are frequently referred to by Martial race, so that the host's house was a perfect asylum
(viii. 14, 68, iv. 19, xiii. 127). They were used to him. On his departure he was dismissed with
both to preserve foreign plants and to produce presents and good wishes. (Odyss. iv. 37, &c.,
flowers and frait out of season. Columella (xi. 3. Nitzch's note.) It seems to have been customary
~~ 51, 52) and Pliny (H. N. xix. 5. s. 23) speak for the host, on the departure of the stranger,
of forcing-houses for grapes, melons, &c. In every to break a die (&a'rpayaAos) in two, one half of
garden there was a space set apart for vegetables which he himself retained, while the other half
(olera). was given to the stranger; and when at any fuFlowers and plants nwere also kept in the central ture time they or their descendants met, they had
space of the peristyle [DoMus], on the roofs, and a means of recognising each other, and the hospiin the windows of the houses. Sometimes, in a table connection was renewed. (Schol. ad Ezurip.
town, where the garden was very small, its walls lIed. 613.) Hospitality thus not only existed
were painted in imitation of a real garden, with between the persons who had originally formed it,
trees, fountains, birds, &c., and the small area was but was transferred as an inheritance from father
ornamented with flowers in vases. A beautiful to son. To violate the laws of hospitality was a
example of such a garden was found at Pompeii. great crime and act of impiety, and was punished
(Gell's Ponzpeiana, ii. 4.) by men as well as gods (t'K e tcKat oZEias, Aelian,
An ornamental garden was also called viridarium 1. c.; Paus. vii. 25). Instances of such hereditary
(Dig. 33. tit. 7. s. 8), and the gardener topiarius connections of hospitality are mentioned down to a
or vicriarizs. The common name for a gardener very late period of Greek history; and many
is villicus or cultor lsostorume. We find also the towns, such as Athens, Corinth, Byzantium, Phasis,
special names vinitor, olitor. The word hortulanus and others, were celebrated for the hospitable
is only of late formation. The aquarius had character of their citizens. (Herod. vi. 35; Thucyd.
charge of the fountains both in the garden and ii. 13; Plato, Crito, p. 45, c.; Stobaeus, Florileg.
in the house. (Becker, Gallus, vol. i. p. 283, tit. xliv. 40, &c.) But when a more regular and
&c.; Bittiger, Racesmationen zur Ga-rten-Kfunst frequent intercourse among the Greeks began to
der Alten.) [P. S.] be established, it was impossible to receive all these
HOSPES. [HOSPIT1UM.] strangers in private houses. This naturally led to
HOSPI'TIUM (Zevea, 7rpoeL'a). Hospitality the establishment of inns (7raso'eC7o0v, tcarracytolv,
is one of the characteristic features of almost all Karadvouts), in which such strangers as had no hosnations previous to their attaining a certain degree pitable connections found accommodation. For those
of civilisation. In civilised countries the necessity occasions, on which numerous visitors flocked to a
of general hospitality is not so much felt; but at particular place for the purpose of celebrating one
a time when the state or the laws of nations afforded of the great or national festivals, the state or the
scarcely any security, and when the traveller on temple provided for the accommodation of the visitors
his journey did not meet with any places destined either in tents or temporary inns erected about the
for his reception and accommodation, the exercise temple. (Aelian, V. H. iv. 9; Schol. ad Pind.
of hospitality was absolutely necessary. Among 01. xi. 51 and 55: compare Plato, de Leg. xii.
the nations of antiquity, with whom the right of p. 952; Lucian, Asmor. 12; Thucyd. iii. 683.)
hospitality was hallowed by religion, it was to The kind of hospitality which was exercised by
some degree observed to the latest period of their private individuals on such festive occasions proexistence, and acquired a political importance which bably differed very little from that which is cus