Music was universally cultivated by both sexes. But the music of to-day, appreciable as it is to so large an extent by connoisseurs alone, would have found little favor with Greek critics, judging from that of their day, which was of a simple character, capable of being easily under stood by every one, and directed as much toward ethical culture as toward resthetical pleasure.' others, the Greeks were acquainted with wind and stringed instruments CAL 22, figs. 21-24), but not with the use of the bow. Among the stringed instruments were the harp, the eithern, and the lyre. The harp resembled that of Egypt; the lyre was originally made of a tortoise-shell pierced with goats' horns, and retained its old shape when made of wood; the cithern had not only a hollow sounding box, but also hollow arms, and was made of wood, ivory, or metal. The shapes of all these instruments were so diverse as to give rise to distinct varieties, each of which had a distinct name.
The wind instruments included flutes and a form of clarionet and trumpets. Among the varieties of flutes, the most important were the Pandean pipe with from seven to nine reeds, and the cross flute. The aulos 22, fig. 22; /51. 26, fig. 4) resembled our clarionet, and was either single or double. It was sometimes played with a leather bandage over the lips (p1. 26, fig. S), to which a metal mouth-piece was attached in regulating the tone while the player was taking breath. Other forms of wind instruments, considerably increased in circumference at the bottom and surmounted by a cup-like mouthpiece, may be termed trumpets. The Greeks were also acquainted with the bagpipe, the cymbals (fig. 3), the tambourine (pl. 22, fig. 2o), the castanet, etc. Ctesibus invented an hydraulic organ, which was further developed in after-times.
.11farriage was not entered into hastily. It was considered largely a matter of public interest, which immediately concerned the state, and only the offspring of a freeborn citizen wedded to a woman of equal birth were held legitimate. In the age of Homer the groom still secured the bride by the presentation of rich gifts to her parents; but in later times the dower of the bride was a matter of importance. It is probable that the daughters of poor but worthy citizens were dowered by the state, in order that they might find husbands.
Offerings to the guardian deities of matrimony initiated the wedding z,, day. In Athens both bride and groom bathed in water from the sacred springs of Callirrhoe. The marriage-banquet was spread in the house of the bride's parents, and women, who were excluded from other entertain ments, were permitted to be present. At its conclusion the groom con
ducted his bride in a chariot to his own home, which was profusely decorated with garlands. A relative accompanied the bride in the chariot as an escort, and the mother followed carrying torches lighted at her own hearth; friends singing the marriage-song (hymenerus) and playing flutes accompanied the happy couple in stately procession, and all who met them offered congratulations. The mother of the groom received them with torches at the threshold of his house (p1. 24, fig. 8), and conducted them to the bridal chamber. The epithalamium was then sung by the invited guests, and on the following day friends brought presents and congratula tions to the happy pair.
Domestic enough was the life of a married woman. She had, in fact, simply exchanged the gymeconitis of one house for that of another. The only difference was that now, being the mistress, she commanded, while formerly, being the daughter, she had served. The husband belonged first of all to the state, and family life in the good modern sense was still unknown. Even in Attica, the most dissolute of the Greek states, the virtue of honorable women was appreciated; custom and law protected them from all insult. And yet the Greek woman was by no means kept in confinement like her sister in the East. In Sparta the girls even took part in the gymnastic exercises, and generally both girls and matrons appeared in public on festive occasions. Among them selves they had much social intercourse, and at one time the emancipation of woman was discussed as much as it is among us. Their dirty consisted in the care of the household and of the children; dress constituted their entertainment, and music their chief recreation. Obedient female servants, whose life was as secluded as that of their mistresses, assisted them in the domestic work. There was, however, a special class of women who enjoyed greater liberty at the price of reputation. They were for the most part foreigners, who made a livelihood as dancers, flute-players, jugglers (pl. 26, jigs. 3, 4), and ltetairce, though sometimes also by honest work.
But we must not regard the relations between husband and wife as cold and heartless. How could the Odyssey have taken root among a people with whom this was universally the case? Numerous representa tions (fig. 6) show ns that married life was affectionate, especially from the time when intellectual culture became more accessible to women.