The Deikelistæ, however, were not confined to Laconia, but, under various names were known in most other parts of Greece. Thus, at Sicyon, they obtained the appellation of Phallophori, elsewhere they were called Autocabdali, or Improvisator; while in Italy, (that is, among the Greek colonists,[934]) they were known by the name of Phlyakes.[935] By the common people they were called the wise men (σοφίσται), upon the same principle that actors in France are known by the name of _artistes_. The Thebans, renowned for the havoc they made in the language of Greece, denominated them the Voluntaries, alluding proleptically perhaps to the “voluntary principle.” Semos, the Delian, draws an amusing picture of these Improvisatori. Those performers, he says, who are called Autocabdali made their appearance on the stage, crowned with ivy, and poured forth their verse extempore. The name of Iambi was afterwards bestowed, both on them and their poems. Another class who were called Ithyphalli,[936] wore those masks, which on the stage were appropriated to drunkards, with crowns of ivy and flowered gloves upon their hands. Their chitons were striped with white, and over these, bound by a girdle at the loins, they wore a Tarentine pelisse descending to the ankle. They entered upon the stage by the great door appropriated to royal personages, and, advancing in silence across the stage, turned towards the audience and exclaimed,— “Make way there, a wide space Yield to the god; For Dionysos has a mind to walk Bolt upright through your midst.” ----- Footnote 934: Among the mimics of this part of Italy, the most celebrated was Cleon, surnamed the Mimaulos, who dispensed with the use of a mask.—Athen. x. 78. Footnote 935: Athen. xiv. 15. Cf. Suid. in φλύακες, t. ii. p. 1073. b. Footnote 936: Vid. Harpocrat. in v. ἰθύφαλλοι. Mauss. p. 152. ----- The Phallophori made their appearance unmasked, shading their face with a drooping garland of wild thyme, intermingled with acanthus-leaves, and surmounted by an ample crown of ivy, with violets appearing between its glossy dark foliage. Their costume was the caunacè. Of these actors, some entered through the side-passages, others through the central door, advancing with measured tread, and saying,— “Bacchos, to thee our muse belongs, Of simple chant, and varied lays; Nor fit for virgin ears our songs, Nor handed down from ancient days: Fresh flows the strain we pour to thee, Patron of joy and minstrelsy!” After which, skipping forward, they made a halt and showered their sarcasms indiscriminately on whomsoever they pleased, while the leader of the troop moved slowly about, his face bedaubed with soot.[937] ----- Footnote 937: Athen. xiv. 16. -----