One of the most plentifully furnished departments of a Greek house was the _Kulikeion_, or “cupboard,” usually closed in front with a curtain,[442] where they kept their goblets, cups, and drinking-horns, under the protection of a statue of Hermes, who, as god of thieves, would, it was supposed, be respected by his children. The form and workmanship of these materials varied, no doubt, according to the taste and means of the possessor; but they were in general distinguished for the elegance of their outline, the grace and originality of the sculpture, the fineness, delicacy, and minute finish of the execution. It is well known, as an able antiquarian[443] has remarked, to what an excess the luxury of the table was carried among the ancients, and how much they surpassed us in the dimensions, the massiveness, the workmanship, the quality, and the variety of their drinking apparatus. ----- Footnote 442: Athen. xi. 3. Poll. x. 122. Footnote 443: Le Comte de Caylus, Mem. de l’Acad. des Inscrip, t. xxiii. p. 353. ----- Many persons, however, seem chiefly to have valued their plate as a mark of their wealth and magnificence; among whom may be reckoned Pythias of Phigaleia, who, when dying, commanded the following epitaph to be inscribed upon his tomb:— Here jolly Pythias lies, A right honest man, and wise, Who of goblets had very great store, Of amber, silver, gold, All glorious to behold, In number ne’er equalled before.[444] ----- Footnote 444: Athen. xi. 14. Among the Egyptians were vases of papyrus. Bochart. Geog. Sac. i. 240. ----- Amber goblets not being, I believe, in fashion among the modern nations of Europe, some doubt may be experienced respecting the veracity of our friend of Phigaleia; but the ancients had other gobletary legends to bring forward in support of it. Helen,[445] it is said, justly proud of her beautiful bosom, dedicated in one of the temples of Rhodes, as a votive offering, an amber goblet, exactly of the size and shape of one of her breasts, which, had it come down to posterity, might have furnished artists with a perfect model of that part of the female form. However this may be, the ancients, in remote ages, set a great value on their cups, particularly such as were considered heir-looms in the family, and laid apart to be used only on extraordinary occasions. Hence Œdipos, in the old Cyclic poet, is seized with fierce anger at his son, who had, contrary to his will, brought forth his old hereditary goblets to be used at an ordinary entertainment.