The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 3 (of 3)St. John, James Augustus
History
The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 3 (of 3)
St. John, James Augustus
Greece -- Social life and customs
little influence on the English, supposing the latter to be poor and
proud as the Spartans. The fact of the Periœci being tributary, which
seems to be offered as a reason, is no reason at all. It were far better
to confess our ignorance at once, than by a series of groundless
conjectures, put forward with confidence, to create a semblance of
knowledge. There does not appear to be any foundation for the statement,
that none but iron money was used in the Spartan market, where the
landlords and their serfs disposed of the produce of their lands. On the
contrary, it seems probable, that as, in many cases, it must have been
sold to the Periœci for exportation, (foreigners being excluded,) the
landlords would receive gold and silver unminted, perhaps, to evade the
law in return. Again, the kings of Sparta, it is evident, could possess
gold and silver. This, history proves so clearly that Mr. Müller is
constrained to confess it. And if the kings and the Periœci, nay, even
the very Helots could amass and enjoy the precious metals, and the
luxuries they purchase, it is too much to suppose that the masters of
the kings, of the Periœci and all, would have dwelt in ascetic
forbearance in the midst of so many temptations. Besides, we constantly
find the Spartans in situations in which their iron money could be of no
service to them. What, for example, could it have availed them at
Olympia? Yet there they were, the men in person, the women by proxy,
with their horses and their chariots, and every mark and indication of
wealth.
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Footnote 1533:
Müller, iii. ch. x. § 10.
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But to men travelling beyond the borders money was allowed. This sum
they might expend, or they might not. If they did not, were they
searched on their return, and the surplus taken from them? Otherwise men
would make journeys and accumulate cash in that way. Again, we are told,
that great obstacles were placed in the way of foreign travel by the
necessity of obtaining a passport along with the travelling expenses
(ἐφόδια) from the magistrates or the king, and reference is made to
Herodotus. But that historian in the passage referred to is speaking of
king Demaratos, who being driven from the country by his mother’s bad
character, takes what money he needs for his journey, and departs
without asking leave of any one.[1534]
-----
Footnote 1534:
Herod. vi. 70.
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However, when straitened in circumstances individuals had sometimes
recourse to the kings or to the state as to a bank; and that the thing
was customary appears from the fact, that princes, in order to start
with a popular measure, always upon their accession remitted the debts
of the citizens both to themselves and to the state.[1535] On this
occasion they destroyed all the bonds or instruments of mortgage
(κλάρια), bringing them into the agora, and there piling them up into a
heap and setting them on fire.[1536]
-----
Footnote 1535:
Id. vi. 69.
Footnote 1536:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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