The History of the Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece, Volume 2 (of 3) — Themes and Context

Marriage Preliminaries and the Matchmaker's Role

St. John opens the marriage chapter by noting that the business of matchmaking was delegated to a female professional, whose duties were considered important. He contrasts this with Homeric times, when fathers like Peleus chose wives for their sons, and with earlier traditions where men lived "more pecudum"—a state from which Cecrops supposedly reclaimed them. The author treats these origin stories with skepticism, calling the fable "evidently unworthy of the slightest" credit, yet he uses them to frame the evolution of marital customs. The matchmaker, he suggests, served to "break the ice" and pave the way for suitors, a practice he compares to contemporary China.

Theater Machinery and Scene Painting

The description of stage machinery is among the most technical passages in the volume. St. John explains that while the Periactoi allowed three scene changes, additional landscapes could be "dropped, like hangings, or slided in frames" in front of painted columns. These typically depicted sea views, mountain scenery, or winding rivers. The Hemicycle, placed facing the orchestra, masked marble buildings when a distant vista was required. The Charonian staircase's location is deemed "exceedingly difficult to determine," but St. John rejects the hypothesis that ghosts emerged beneath the spectators' seats, arguing instead for a position near the altar of Loxios. He also distinguishes trapdoors for river-gods from those for the Furies, the latter situated in the Logeion's boards.

Rural Life: Villa, Farmyard, and Vineyard

Book V shifts to rural life, beginning with the villa and farmyard. St. John describes the layout of a Greek farm, including the garden, orchard, and vineyard. He details the vintage process and the farmer's studies, emphasizing the practical knowledge required for agriculture. The section on pastoral life completes the picture, though the excerpts provide only chapter headings. The author's method is to compile evidence from literary sources, particularly Homer and later writers, to reconstruct daily routines. He notes that the farmer's year involved a cycle of plowing, sowing, and harvesting, with careful attention to weather and soil conditions.

Household Furniture and Domestic Interiors

In the chapter on household furniture, St. John catalogs items such as couches, tables, and storage chests, drawing on archaeological finds and textual references. He describes the typical Greek house as having a courtyard, with rooms arranged around it. The furniture was often simple but functional, with decorated pieces indicating wealth. The author notes that the Greeks used bronze and terracotta for everyday items, while precious metals were reserved for temples and public buildings. He also discusses the use of textiles, including woven hangings and cushions, which added color and comfort to interiors.

St. John's volume is best approached as a compendium of antiquarian knowledge, organized by topic rather than chronology. Readers interested in the theater will find the most detailed technical descriptions, while those focused on social history will benefit from the marriage and domestic chapters. The rural sections offer a glimpse into the agricultural economy, though the author's reliance on literary sources means that archaeological evidence is secondary. The work rewards selective reading, as each chapter stands relatively independent.

I've often lingered over that Greek volume’s descriptions of wedding torches and harvest rites, sensing how ritual binds a people’s quietest hours. It reminded me of another shelf-mate, Sacred Mysteries Among the Mayas and the Quiches, 11,500 Years Ago Their relation to the sacred mysteries of Egypt, Greece, Chaldea and India. Free Masonry in times — Text and Context, where distant hands seem to reach toward the same unseen flame.