Athens and Sparta Adventures: Chapter 9: Libation Bearers pg. 19

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Quick Ref:

Xenia: The Ancient Greek concept of hospitality and guest-host relationships. Taking care of a guest was generally considered a moral obligation as well as a reciprocal one.

Himation: A type of mantle or cloak, often worn over a chiton or a peplos (or by itself) by both men and women.

Comments:

Athens and Sparta Adventures: Chapter 9: Libation Bearers pg. 16

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Tyrrhenians: Also Tyrsenions. A catch-all word for non-Greeks, especially pirates. Here Corinth is specifically describing Etruscans.

Megara Hyblaea: One of Megara's early colonies on the island of Sicily destroyed by Syracuse. The colony is the "Little Meg" referred to here and page 5 of this chapter.

Comments:

Athens and Sparta Adventures: Chapter 9: Libation Bearers pg. 17

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Doric Greek: As I may have mentioned before, Corinth (and Sparta) speak the Doric dialect of Greek. Here, she says "O Poteidan" for "O Poseidon" and "pros ton sion" rather than "pros ton theon" for "by the gods".

Poseidon: Greek god of the sea, earthquakes, horses, and the patron god of Corinth. Apparently likes to leave wrecks on the beach for her to find.

Comments:

Athens and Sparta Adventures: Chapter 9: Libation Bearers pg. 18

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Quick Ref:

Saffron: A spice made from crocus flowers. Apart from flavouring food and dyeing clothing, saffron could also be dried into tablets and used as a therapeutic medication. It's possible it was used as a treatment for PMS and menstrual cramps.

Hypericum: Also known as St. John's Wort, these yellow flowers make a surprisingly red medication when the glands are crushed. Because of its colour, it was associated with blood and also used to treat depression.

Comments:

Athens and Sparta Adventures: Chapter 9: Libation Bearers pg. 14

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The Persians: A tragedy by Aeschylus and the only surviving part of a trilogy. The play centres around the Persian queen Atossa waiting for news of Xerxes' campaign against Greece. Darius' ghost appears. It's a whole thing.

Promanteia: The privilege of consulting the oracle at Delphi before others, which could be very important during urgent political matters. People came from all over the Greek world to consult the pythia, so the line was probably pretty long!