the attic stelai - The American School of Classical Studies at Athens

312 W. KENDRICK PRITCHETT
peter, and potash.26 Schramm's discussion, however, is almost entirely restricted to
the evidence from Pliny's Natural History. One detailed chemical study of nitron is
not mentioned by Schramm, that of K. C. Bailey (The Elder Pliny's Chapters on
Chemical Subjects, I, London, 1929, pp. 169-171) who concludes that the nitron or
litron of the ancients was not always the same, but that in most cases it was a carbonate
or bicarbonate of sodium or potassium.
The use of litron (in composition) in Athens as a soap can safely be inferred
from Aristophanes, Ranae, 711, and Plato, Tim., 60 d.27 Athenaeus quotes fragments
which indicate its use as an antidote to poisoning (II, 61 d); in cooking (II, 68 a:
Antiphanes, Kock, C.A.F., II, p. 69); and for cleansing (XV, 665 b: Plato, Kock,
C.A.F., I, p. 620). Anaxippos (Kock, C.A.F., III, p. 300) uses nitron, 'the sodashop,'
as the place in the market where groceries were sold; cf. Gulick ad Athenaeus,
IV, 169 c. Herodotos (II, 86, 87) describes its use in embalming. The careless husband
in Theokritos (XV, 16) forgot to bring home nitron, no doubt for use as a soap.
For the price of a form of sodium carbonate, see T. Frank, Economic Survey, V,
p. 417 (Col. XXXII, line 34 of the Edict of Diocletian: 250 denarii a pound).
8. 6,8EXL'o-Kao (I, 93-94; II, 132). Small skewer, spit. Since our word occurs in
I, 93-94 in the company of kitchen utensils, it seems reasonable to assume that the
specific meaning is here ' skewer ' or ' spit.' The word in this meaning is studied by
Reinach in Darermberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Veru. His fig. 7406 shows illustrations
of spits for roasting. At Delos, obeliskoi were frequently dedicated, and
Deonna has collected numerous references in De'los, XVIII, p. 227.28 The inventories
of the Treasurers of Athena mention 42 votive obeliskoi.29 The most detailed study of
the meaning of the word is in W. Petersen, " Greek Diminutive Suffix -tWKO- -LOW-,"
Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, XVIII, 1913, pp.
165 and 181. Petersen states that when obeliskos means ' spit' there is no clear reference
to small size, and suggests that its identity with obelos is due to prehistoric
syncretism. He notes one inscription in which the word is qualified by the adjective
mikros 30 and lists five other meanings for the word, to which now may be added
'drainpipe' and 'bar.' " On the other hand, the juxtaposition of obelos and obeliskos-
26 For the Asia Minor sources of soda, see T. R. S. Broughton in Economic Survey, IV, p. 624
The best, however, came from Calastra on the Theramic Gulf, and a coarse variety was plentifully
produced in Egypt (Pliny, H.N., XXXI, 106; Strabo, XVII, 803).
27 Bliimner, R.E., s.v. Seife. Plutarch, Demetr., 27, contains the amusing story of Demetrios
spending 250 drachmas, which the Athenians had levied on themselves, for soap (smegma) for
Lamia and her fellow courtesans.
28
See also I.G., 112, 1638, line 67, and 1640, line 30 (tabulae amphictyonum Deliacorum).
29
I.G., 112, 1425, line 407.
30
This inscription has more recently been published as I.G., XI, 2, 161, B (line 128).
31 For references, see Liddell-Scott-Jones and cf. Tod, Num. Chron., 6th Ser., VII, 1947, p. 1.
For the meaning ' obelisk,' see, in particular, J. Friedrich, Deminutivbildung, p. 20.