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

THE ATTIC STELAI 207
from 50 to 200 drachmas.20 These values of course were for finer garments. For
prices of himatia in Egypt, see A. Segre, Circolazione monetaria e prezzi nel mondo
antico, Rome, 1922, p. 161.
Of the various items of clothing in our lists, the himatia are the only ones for
which there is a clue as to the price. The sales tax for a single himation was 3 drachmas.2'
The price, then, falls into the 5-50 drachmas bracket.
4. KpcKq (I, 212). Woollen cloth. The word is derived from KpEK&O, and etymologically
means the 'woof, thread which is passed between the threads of the
warp.'22 In the passage of Euripides cited in Athenaeus, X, 413 d and in Aristophanes,
Vespae, 1144, the reference is to the 'nap' of the woollen cloth. In Pindar, Nem.,
10, 83, kroke seems to be used for a cloak of woollen texture. In Sophocles, O.C., 474,
it is woollen cloth.
Kroke in our list is qualified by the adjective 0a*vrq. This word, describing the
color of the cloth, takes its name from the thapsos, the fustic plant from the island of
Thapsos which is called by modern botanists Thapsia Asclepium L.23 A plant used by
dyers,24 it imparted a yellow cadaverous or sallow hue which was associated with
the pallor of sickness and death.25 Plutarch associates thapsine with the color of the
fillets or headbands which entwined the mystic koitai, or chests.26 Significant for the
meaning of kroke in our texts is its position between two entries for the same word,
koite, 'chest.' Our yellow-colored woollen cloth must have been contained in or
been used as a cover for the chests.
If our arrangement of fragments d and h of Stele I is correct, a very rough
approximation of the cost of the material can be obtained. Only the first numeral of
the sales tax is preserved, but this is an obol sign, which means that the price of the
cloth was some figure between one obol and 49 drachmas 5 obols.
5. Tpt/3ov (II, 105-111). Thick cloak or mantle. For a description of the various
types, see M. Brillant in Daremberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Tribon, also G. Leroux,
s.v. Pallium, p. 290a; and E. Schuppe, R.E., s.v. Tribon. It is noted by these authors
that the original and early use of this word had nothing to do with 'used or ragged
clothing,' but that the tribon was rather a particular type of dress. The definition of
20 Syll.3, 736, lines 15-20.
21
IJ 209-210. The sales tax is inscribed on one stone, the word himation on another. Their
position with relation to one another is determined by counting upwards from the original last
lines of columns III and IV of the stele.
22 See Boisacq, Dictionnaire4, s.v. xp5w. It is not to be confused with kroke, meaning 'pebble,'
which is of different derivation.
23
See Bliimner, Technologie, I2, p. 251, and IV, p. 522.
24
See V. Chapot in Daremberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Tinctor, p. 340 b.
25
Aristophanes, Vespae, 1413.
26 Phocion, 28.