“By spurting from your throats those venom drops.”
Footnote 537:
The conservative poet enters his protest through the Erinnyes against
the innovating spirit that looked with contempt upon the principles of
a past age.
Footnote 538:
Cock-fighting took its place among the recognised sports of the
Athenians. Once a year there was a public performance in the theatre.
Footnote 539:
The Temple of the Eumenides or Semnæ (“venerable ones”) stood near the
Areopagos.
Footnote 540:
Some two or three lines have probably been lost here.
Footnote 541:
Probably an allusion to the silver-mine at Laureion, which about the
time formed a large element of the revenues of Athens, and of which a
tithe was consecrated to Athena.
Footnote 542:
Reference is made to another local sanctuary, the temple on the
Areopagos dedicated to the Olympian Zeus.
Footnote 543:
The figure of Athena, as identical with Victory, and so the tutelary
Goddess of Athens, was sculptured with out-spread wings.
Footnote 544:
Cranaos, the son of Kecrops, the mythical founder of Athens.
Footnote 545:
The sanctuaries of the Eumenides were crypt-like chapels, where they
were worshipped by the light of lamps or torches.
Footnote 546:
Perhaps, “Children of Night, yourselves all childless left.”