PAEAN (παιήων, παιάν, παιών), a hymn or song, which was originally
sung in honour of Apollo. It was always of a joyous nature, and
its tune and sounds expressed hope and confidence. It was a song
of thanksgiving, when danger was passed, and also a hymn to
propitiate the god. It was sung at the solemn festivals of Apollo,
and especially at the Hyacinthia. The paean was also sung as a
battle-song, both before an attack on the enemy and after the battle
was finished. It is certain that the paean was in later times sung to
the honour of other gods besides Apollo. Thus Xenophon relates that
the Greek army in Asia sung a paean to Zeus.
PAEDĂGŌGUS (παιδαγωγός), a tutor. The office of tutor in a Grecian
family of rank and opulence was assigned to one of the most
trustworthy of the slaves. The sons of his master were committed to
his care on attaining their sixth or seventh year, their previous
education having been conducted by females. They remained with the
tutor until they attained the age of puberty. His duty was rather to
guard them from evil, both physical and moral, than to communicate
instruction. He went with them to and from the school or the
GYMNASIUM; he accompanied them out of doors on all occasions; he was
responsible for their personal safety, and for their avoidance of bad
company. In the Roman empire the name _paedagogi_ or _paedagogia_
was given to beautiful young slaves, who discharged in the imperial
palace the duties of the modern _page_, which is in fact a corruption
of the ancient name.
PAEDŎNŎMUS (παιδονόμος), a magistrate at Sparta, who had the general
superintendence of the education of the boys.
PAENŬLA, a thick cloak, chiefly used by the Romans in travelling,
instead of the toga, as a protection against the cold and rain. It
appears to have had no sleeves, and only an opening for the head, as
shown in the following figure.
[Illustration: Paenula, travelling cloak. (From Bartholini.)]