PĂRĂDĪSUS (παράδεισος), the name given by the Greeks to the parks
or pleasure-grounds, which surrounded the country residences of the
Persian kings and satraps. They were generally stocked with animals
for the chase, were full of all kinds of trees, watered by numerous
streams, and enclosed with walls.
PĂRĂGRĂPHĒ (παραγραφή). This word does not exactly correspond with
any term in our language, but may without much impropriety be
called _a plea_. It is an objection raised by the defendant to the
admissibility of the plaintiff’s action. The _paragraphé_, like every
other answer (ἀντιγραφή) made by the defendant to the plaintiff’s
charge, was given in writing; as the word itself implies. If the
defendant merely denied the plaintiff’s allegations, a court was
at once held for the trial of the cause. If, however, he put in a
_paragraphé_, a court was to be held to try the preliminary question,
whether the cause could be brought into court or not. Upon this
previous trial the defendant was considered the _actor_. If he
succeeded, the whole cause was at an end; unless the objection was
only to the form of action, or some other such technicality, in which
case it might be recommenced in the proper manner. If, however, the
plaintiff succeeded, the original action, which in the mean time had
been suspended, was proceeded with.
PĂRĂLUS (πάραλος), and SĂLAMĪNĬA (σαλαμινία). The Athenians from very
early times kept for public purposes two sacred or state vessels,
the one of which was called _Paralus_ and the other _Salaminia_:
the crew of the one bore the name of παραλῖται or πάραλοι, and that
of the other σαλαμίνιοι. The Salaminia was also called Δηλία or
Θεωρίς, because it was used to convey the θεωροὶ to Delos, on which
occasion the ship was adorned with garlands by the priest of Apollo.
Both these vessels were quick-sailing triremes, and were used for a
variety of state purposes: they conveyed theories, despatches, &c.
from Athens, carried treasures from subject countries to Athens,
fetched state criminals from foreign parts to Athens, and the like.
In battles they were frequently used as the ships in which the
admirals sailed. These vessels and their crews were always kept in
readiness to act, in case of any necessity arising; and the crew,
although they could not for the greater part of the year be in
actual service, received their regular pay of four oboli per day all
the year round. The names of the two ships seem to point to a very
early period of the history of Attica, when there was no navigation
except between Attica and Salamis, for which the Salaminia was
used, and around the coast of Attica, for which purpose the Paralus
was destined. In later times the names were retained, although the
destination of the ships was principally to serve the purposes of
religion, whence they are frequently called the sacred ships.
PĂRĂNOIĀS GRĂPHĒ (παρανοίας γραφή). This proceeding may be compared
to our commission of lunacy, or writ _de lunatico inquirendo_. It
was a suit at Athens that might be instituted by a son or other
relation against one who, by reason of madness or mental imbecility,
had become incapable of managing his own affairs. If the complaint
was well grounded, the court decreed that the next heir should take
possession of the lunatic’s property, and probably also made some
provision for his being put in confinement, or under proper care and
guardianship. The celebrated tale of Iophon, the son of Sophocles,
accusing his father of lunacy, is related in the life of Sophocles in
the _Classical Dictionary_.
PĂRĂNŎMŌN GRĂPHĒ (παρανόμων γραφή), an indictment at Athens for
propounding an illegal, or rather unconstitutional measure or law.
In order to check rash and hasty legislation, the mover of any law
or decree, though he succeeded in causing it to be passed, was
still amenable to criminal justice, if his enactment was found to
be inconsistent with other laws that remained in force, or with
the public interest. Any person might institute against him the
γραφὴ παρανόμων within a year from the passing of the law. If he was
convicted, not only did the law become void, but any punishment
might be inflicted on him, at the discretion of the judges before
whom he was tried. A person thrice so convicted lost the right of
proposing laws in future. The cognizance of the cause belonged to the
Thesmothetae.
PĂRAPRESBEIA (παραπρεσβεία), signifies any corrupt conduct,
misfeasance, or neglect of duty on the part of an ambassador; for
which he was liable to be called to account and prosecuted on his
return home. Demosthenes accused Aeschines of _Parapresbeia_ on
account of his conduct in the embassy to Philip.