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

THE ATTIC STELAI 299
The price of the upper millstone of Stele II, 239 is recorded as 7 drachmas 1 obol.
In II, 24, the first numeral of the price is missing. Figures for 4 drachmas 2 obols are
preserved, at least in part. The missing numeral is almost certainly the sign for five
drachmas, which would give a total of 9 drachmas 2 obols. The price of the millstone
in II, 238 is only partially preserved. The sum contained two numerals followed by
the preserved signs of two obols. The two most likely restorations, approximating
the other two totals, would yield sums of 6 drachmas 2 obols, or 10 drachmas 3 obols.
16. VE'8 (II, 127). Brake. This word has previously been defined. as ' fetter';
in plural, ' shackles.' " Most uses in the literature are metaphorical. In Stele II, the
word is combined with a'ecov, 'axle.'
Earlier, I suggested that the meaning here was 'brake.' The compound word
rpoXorE'8r , denoting a block of wood thrust between the spokes of a wheel, is known
from Athenaeus, II, 99 c, and from Herodian, 467.96 Drags in the form of oblong
slabs of metal are also depicted in two bas-reliefs illustrated in Daremberg-Saglio,
Dictionnaire, s.v. Sufflarnen. These were clamped on the rim of the wheel.97
17. 1TE(XKV9 (I, 109). Axe.98 The most complete bibliography is given by Reinach
in Daremberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Securis, to which may be added that contained
in Robinson, Olynthus, X, p. 342, note 29. Many iron axe-heads have been found in
Greece. Illustrations of numerous types of axes from reliefs and vase-paintings are
given by Bliimner, Technologie, II, pp. 202-203. He notes that the pelekys was used
mostly in woodwork, particularly by carpenters and shipbuilders. Pelekys indicated
the two-edge axe; for the single-edge, the words 1TEAXKV9 4TEPOOpTO,.oo or -q(tLLTEXEKKOV
might be used.
18. TrrEov (II, 119)99 Winnowing-shovel."'0 The instrument is described by A.
Jarde in Daremberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Ventilabrum; by E. Saglio, ibid., s.v.
Pala; and in greater detail in Bliimner, Technologie, I2, pp. 7-9. Special articles of
Jane E. Harrison, " Mystica Vannus Iacchi," 101 include a study of the pt5yon. She
cites several examples on vases to which may be added those cited by Ure, J.H.S.,
LXIX, 1949, pp. 18-24.
94 See Liddell-Scott-Jones, s.v., and Thesaurus Graecae Linguae, s.v. For a description of such
fetters, see Daremberg-Saglio, Dictionnaire, s.v. Compes.
95 Hesperia, XXII, 1953, p. 259. Further study, however, has revealed no evidence to uphold
the suggestion that this brake operated by friction against the axle.
96 Ed. S. Pierson in Moeris, Lexicon, Leipzig, 1831, p. 345.
97 For such a clamp found in Italy, see L. A. Milani, Studi e materiali, I, 1899, p. 138, fig. 42.
98 Buck, Dictionary, p. 561.
9 For the Attic form pteon, instead of the dialectical ptyon, see Schwyzer, Gr. Gram., I, p. 183.
100 Buck, Dictionary, p. 500; Boisacq, Dictionnaire4, p. 824; modern Greek uses eTrvapt for
'shovel.' Buck (p. 499) notes the difficulty of distinguishing among the ancient names of Greek
digging implements.
101J.H.S., XXIII, 1903, pp. 292-324; and XXIV, 1904, pp. 241-254.