BY WILLIAM SMITH, LL.D., EDITOR OF THE DICTIONARIES OF "GREEK AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES," AND "BIOGRAPHY WITH CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS, BY CHARLES ANTHON, LL.D., PROFESSOR OF THE GREEK AND LATIN LANGUAGES IN COLUMBIA COLLEGE, NEW-YORK, AND NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS. 1889. 913.38 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, bv HARPER & BROTHERS. In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-Yora 1176 PREFACE. THE present work is designed to supply a want that has been long felt by most persons engaged in classical taition. Hitherto we have had no work in the English language which exhibited, in a form adapted to the use of young pupils, the results of the labours of modern scholars in the various subjects included under the general term of Greek and Roman Antiquities. The "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities" is intended for the more advanced student, and contains, moreover, information on a vast variety of subjects, which is not required by those who are commencing their classical studies. It has therefore been supposed, that an Abridgment of that work illustrating the Greek and Roman writers usually read in the lower classes of our public schools, and omitting all such matters as are of no use to the young student, might prove an acceptable addition to our school-literature. In fact, the Abridgment was undertaken at the suggestion of the head-master of one of our great public schools, and no pains have been spared to adapt it to the class of persons for whom it is more especially intended. Conciseness and clearness have been chiefly studied; all discussions on doubtful and controverted subjects have been omitted; and such of the articles as are susceptible of it have been illustrated by woodcuts from ancient works of art. Though this work has been drawn up chiefly for the use of the lower forms in our public schools, the wants of another class of persons have also been consulted. It is believed that the work will be found to be of no small assistance to those who have not studied the Greek and Roman writers, but who frequently need information on many points connected with Greek and Roman Antiquities. Care has been taken not to presume too much on the knowledge of the reader; and it is therefore hoped, that most of the articles may be read with advantage and profit by persons who are unacquainted with the classi cal writers. 184282 |