U4 TRADERS AND CRAFTSMEN V
forms of trade which differed in nature and importance.1
The kapeloS) a word very often used in its feminine form,2
was the local retail-trader, from whom one could buy many
and miscellaneous things, even torches and weapons,3 but,
above all, he or she was a wine-seller and the keeper of an mn
or public house.4 It is significant that the word which ex-
pressed the pouring of wine into cups gradually acquired the
meaning of general retailing 5 Apparently more women than
men were engaged in this occupation Thus the rhetorical
question is asked: what can the kapelos buy from the kapehs •
except wme?6 The hosts or hostesses of public houses were
well-known people, especially to women who, again and
again, are depicted in comedy as drunkards Of the many
women who appear at the women's assembly only the wife of
the kapelos is called by the name of her husband's occupation."
The kapeleton was the 'pub', the door of which could be com-
pared to an eyelid, because it was constantly opening and
shutting.8
The kapelos was on the whole looked down on Dishonesty
was the characteristic feature of the 'mind of a kapelos', and
to translate this phrase by 'a shopkeeper's outlook7 would be
to give it too favourable an interpretation, it simply meant the
desire and ability to cheat 9 The women who sold bread were
another typical example of the profession, notorious for their
powers of invective and abuse; like all hucksters, they were
low people who might easily receive harsh treatment 10 The
'egg-and-seed-and-potherb-rnarket-girls' and 'garlic-selhng-
barraaid-bakehouse-girls' were true dames des halles.^ When a
1 The suggestion of one of my reviewers that the mere translation of etnropos
and Kcnrr|Ao$ as given by Liddell and Scott reveals all that I have tried to
illuminate with regard to the two professions from the evidence of comedy,
hardly needs refutation It has, in fact, been rejected beforehand by the exten-
sive discussion on the social implications of the two words, that has been going on
for years among a number of scholars
2 f| KonrjyVis Kapehdes was also the tide of a comedy (Theopomp 24$")
3 C 614, P 447, cf Lysias I, 24.
4L466, Th347, 737, PI435, 1120 TrocvSoKsurpia (hostess) is only
another word for KccrrrjAis F 114, 549fT, PI 426, Eupolis 9
5 KOTuAi^eiv, frg. 683, Pherekr r68 Cf Heichelheim, 345
6 adesp 567 7 E 49 8 L 427, adesp 493
8 KcnrriXov 9povT]pLOC, adesp 867 Cf also the obscure proverbial phrase
ou5sv ev TCO KonrfjAcp vo\}$ in Plat 174, 3$ the text is obviously corrupt