Mil FAMILY A. \ D NEIGHBOURS 2O1 festival, and had bought neither fish nor meat,1 As a rule the ladies only used to go for walks, carrying their veils5 baskets and parasols, spinning and talking, and nearly always accom- panied by a maid.2 With the lower classes things were3 of course, somewhat different. Families helped each other out; there was a great deal of lending and borrowing of household utensils, and other help of this kind.3 Women met and gossiped — as they do everywhere — at the springs or streams where they washed their linen 4 When a child was born, several women-friends at once came to offer their help, expect- ing to be given a present, especially if the child was a boy.5 One of Aristophanes' comedies had the title Women under Canvas or Women who took their Seats ^ thev were probably spectators at a procession or at games, and one of them had brought with her a big wine-bottle as a 'fellow spectator9/ It is unlikely, as we have seen, that women attended the per- formances in the theatre.7 However., women had many and quite legitimate opportunities for getting out of the house. And yet, we must not underestimate the extent of women's bondage to the house, though it has certainly often been exaggerated.8 Women and girls, and not only those of the well-to-do fami!Ies5 spent most of their life indoors; the brother kept a severe eye on his sister, it was at a funeral or at similar rare occasions that a woman could be seen by other men, hardly any woman was used to speak in the presence of men/ Even in small houses a separate part was set aside for the women, usually on the upper floor, not easily accessible and 1 frg. 318. 3 Th.279ff, Sziff; cf L 530!", F 1346$". 3F.ii59?E.446ff,frg 136 4 Eur Htff 12^ s E 528^, 549 ® frg. 47 iff ZKi}Vd$ Kcrrc&aja[k5cv>oucjai The same meaning of