SYNGRĂPHĒ

( συγγραφή ), signifies a written contract: whereas συνθήκη and συμβόλαιον do not nece arily import that the contract is in writing; and ὁμολογία is, strictly speaking, a verbal agreement. At Athens important contracts were usually reduced to writing; such as leases ( μισθώσεις ), loans of money, and all executory agreements, where certain conditions were to be performed. The whole was contained in a little tablet of wax or wood ( βιβλίον or γραμματεῖον , sometimes double, δίπτυχον ), which was sealed, and deposited with some third person, mutually agreed on between the parties. SỸNOIKĬA ( συνοίκια ).—(1) A festival celebrated every year at Athens on the 16th of Hecatomb aeon in honour of Athena. It was believed to have been instituted by These us to commemorate the concentration of the government of the various towns of Attica at Athens.—(2) A house adapted to hold several families, a lodging-house, insula , as the Romans would say. The lodging-houses were let mostly to foreigners who came to Athens on busine , and especially to the μέτοικοι , whom the law did not allow to acquire real property, and who therefore could not purchase houses of their own. The rent was commonly paid by the month. Lodging-houses were frequently taken on speculation by persons called ναύκληροι or σταθμοῦχοι , who made a profit by underletting them.