Book 4
16
And Polemo, in his treatise on the Wicker Carriage mentioned by Xenophon, says "that Cratinus in his Pluti, mentioning the feast which is called by the Lacedæmonians Copis, speaks as follows— Tell me, I pray you, is it true that all The strangers in that country, who arrive, May banquet at the Copis at their pleasure And at their parties do there hang around Cakes fix'd on pegs, that every one who will, Young men and old, may take a bite at them? And Eupolis says in his Helots— And let a Copis be this day prepared.
16
Now the Copis is a peculiar sort of entertainment, just as that which is called Aiclon. And when it tales place, first of all they erect tents near the temple of the good; and in them they place beds of leaves; and on them they strew carpets, and then they feast those who recline on them, not only those who arrive, being natives of the country, but those foreigners also who are sojourning in the place. And at these copides they sacrifice goats, but no other victim; and they give portions of its flesh to every one, and they distribute also what they call a physicillus, which is a little loaf like an encris, made of oil and honey, only rounder in shape. And they give to every one who is present a newly made cheese, and a slice of paunch, and black-pudding, and sweet-meats, and dried. figs, and beans, and green kidney-beans. And any one of the rest of the Spartans who chooses, partakes of this Copis.
