ady been to the nearest fountain to get the morning's water and Lysis can have a drink and rinse his face before he has his breakfast. Since it is hot, Lysis dresses only in his chiton. He draws the long woolen cloth around his body and pulls it through the belt, or girdle, that he wears. Lysis is young and active and wears his clothing as if he might have to run at any moment. He usually wears an outer cloak, the himation, as well but today it is too hot and many men will appear dressed this way.3 Breakfast has been set out by the slaves who have gone to the Agora to get bread for the day--today it is wheat flour baked in individual loaves. The bread is dipped in bowls of olive oil and accompanied by wine.4
Lysis talks with his father and brother as they eat. This is a different kind of day from what Lysis has known his whole childhood. He used to attend school from dawn to dusk and study writing, poetry, music and, at the paloestras on the outskirts of town, the physical training that would prepare him to serve as a soldier. But Lysis has recently turned eighteen and he has cut his hair short and is waiting to go to the Piraeus, the port of Athens, to take his place in the military guard and receive his soldier's training.5 For now, however, Lysis is going to spend the day with his father.
When he turned eighteen, Lysis's father held a small celebration and Lysis was officially made a member of the deme, becoming a citizen of Athens.6 This was the first time they had performed this ceremony in their family since the demes had only recently been organized by the tyrant Cleisthenes. As they ate breakfast, Lysis' father expressed his concern over the new constitutional reforms again. The reorganization of Athenian political life had,
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