ATTHIS (an

See also:

• ADJECTIVE (from the Lat. adjectives, added)

adjective meaning "

See also:

• ATTIC (i.e. "in the Attic style ")

Attic ")  , the name given to a monograph or special treatise on the religious and political history, antiquities and topography of Attica and Athens . During the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C., a class of writers arose, who, making these subjects their particular study, were called atthidographi, or compilers of atthides . The first of 'these was Clidemus or Clitodemus (about 378 B.c.); the last, Ister of Cyrene (died 212 B.c.); the most important was Philochorus (first half of the 3rd century B.c.), of whose work considerable fragments have been preserved . The names of the other atthidographi known to us are Phanodemus, Demon, Androtion, Andron, Melanthius . They laid no claim to literary skill; their style was monotonous and soon became wearisome . They were in fact chroniclers or annalists—not historians . Their only object was to set down, in plain and simple language, all that seemed worthy of note in reference to the legends, history, constitution, religion and civilization of Attica . They followed the order of the olympiads and archons, and their work was supported by the authority of original documents, monuments and inscriptions . Their writings were much used by historians, as well as by the scholiasts and grammarians .