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The comic writers call cups [this].[1]
A bath-house [balaneion] was [so-]called because when eating acorns [balanous] they used to burn the shells. They say that the people reduce the air in the bath, drawing it into themselves.
Also balaneitês ["bath-man"], he who by most people is called attendant.
"But the bath-house can be a road to softness."[2]
[Note] that in the beginning, when there were no bath-houses, the ancients would wash in the tubs and troughs.[3]

Βαλανειομφάλους: τὰς φιάλας οἱ κωμικοὶ καλοῦσι. Βαλανεῖον δὲ ἐκλήθη, διότι τὰς βαλάνους ἐσθίοντες τὰ κελύφη ἔκαιον. λέγουσι δὲ ὅτι οἱ πολλοὶ ἐλαττοῦσι τὸν ἀέρα τῷ λουτρῷ, εἰς ἑαυτοὺς αὐτὸν ἕλκοντες. καὶ Βαλανείτης, ὁ παρὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς καλούμενος περιχύτης. ἔστι δὲ τὸ βαλανεῖον ὁδὸς ἐπὶ τρυφήν. ὅτι τὸ καταρχὰς, μὴ ὄντων βαλανείων, ἐν ταῖς σκάφαις καὶ πυέλοις οἱ ἀρχαῖοι ἐλούοντο.

[1] Cratinus fr.50 Kock; cf. generally Athenaeus 11.501D-F.
[2] Artemidorus 1.64; cf. scholium to Aristophanes, Clouds 838.
[3] cf. already Alpha 4123.

David Whitehead (modified headword and translation; added keywords; cosmetics) on 27 March 2003@05:31:57.
Catharine Roth (modified translation slightly) on 28 March 2003@00:28:53.

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