in Grecian antiquity. The city of Athens was anciently divided into three different parts; one on the descent of a hill, another on the sea-shore, and a third in a plain between the other two. The inhabitants of the middle region were called *Hidaias*, *Pedicans*, from *eidai*, plain or flat; those of the hill, *Diacrians*; and those of the shore, *Paralians*. These quarters usually composed as many different factions. Pisistratus made use of the Pedicans against the Diacrians. In the time of Solon, when a form of government was to be chosen, the Diacrians chose the democratic, the Pedicans demanded an aristocracy, and the Paralians a mixed government.