Joh 18:17 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 17. The damsel that kept the door ] Caezarius , a writer quoted by Calmet, says this portress was named Ballila . It is worthy of remark that women , especially old women , were employed by the ancients as porters . In , both the Septuagint and Vulgate make a woman porter to Ishbosheth . ARISTOPHANES, in Vespis , v. 765, mentions them in the same office and calls them σηκις, Sekis , which seems to signify a common maid-servant :- οτιτηνθυρανανεωζενησηκιςλαθρα. And EURIPIDES, Troad . brings in Hecuba , complaining that she, who was wont to sit upon a throne, is now reduced to the miserable necessity of becoming a porter , or a nurse, in order to get a morsel of bread. And PLAUTUS, Curcul . Act. i. sc. 1, mentions an old woman who was keeper of the gate:- Anus hic solet cubitare custos janitrix . Why they , in preference to men, should be pitched upon for this office, I cannot conceive; but we find the usage was common in all ancient nations. .

‏ John 18:17

Verse 17. The damsel that kept the door] Caezarius, a writer quoted by Calmet, says this portress was named Ballila. It is worthy of remark that women, especially old women, were employed by the ancients as porters. In 2Sa 4:6, both the Septuagint and Vulgate make a woman porter to Ishbosheth. ARISTOPHANES, in Vespis, v. 765, mentions them in the same office and calls them σηκις, Sekis, which seems to signify a common maid-servant:-

οτιτηνθυρανανεωζενησηκιςλαθρα.

And EURIPIDES, Troad. brings in Hecuba, complaining that she, who was wont to sit upon a throne, is now reduced to the miserable necessity of becoming a porter, or a nurse, in order to get a morsel of bread. And PLAUTUS, Curcul. Act. i. sc. 1, mentions an old woman who was keeper of the gate:-

Anus hic solet cubitare custos janitrix.

Why they, in preference to men, should be pitched upon for this office, I cannot conceive; but we find the usage was common in all ancient nations. See Clarke on Mt 26:69.