Dictionary Of Greek And Roman Antiquities - free ebook by William Smith

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Dictionary Of Greek And Roman Antiquities

William Smith

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36 chapters

A SMALLER DICTIONARY OF Greek and Roman Antiquities.

A SMALLER DICTIONARY OF Greek and Roman Antiquities.

THE STUDENT’S MANUALS: A SERIES OF HISTORICAL CLASS BOOKS FOR ADVANCED SCHOLARS. THE STUDENT’S HUME; a History of England from the Invasion of Julius Cæsar By David Hume continued to the Treaty of Berlin, 1878. By J S Brewer . With Coloured Maps and Woodcuts. Post 8vo. 7s. 6d. ⁂ Questions on the Student’s Hume. 12mo. 2s. THE STUDENT’S HISTORY OF FRANCE. From the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Second Empire 1852. By Rev W H Pearson . Woodcuts. Post 8vo. 7s. 6d. THE STUDENT’S HISTORY O

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B

B

BĀLISTA, BALLISTA. [ Tormentum . ] BALNĔUM or BĂLĬNĔUM ( λοετρόν or λουτρόν, βαλανεῖον , also balneae or balineae ), a bath. Balneum or balineum signifies, in its primary sense, a bath or bathing vessel, such as most Romans possessed in their own houses; and from that it came to mean the chamber which contained the bath. When the baths of private individuals became more sumptuous, and comprised many rooms, the plural balnea or balinea was adopted, which still, in correct language, had reference

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C

C

CĂBEIRĬA ( καβείρια ), mysteries, festivals, and orgies, solemnised in all places in which the Pelasgian Cabeiri were worshipped, but especially in Samothrace, Imbros, Lemnos, Thebes, Anthedon, Pergamus, and Berytos. Little is known respecting the rites observed in these mysteries, as no one was allowed to divulge them. The most celebrated were those of the island of Samothrace, which, if we may judge from those of Lemnos, were solemnised every year, and lasted for nine days. Persons on their ad

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D

D

DACTỸLUS ( δάκτυλος ), a Greek measure, answering to the Roman digitus , each signifying a finger-breadth , and being the sixteenth part of a foot. [ Pes . ] DAEDALA or DAEDĂLEIA ( δαίδαλα , δαιδάλεια ), names used by the Greeks to signify those early works of art which were ascribed to the age of Daedalus, and especially the ancient wooden statues, ornamented with gilding and bright colours and real drapery, which were the earliest known forms of the images of the gods, after the mere blocks of

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F

F

FABRI are workmen who make anything out of hard materials, as fabri tignarii , carpenters, fabri aerarii , smiths, &amp;c. The different trades were divided by Numa into nine collegia, which correspond to our companies or guilds. In the constitution of Servius Tullius, the fabri tignarii and the fabri aerarii or ferrarii were formed into two centuries, which were called the centuriae fabrum (not fabrorum ). They did not belong to any of the five classes into which Servius divided the people;

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G

G

GĂBINUS CINCTUS. [ Toga . ] GAESUM ( γαισός ), a term probably of Celtic origin, denoting a kind of javelin which was used by the Gauls wherever their ramifications extended. It was a heavy weapon, the shaft being as thick as a man could grasp, and the iron head barbed, and of an extraordinary length compared with the shaft. GĂLĔA ( κράνος , poet . κόρυς , πήληξ ), a helmet; a casque. The helmet was originally made of skin or leather, whence is supposed to have arisen its appellation, κυνέη , me

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H

H

HALTĒRES ( ἁλτῆρες ) were certain masses of stone or metal, which were used in the gymnastic exercises of the Greeks and Romans. Persons who practised leaping frequently performed their exercises with halteres in both hands; but they were also frequently used merely to exercise the body in somewhat the same manner as our dumb-bells. HARMĂMAXA ( ἁρμάμαξα ), a carriage for persons, covered overhead and inclosed with curtains. It was in general large, often drawn by four horses, and attired with sp

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I

I

IDUS. [ Calendarium . ] IGNŌMĬNĬA. [ Censor ; Infamia . ] IGNŌBĬLES. [ Nobiles . ] ĬMĀGO, a representation or likeness, an image or figure of a person. Among the Romans those persons, who had filled any of the higher or curule magistracies of the state, had the right of having images of themselves. Respecting this jus imaginum see Nobiles . IMMŪNĬTAS (from in and munus ), signifies, (1) A freedom from taxes. (2) A freedom from services which other citizens had to discharge. With respect to the f

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J

J

JĂCŬLUM. [ Hasta . ] JĀNŬA ( θύρα ), a door. Besides being applicable to the doors of apartments in the interior of a house, which were properly called ostia , this term more especially denoted the first entrance into the house, i.e. the front or street door, which was also called anticum , and in Greek θύρα αὔλειος , αὐλεία , αὔλιος , or αὐλία . The houses of the Romans commonly had a back door, called posticum , postica , or posticula , and in Greek παράθυρα , dim. παραθύριον . The door-way, w

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L

L

LĂBĂRUM. [ Signa Militaria . ] LĂBRUM. [ Balneum . ] LĂBỸRINTHUS ( λαβύρινθος ), a labyrinth, a large and complicated subterraneous cavern with numerous and intricate passages, similar to those of a mine. The earliest and most renowned labyrinth was that of Egypt, which lay beyond lake Moeris. It had 3000 apartments, 1500 under ground, and the same number above it, and the whole was surrounded by a wall. It was divided into courts, each of which was surrounded by colonnades of white marble. The

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M

M

MAENIĀNUM, signified, originally, a projecting balcony, which was erected round the Roman forum, by the censor, C. Maenius, B.C. 318, in order to give more accommodation to the spectators of the gladiatorial combats. Hence balconies in general came to be called maeniana . MĂGĂDIS. [ Lyra . ] MĂGISTER., which contains the same root as mag-is and mag-nus , was applied at Rome to persons possessing various kinds of offices, and especially to the leading person in a collegium or corporation [ Colleg

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O

O

ŎBOLUS. [ Drachma . ] OCRĔA ( κνημίς ), a greave, a leggin. A pair of greaves ( κνημῖδες ) was one of the six articles of armour which formed the complete equipment of a Greek warrior [ Arma ], and likewise of a Roman soldier as fixed by Servius Tullius. They were made of various metals, with a lining probably of leather, felt, or cloth. Their form is shown in the accompanying cut. The figure is that of a fallen warrior, and in consequence of the bending of the knees, the greaves are seen to pro

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P

P

PAEAN ( παιήων , παιάν , παιών ), a hymn or song, which was originally sung in honour of Apollo. It was always of a joyous nature, and its tune and sounds expressed hope and confidence. It was a song of thanksgiving, when danger was passed, and also a hymn to propitiate the god. It was sung at the solemn festivals of Apollo, and especially at the Hyacinthia. The paean was also sung as a battle-song, both before an attack on the enemy and after the battle was finished. It is certain that the paea

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Q

Q

QUADRĀGĒSĬMA, the fortieth part of the imported goods, was the ordinary rate of the Portorium under the empire. [ Portorium . ] QUADRANS. [ As . ] QUADRANTAL, or AMPHŎRA QUADRANTAL, or AMPHŎRA only, was the principal Roman measure of capacity for fluids. A standard model of the Amphora was kept with great care in the temple of Jupiter in the Capitol, and was called amphora Capitolina . It contained 5·77 imperial gallons, or a little more than 5¾ gallons, or than 5 gallons and 6 pints. QUADRĪGA.

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R

R

RAMNES. [ Patricii . ] RĂPĪNA. [ Furtum. ] RĔCŬPĔRĀTŌRES. [ Judex . ] RĔDEMPTOR, the general name for a contractor, who undertook the building and repairing of public works, private houses, &amp;c., and in fact of any kind of work. The farmers of the public taxes were also called Redemptores . RĔDĬMĪCULUM ( καθετήρ ), a fillet attached to the calautica , diadema , mitra , or other head-dress at the occiput, and passed over the shoulders, so as to hang on each side over the breast. Redimicula

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S

S

SACCUS ( σάκκος ) signified in general any kind of sack or bag made of hair, cloth, or other materials. We have only to notice here its meaning as—(1) A head-dress. [ Coma . ]—(2) A sieve for straining wine. [ Colum . ]—(3) A purse for holding money. Hence the phrase in Plautus ire ad saccum , “to go a begging.” SĂCELLUM is a diminutive of sacer , and signifies a small place consecrated to a god, containing an altar, and sometimes also a statue of the god to whom it was dedicated, but it was wit

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T

T

TĂBELLA, dim. of TĂBŬLA, a billet or tablet, with which each citizen and judex voted in the comitia and courts of justice. For details see pp. 107 , 236 . TĂBELLĀRĬUS, a letter-carrier. As the Romans had no public post, they were obliged to employ special messengers, who were called tabellarii , to convey their letters ( tabellae , literae ), when they had not an opportunity of sending them otherwise. TĂBERNĀCŬLUM. [ Templum . ] TABLĪNUM. [ Domus . ] TĂBŬLAE. This word properly means planks or b

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U

U

UDO, a sock of goat’s-hair or felt, worn by countrymen with the low boots called perones . [ Pero . ] ULNA. [ Pes . ] UMBĬLĪCUS. [ Liber . ] UMBO. [ Clipeus . ] UMBRĀCŬLUM, UMBELLA ( σκιάδειον , σκιάδιον , σκιαδίσκη ), a parasol, was used by Greek and Roman ladies as a protection against the sun. They seem not to have been carried generally by the ladies themselves, but by female slaves, who held them over their mistresses. The daughters of the aliens ( μέτοικοι ) at Athens had to carry parasols

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V

V

VĂCATĬO. [ Exercitus , Emeriti .] VĂDĬMŌNĬUM, VAS. [ Actio ; Praes .] VĀGĪNA. [ Gladius . ] VALLUM, a term applied either to the whole or a portion of the fortifications of a Roman camp. It is derived from vallus (a stake), and properly means the palisade which ran along the outer edge of the agger, but it very frequently includes the agger also. The vallum , in the latter sense, together with the fossa or ditch which surrounded the camp outside of the vallum , formed a complete fortification. T

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X

X

XĔNĀGI ( ξεναγοί ). The Spartans, as being the head of that Peloponnesian and Dorian league, which was formed to secure the independence of the Greek states, had the sole command of the confederate troops in time of war, ordered the quotas which each state was to furnish, and appointed officers of their own to command them. Such officers were called Xenagi . The generals whom the allies sent with their troops were subordinate to these Spartan xenagi , though they attended the council of war, as

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Z

Z

ZĂCŎRI. [ Aeditui . ] ZĒTĒTAE ( ζητηταί ), Inquisitors , were extraordinary officers, appointed by the Athenians to discover the authors of some crime against the state, and bring them to justice. They were more frequently appointed to search for confiscated property, the goods of condemned criminals and state debtors; to receive and give information against any persons who concealed, or assisted in concealing them, and to deliver an inventory of all such goods ( ἀπογράφειν ) to the proper autho

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TABLE I. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

TABLE I. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

N.B.— Approximate Values. From the above Table, it will be seen that the Greek Foot , Cubit , and Orguia , only exceed the English Foot , Foot and a half , and Fathom , by about 1-10th, 2-10ths, and 8-10ths of an inch respectively....

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TABLE II. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

TABLE II. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

N.B.— Approximate Values. The Roman Uncia , Pes , and Cubitus only fall short of our Inch , Foot , and Foot and a half , by less than 1-10th, 4-10ths, and 6-10ths of an inch respectively....

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TABLE III. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

TABLE III. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

[4] In order to show the relations more clearly, the foreign measures most familiar to the Greeks are included in this Table. [5] This is, of course, not the true number of English statute miles contained in a degree of a great circle of the earth, but the number computed from the data exhibited in the Table, some of which are only approximate; namely, 1 Degree = 75 Roman miles = 600 Greek Stadia, and 1 Greek foot = 12·135 inches. The true value of a degree in English miles is 69 1 / 51 = 69·019

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TABLE IV. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

TABLE IV. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.

N.B.—The Roman mile only differs from the English by less than 1-10th. [6] See Note to Table III ....

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TABLE V. GRECIAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.

TABLE V. GRECIAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.

[7] This differs from a rood, or a quarter of an acre, by little more than 2 perches; for the rood contains 40 perches....

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TABLE VI. ROMAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.

TABLE VI. ROMAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.

[8] The As to which this Uncia and the above Scrupulum belong is the Jugerum . The other uncial divisions of the Jugerum may easily be calculated from the Uncia . The Semissis is, of course, the Actus Quadratus . [9] i.e. almost 5-8ths of an acre. [10] i.e. almost an acre and a quarter. [11] i.e. almost 500 acres....

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TABLE VII. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

TABLE VII. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

N.B.—The Aeginetan measures of capacity may be easily calculated from these, according to the ratio given under Quadrantal . [12] As the Sextarius differs from the English pint by only 1-25th part of the latter, it will be found useful, in ordinary rough calculations, to take it at exactly a pint, and so with the other measures in this table. The results thus obtained may be corrected by subtracting from each of them its 1-25th part....

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TABLE VIII. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

TABLE VIII. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

[13] See the Note to Table VII [14] According to the uncial division, the Sextarius was the As , and the Cyathus the Uncia ....

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TABLE IX. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

TABLE IX. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

[15] See the Note to Table VII . [16] Or one quart. [17] Or one bushel and a half. N.B.—Respecting the Aeginetan Measures, see the Note to Table VII ....

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TABLE X. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

TABLE X. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

[18] See the Note to Table VII . [19] See the Note to Table VIII . [20] Or a quarter of a bushel....

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TABLE XI. GRECIAN WEIGHTS.

TABLE XI. GRECIAN WEIGHTS.

[21] Also called the Attic Silver Talent . When Attic weights are spoken of without any further distinction, these are generally intended. [22] In this and the other tables the English weights used are those of the avoirdupois scale as fixed by statute; namely, the grain = the Troy grain, the ounce = 437½ grains, the pound = 16 ounces = 7000 grains. [23] Or ⅓ of an oz....

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TABLE XII. GRECIAN MONEY.

TABLE XII. GRECIAN MONEY.

[25] The Drachma was very nearly equal to the French Franc. [26] Or, approximately, 250 l. , the difference being only 1-40th. II. Aeginetan and Euboic Silver. —The coins of these systems can be easily calculated from the Attic, according to the ratios given in Table XI., No. 1. As thus calculated, the Aeginetan Talent was equal to 406 l. 5 s. , and the Euboic was equal to 338 l. 10 s. 10 d. , and the Drachmae were equal respectively to 1 s. 4¼ d. for the Aeginetan, and 1 s. 1½ d. + ⅕ of a farth

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TABLE XIII. ROMAN WEIGHTS.

TABLE XIII. ROMAN WEIGHTS.

[27] This only differs from the ounce avoirdupois by less than 7 grains....

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TABLE XV. ROMAN MONEY.

TABLE XV. ROMAN MONEY.

[28] For the subdivisions of the gold money, see Aurum ....

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PARALLEL YEARS.

PARALLEL YEARS.

( See page 276 . )...

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