A
SMALLER DICTIONARY
OF
GREEK AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES.
[)A]B[)A]CUS ([Greek: abax]), denoted primarily a square
tablet of any description, and was hence
employed in the following significations:—(1)
A table, or side-board, chiefly used for
the display of gold and silver cups, and other
kinds of valuable and ornamental utensils.
The use of abaci was first introduced at Rome
from Asia Minor after the victories of Cn.
Manlius Vulso, B.C. 187, and their introduction
was regarded as one of the marks
of the growing luxury of the age.—(2) A
draught-board or chess-board.—(3) A board
used by mathematicians for drawing diagrams,
and by arithmeticians for the purposes
of calculation.—(4) A painted panel,
coffer, or square compartment in the wall
or ceiling of a chamber.—(5) In architecture,
the flat square stone which constituted
the highest member of a column,
being placed immediately under the architrave.
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Abacus.
ABOLLA, a cloak chiefly worn by soldiers,
and thus opposed to the toga, the
garb of peace. [Toga.] The abolla was
used by the lower classes at Rome, and consequently
by the philosophers who affected
severity of manners and life. Hence the expression
of Juvenal, facinus majoris abollae,—"a
crime committed by a very deep philosopher."
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Abolla. (Bellori, Arc. Triumph., pl. 11, 12)
ABR[)O]GĀT[)I]O. [Lex.]
ABS[)O]LŪT[)I]O. [Judex.]
[)A]CAENA ([Greek: akainê, akaina], or in later Greek
[Greek: akena], in one place [Greek: akainon]), a measuring rod
of the length of ten Greek feet. It was used
in measuring land, and thus resembles the
Roman decempeda.
[)A]CAT[)I]UM ([Greek: akation], a diminutive of [Greek: akatos]),
a small vessel or boat used by the Greeks,
which appears to have been the same as the
Roman scapha. The Acatia were also sails
adapted for fast sailing.
ACCENSUS. (1) A public officer, who
attended on several of the Roman magistrates.
The Accensi summoned the people to
the assemblies, and those who had lawsuits
