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NAMES AND MATERIALS OF DRINKING CUPS.

49. Suet. Cæs. 48. Spartian. Adrian. 17. Juvenal. v. 30. 70.; whence VINUM DOMINICUM, the wine drunk by the master of the house, Petron. 31., and cœnare civiliter, to be on a level with one's guest, Juvenal. v. 112.

The wine was mixed (miscebatur vel temperabatur) with water in a large vase or bowl, called CRATER, v. -ēra, whence it was poured into cups (POCULA), Ovid. Fast. v. 522.

Cups were called by different names; Calices, phiălæ, patěræ, canthări, carchesia, ciboria, scyphi, cymbia, scaphia, batiola, cululli, amystides, &c., and made of various materials; of wood, as beech, fagina sc. pocula, Virg. Ecl. iii. 37., of earth, fictilia, of glass, VITREA, [with which they were supplied from Egypt,] Martial. i. 38. Juvenal. ii. 95., which when broken used to be exchanged for brimstone matches (sulphurata ramenta), Martial. i. 42. 4. x. 3. Juvenal. v. 49., of amber, succina, Id. ix. 50., of brass, silver, and gold, sometimes beautifully engraved; hence called TOREUMATA, i. e. vasa sculpta vel cælata, Cic. Verr. ii. 52. iv. 18. Pis. 27., or adorned with figures (signa vel sigilla) affixed to them, called CRUSTÆ or EMBLEMATĂ, Cic. Ver. iv. 23. Juvenal. i. 76.† Martial. viii. 51. 9., which might be put on and taken off at pleasure (exemptilia), Cic. ibid. 22. 24., or with gems, sometimes taken off the fingers for that purpose, Juvenal. 5. 41., hence called CALICES GEMMATI vel AURUM GEMMATUM, Martial. xiv. 109.

Cups were also made of precious stones, Virg. G. ii. 506.; of crystal, Senec. de Irá, iii. 40. of amethyst and murrha or porcelain (pocula murrhina) [introduced by Pompey], Martial. ix. 60. 13. x. 49. [xiv. 113.] Plin. xxxiii. 1. xxxvii. 2, &c. ‡

notice :- "Longum est altius repetere, nec refert, quemadmodum acciderit, ut homo minime familiaris cœnarem apud quendam, ut sibi videbatur, lautum et diligentem ut mihi, sordidum simul et sumptuosum : : nam sibi et paucis opima quædam, ceteris vilia et minuta ponebat: vinum etiam parvulis lagunculis in tria genera descripserat, non ut potestas eligendi, sed ne jus esset recusandi: et aliud sibi et nobis, aliud minoribus amicis (nam gradatim amicos habet) aliud suis nos trisque libertis. Animadvertit qui mihi proximus recumbebat, et an probarem interrogavit. Negavi. Tu ergo, inquit, quam consuetudinem sequeris? Eadem omnibus pono. Ad cœnam enim, non ad notam (to entertain, not distinguish), invito: cunctisque rebus ex æquo quos mensâ et toro æquavi. Etiamne libertos? Etiam; convictores enim tunc, non libertos, puto. At ille, Magno tibi constat. Minime. Qui fieri potest? quia scilicet liberti mei non idem quod ego bibunt, sed idem ego quod

liberti."

*"Athens claimed the invention, and took the lead in the manufacture of earthenware vases; but the potteries of Samos soon rose into equal repute, and, with those of Saguntum in Spain, and Surrentum, Arretium, and one or two other towns in Italy, furnished the chief supply. They were formed of the purest clay, and distinguished by their extraordinary lightness. To render them impervious, they were coated with a varnish of bitumen, which admitted of a fine polish, and was, besides, very durable; and they were sometimes also imbued with aromatic substances, which imparted a grateful perfume to the liquor drunk out of them."- Henderson, p. 114.

The figure of a goat in bas relief (as being sacred to Bacchus) was the frequent emblem on drinking-cups: "stantem extra pocula caprum." Juvenal. 1. c.

Propert. iv. 26. "Murrheaque in Parthis pocula cocta focis.” "Concerning the nature of these vases, the opinions of antiquaries are exceedingly vague and unsatisfactory. That they were formed from a natural fossil, and not an artificial paste

CYATHUS

DRINKING HEALTH, ETC.

401

Cups were of various forms*; some had handles (ANSÆ vel NASI), Virg. Ecl. vi. 17. Juvenal. v. 47., usually twisted (TORTILES), Ovid. Ep. xvi. 252., hence called CALICES PTEROTI, i. e. alati vel ansati, Plin. xxxvi. 26. Some had none.

XV.

There were slaves, usually beautiful boys (pueri eximiâ facie, Gell. v. 12.), who waited to mix the wine with water, and to serve it up; for which purpose they used a small goblet [" or, perhaps, ladle." - T.] called CYATHUS, to measure it, Plaut. Pers. v. 2. 16., containing the twelfth part of a sextarius, which is nearly a quart English [therefore about the same as a modern wine glass]. Hence the cups were named from the parts of the Roman AS, according to the number of cyathi which they contained; thus, SEXTANS, a cup which contained two cyathi; TRIENS vel Triental, four [i.e. the third part of the sextarius]; QUADRANS, three, &c. Suet. Aug. 77. Martial. viii. 51. 24. ix. 95. xi. 37. [“ misto quincunce, ii. 1. 8." T] Pers. iii. 100., and those who served with wine were said AD CYATHOS STARE, Suet. Jul. 49., AD CYATHUM STATUI, Hor. Od. 1. 29. 8., or CYATHISSARI, Plaut. Men. ii. 2. 29.

They also used a less measure, for filling wine and other liquors, called LIGULA or Lingula, and COCHLEARE, vel -ar, a spoon, the fourth part of a cyathus, Martial. v. 20. viii. 33. 23. xiv. 121.

The strength of wine was sometimes lessened, by making it pass through a strainer with snow in it, COLUM NIVARIUM, Martial. xiv. 103., vel SACCUS NIVARIUS, Ib. 104. Plin. xix. 4. s. 19. 22. s. 28. It was also sometimes cooled by pouring snow-water upon it, Martial. v. 65. xiv. 117. Senec. Ep. 79.†

The Romans used to drink to the health of one another, thus; Bene Mihi, Bene voBIS, &c. Plaut. Pers. v. i. 20., sometimes in honour of a friend or mistress, Ibid. & Horat. Od. i. 27. 9., and used to take as many cyathi as there were letters in the name, Tibull. ii. 1. 31. Martial. i. 72. [ix. 95.], or as they wished years to them; hence they were said, Ad numerum bibere, Ovid. Fast. iii. 531. A frequent number was three in honour of the Graces; or nine, of the Muses, Horat. Od. iii. 19. 11. Auson. Eidyll. xi. 1. The Greeks drank first in honour of the gods, and then of their friends; hence GRÆCO MORE BIBERE, Cic. Verr. i. 26. et ibi Ascon. They began with small cups, and ended with larger, Ibid. They used to name the person to whom they handed the cup; thus, PROPINO TIBI, &c. Cic. Tusc. i. 40. Plaut. Stich. v. 4. 26. 30. Ter. Eun. v. 9. 57. Virg. Æn. i. 728. Martial. i. 69. vi. 44. Juvenal. v. 127.

A skeleton was sometimes introduced at feasts in the time of drink

resembling porcelain, as Cardan, Caylus, and Mariette have surmised, is evident from the statement of Pliny, that it was dug from the earth, like rock crystal."Henderson, p. 116.

"It is probable that the horns of animals served as the first drinking cups among most nations; and this form was retained in the earliest earthenware vessels, and, as luxury advanced, in those also which were made of the precious metals.”. Henderson, p. 115.

+"A more elegant method of cooling liquors came into vogue during the reign of Nero, to whom the invention was ascribed; namely, by placing water, which had been previously boiled, in a thin glass vessel surrounded with snow, so that it might be frozen without having its purity impaired.". Henderson, p. 107.

D D

402

PRESIDENT OF THE FEAST

--

TESSERE, TALI.

ing, or the representation of one (larva argentea), Petron. 34., in imitation of the Egyptians, Herodot. ii. 78. s. 74. Plutarch. in Conviv. Sapient. 6., upon which the master of the feast looking at it used to say, VIVAMUS, DUM LICET ESSE BENE, Petron. ib. Пive te naì réptev, ἔσσεαι γὰρ ἀποθανὼν τοιοῦτος, Drink and be merry, for thus shalt thou be after death, Herodot, ibid.

τε

The ancients sometimes crowned their cups with flowers, Virg. En. iii. 525. Tibull. ii. 5. 98. But coronare cratera vel vina, i. e. pocula, signifies also to fill with wine, Virg. G. ii. 528. Æn. i. 724. vii. 147.

The ancients at their feasts appointed a person to preside by throwing the dice, whom they called ARBITER BIBENDI, Magister vel Rex convivii, modiperator vel modimperator (vμmolaрxo), dictator, dux, strategus, &c. He directed every thing at pleasure, Horat. Od. i. 4. 18. ii. 7. 25. Cic. Sen. 14. [in Verr. v. 11.] Plaut. Stich. v. 4. 20. When no director of the feast was appointed, they were said Culpa potare magistrá, to drink as much as they pleased, (culpabatur ille qui multum biberet, excess only was blamed,) Horat. Sat. ii. 2. 123. Some read cuppá vel cupâ, but improperly; for cupa signifies either a large cask or tun which received the must from the wine-press, or it is put for copa vel caupa, a woman who kept a tavern, (quæ cauponam, vel tabernam exerceret,) Suet. Ner. 27., or for the tavern itself; whence it was thought mean for a person to be supplied with wine, or from a retailer (de propōla vel propala), Cic. Pis. 27. Suet. Claud. 40.

During the intervals of drinking they often played at dice (ALEA), Plaut. Curc. ii. 3. 75., of which there were two kinds, the tessera and tali, Cic. Sen. 16.

The TESSERE had six sides, marked I. II. III. IV. V. VI., like our dice. The TALI had four sides longwise, for the two ends were not regarded. On one side was marked one point, (unio, an ace,) called CANIS; on the opposite side six (SENIO, sice); on the two other sides, three and four (ternio et quaternio). In playing they used three tessera and four tali. They were put into a box made in the form of a small tower, straight-necked, wider below than above, and fluted in ringlets (intus gradus excisos habens), called FRITILLUS, pyrgus, turris, turricula, phimus, orca, &c., and being shaken were thrown out upon the gaming-board or table (FORUS, alveus, vel tabula lusoria aut aleatoria). The highest or most fortunate throw, (jactus, bolus vel manus,) called VENUS, or JACTUS VENereus vel BASILICUS, was, of the tessera, three sixes; of the tali, when all of them came out different numbers. The worst or lowest throw (jactus pessimus vel damnosus), called CANES vel Caniculæ, vel vulturii, was, of the tessera, three aces; of the tali, when they were all the same. The other throws were valued from their numbers, Cic. Divin. i. 13. ii. 21. 59. Suet. Aug. 71. Ovid. Art. Am. ii. 203. Trist. ii. 474. Propert. iv. 9. 20. Plaut. Asin. v. 2. 55. Horat. Sat. ii. 7. 17. Pers. Sat. iii. 49. Martial. xiv. 14, &c. When any one of the

* "Having the fine of a bumper, as the rule of the feast: the phrase clearly alludes to the custom prevalent at the entertainment of former days, and not disused even in our own times, by which the individual, who might chance to offend against any of the rules of the feast, was fined in one cup, or in many, according to the extent of his offence.". Anthon.

DIFFERENT GAMES OF CHANCE.

403

tali fell on the end (in caput), it was said rectus cadere vel assistere, Cic. Fin. iii. 16., and the throw was to be repeated. The throw called Venus determined the direction of the feast (Archiposia, in compotatione principatus, magisterium, Cic. Senect. 14., vel, Regnum vini, Horat. Od. i. 4. 18.). While throwing the dice, it was usual for a person to express his wishes, to invoke or name a mistress, or the like, Plaut. Asin. v. 2. 55. iv. 1. 35. Captiv. i. 1. 5. Curc. ii. 3. 78.

They also played at odds or evens (PAR IMPAR ludebant), Suet. Aug. 71., and at a game called DUODECIM SCRIPTA vel Scriptula, or bis sena puncta, Cic. Orat. i. 50. Non. Marcell. ii. 781. Quinctil. xi. 2. Martial. xiv. 17., on a square table (tabula vel alveus), divided by twelve lines (lineæ vel scripta), on which were placed counters (CALCULI, Latrones, v. Latrunculi) of different colours. The counters were moved (promovebantur) according to throws (boli vel jactus) of the dice, as with us at gammon. The lines were intersected by a transverse line, called LINEA SACRA, which they did not pass without being forced to it. When the counters had got to the last line, they were said to be inciti [in having a privative force] vel immoti, and the player ad incitas [sc. lineas vel calces] vel a redactus, reduced to extremity, Plaut. Pœn. iv. 2. 86. Trin. ii. 4. 136., unam calcem non posse ciere, i. e. unum calculum movere, not to be able to stir, Ib. In this game there was room both for chance and art, Ter. Ad. iv. 7. 21. Övid. Art. Am. ii. 203. iii. 363. Auson. Prof. i. 25. Martial. vii. 71. xiv. 20.

Some exclude the tali or tessera from this game, and make it the same with chess among us. Perhaps it was played both ways. But several particulars concerning the private games of the Romans are not ascertained.

All games of chance were called ALEA, and forbidden by the Cornelian, Publician, and Titian laws, Horat. Od. iii. 24. 58., except in the month of December, Martial. iv. 14. 7. v. 85. xiv. 1. These laws, however, were not strictly observed. Old men were particularly fond of such games, as not requiring bodily exertion, Cic. Sen. 16. Suet. Aug. 71. Juvenal. xiv. 4.*

The character of gamesters (ALEATORES vel aleones) was held infamous, Cic. Cat. ii. 10. Phil. ii. 27.

Augustus used to introduce at entertainments a kind of diversion, similar to what we call a lottery; by selling tickets (sortes), or sealed tablets, apparently equivalent, at an equal price; which, when opened or unsealed, entitled the purchasers to things of very unequal value (res inæqualissima); as, for instance, 1 to 100 gold pieces, another to a pick-tooth (dentiscalpium), a third to a purple robe, &c.; in like manner pictures, with the wrong side turned to the company (aversas tabularum picturas in convivio venditare solebat), so that, for the same price, one received the picture of an Apelles, of a Zeuxis, or a Parrha

In the time of Juvenal it appears that the passion for gambling had reached an enormous height: he says that they were not content to stake the contents of their purses on the hazard of the die, but even whole estates, i. 89. —

Neque enim loculis comitantibus itur

Ad casum tabulæ, positâ sed luditur arcâ.

404.

CONCLUSION OF A FEAST

-

RITES OF MARRIAGE.

sius, and another, the first essay of a learner, Suet. Aug. 75. So Heliogabalus, Lamprid. in Vita ejus, 21.

There was a game of chance, (which is still common in Italy, chiefly, however, among the vulgar, called the game of Morra,) played between two persons, by suddenly raising or compressing the fingers, and, at the same instant, guessing each at the number of the other; when doing thus, they were said MICARE DIGITIS, Cic. Divin. ii. 41. Off. iii. 23. Suet. Aug. 13. As the number of fingers stretched out could not be known in the dark, unless those who played had implicit confidence in one another; hence, in praising the virtue and fidelity of a man, he was said to be DIGNUS QUICUM IN TENEBRIS MICES, Cic. Off. iii. 19. Fin. ii. 16. s. 52.

The Romans ended their repasts in the same manner in which they began them, with libations and prayers, Ovid. Fast. ii. 635. The guests drank to the health of their host, and, under the Cæsars, to that of the emperor, Ibid. et Petron. 60. When about to go away, they sometimes demanded a parting cup in honour of Mercury, that he might grant them a sound sleep, Martial. Delphin. i. 72.

The master of the house (herus, dominus, parochus, cœnæ magister, convivator, Hor. Sat. ii. 8. 35. Martial. xii. 48. Gell. xiii. 11.) used to give the guests certain presents at their departure, called Apophorēta, Suet. Aug. 75. Gal. 55. Vesp. 19. Martial. xiv. 1. Petron. 60., or XENIA, which were sometimes sent to them, Plin. Epist. vi. 31. Vitruv. vi. 10. Martial. xiii. 3. XENIUM is also put for a present sent from the provinces to an advocate at Rome, Plin. Ep. v. 14., or given to the governor of a province, Digest.

The presents given to guests being of different kinds, were sometimes distributed by lot, Martial. xiv. 1. 5—40. 144. 170., or by some ingenious contrivance, Petron. 41.

III. ROMAN RITES OF MARRIAGE.+

A LEGAL marriage (justum matrimonium) among the Romans was made in three different ways, called usus, confarreatio, and coëmptio.

1. USUS, usage or prescription, was when a woman, with the consent of her parents or guardians, lived with a man for a whole year (matrimonii causa) without being absent three nights, and thus became his lawful wife, or property, by prescription (usu capta fuit), Gell. iii. 2. If absent for three nights (trinoctium), she was said esse usurpata, or isse usurpatum, sc. suum jus, to have interrupted the prescription, and thus prevented a marriage, Usurpatio est enim usucapionis interruptio, Gell. iii. 2. D. 41. 3. 2.-See p. 53.

2. CONFÁRREATIO, was when a man and woman were joined in marriage by the Pontifex Maximus, or Flamen Dialis, in presence of at least ten witnesses, by a set form of words, and by tasting a cake made of salt, water, and flour, called FAR, or PANIS FARREUS vel

In this lottery, one of the lots consisted of ten camels, and another of ten flies; ten ostriches and ten eggs; ten pounds of gold, and ten of lead, &c. +Consult Catullus in Nuptias Julie et Manlii, Lucan. ii. 352-371. Tac. Ann. xi. 27. Juvenal. x. 329-338."— T.