UDO, a sock of goat’s-hair or felt, worn by countrymen with the low boots calledperones. [Pero.]
ULNA. [Pes.]
UMBĬLĪCUS. [Liber.]
UMBO. [Clipeus.]
UMBRĀCŬLUM, UMBELLA (σκιάδειον,σκιάδιον,σκιαδίσκη), a parasol, was used by Greek and Roman ladies as a protectionagainst 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 after the Athenian maidens at the Panathenaea, as is mentioned underHydriaphoria. The parasols of the ancients seem to have been exactly like our own parasols or umbrellas in form, and could be shut up and opened like ours. It was considered a mark of effeminacy for men to make use of parasols. The Roman ladies used them in the amphitheatre to defend themselves from the sun or some passing shower, when the wind or other circumstances did not allow the velarium to be extended. [Amphitheatrum.] To hold a parasol over a lady was one of the common attentions of lovers, and it seems to have been very common to give parasols as presents. Instead of parasols, the Greek women in later times wore a kind of straw hat or bonnet, calledtholia(θολία). The Romans also wore a hat with a broad brim (petasus) as a protection against the sun.
Umbraculum, Parasol. (From an ancient Vase.)
Umbraculum, Parasol. (From an ancient Vase.)
UNCIA (ὀγκία,οὐγκία,οὐγγία), the twelfth part of theAsorLibra, is derived by Varro fromunus, as being the unit of the divisions of the as. Its value as a weight was 433·666 grains, or ¾ of an ounce and 105·36 grains avoirdupois. [Libra.] In connecting the Roman system of weights and money with the Greek another division of the uncia was used. When the drachma was introduced into the Roman system as equivalent to the denarius of 96 to the pound [Denarius;Drachma], the uncia contained 8 drachmae, the drachma 3 scrupula, the scrupulum 2 oboli (since 6 oboli made up the drachma), and the obolos 3 siliquae (κερατία). In this division we have the origin of the modern Italian system, in which the pound is divided into 12 ounces, the ounce into 3 drams, the dram into 3 scruples, and the scruple into 6 carats. In each of these systems 1728κερατία, siliquae, or carats, make up the pound. The Romans applied the uncial division to all kinds of magnitude. [As.] In length the uncia was the twelfth of a foot, whence the wordinch[Pes], in area the twelfth of a jugerum [Jugerum], in content the twelfth of a sextarius [Sextarius;Cyathus], in time the twelfth of an hour.
UNCIĀRĬUM FĒNUS. [Fenus.]
UNCTŌRES. [Balneum.]
UNGUENTA, ointments, oils, or salves. The application of unguenta in connection with the bathing and athletic contests of the ancients is stated underBalneumandAthletae. But although their original object was simply to preserve the health and elasticity of the human frame, they were in later times used as articles of luxury. They were then not only employed to impart to the body or hair a particular colour, but also to give to them the most beautiful fragrance possible; they were, moreover, not merely applied after a bath, but at any time, to render one’s appearance or presence more pleasant than usual. In short, they were used then as oils and pomatums are at present. At Rome these luxuries did not become very general till towards the end of the republic, while the Greeks appear to have been familiar with them from early times. The wealthy Greeks and Romans carried their ointments and perfumes with them, especially when they bathed, in small boxes of costly materials and beautiful workmanship, which were calledNarthecia. The traffic which was carried on in these ointments and perfumes in several towns of Greece and southern Italy was very considerable. The persons engaged in manufacturing them were called by the RomansUnguentarii, or, as they frequently were women,Unguentariae, and the art of manufacturing themUnguentaria. In the wealthy and effeminate city of Capua there was one great street, called the Seplasia, which consisted entirely of shops in which ointments and perfumes were sold.
ŪRĀGUS. [Centurio.]
URCĔUS, a pitcher or water-pot, generally made of earthenware, was used by the priests at Rome in the sacrifices, and thus appears with other sacrificial emblems on Roman coins.
Urceus and Lituus on obverse of Coin of Pompey.
Urceus and Lituus on obverse of Coin of Pompey.
URNA, an urn, a Roman measure of capacity for fluids, equal to half anAmphora. This use of the term was probably founded upon its more general application to denote a vessel for holding water, or any other substance, either fluid or solid. An urn was used to receive the names of the judges (judices) in order that the praetor might draw out of it a sufficient number to determine causes: also to receive the ashes of the dead.
USTRĪNA, USTRĪNUM. [Bustum.]
ŪSŪCĂPĬO, the possession of property for a certain time without interruption. The Twelve Tables declared that the ownership of land, a house, or other immoveable property, could be acquired by usucapio in two years; and of moveable property by usucapio in one year.
ŪSŪRAE. [Fenus.]
ŪSUS. [Matrimonium.]
ŪSUSFRUCTUS was the right to the enjoyment of a thing by one person, while the ownership belonged to another. He who had the ususfructus wasUsusfructuariusorFructuarius, and the object of the ususfructus wasRes Fructuaria.
UTRĬCŬLĀRĬUS. [Tibia.]
UXOR. [Matrimonium.]
UXŌRĬUM. [Aes Uxorium.]