Fig. 137. Carceres. Roman prisons.
Fig. 137. Carceres. Roman prisons.
Fig. 137. Carceres. Roman prisons.
Carcer(akin toarceo, i. e. an enclosure (Gr.ἕρκος). (1) A prison. (2) The circus. At Rome the prisons were divided into three stages: the first, which formed a story above ground (carcer superior), was for prisoners who had only committed slight offences; thecarcer interior, or stage on a level with the ground, served as a place of confinement in which criminals were placed to await the execution of their sentence; lastly there was thecarcer inferior, or subterranean dungeon calledrobur, for criminals condemned to death. Fig.137represents thecarcerbuilt at Rome by Ancus Martius and Servius Tullius; Fig.138thecarceresof the circus.
Fig. 138. Carceres. Stables in the circus at Rome.
Fig. 138. Carceres. Stables in the circus at Rome.
Fig. 138. Carceres. Stables in the circus at Rome.
Carchesium(καρχήσιον). (1) A drinking-cup of Greek invention, and having slender handles rising high over the edge, and reaching to the foot. It was an attribute of Bacchus, and was used in the religious ceremonies. (2) A scaffolding in the shape of thecarchesiumat the masthead of a ship. (Anglicè, “crow’s-nest.”)
Cardinalis.(SeeScapus.)
Cardo.A pivot and socket used for the hinge of a door. The term was also used in carpentry to denote a dove-tailed tenon; this was calledcardo securi-culatus, i. e. a tenon in the shape of an axe, the dove-tail bearing some resemblance to the blade of that tool.
Care-cloth, O. E. A cloth held over the bride and bridegroom’s heads at a wedding.
Carellus(Fr.carreau). A quarrel or arrow for cross-bows, the head of which was either four-sided or had four projections.
Carillon, Fr. A set of large bells, arranged to perform tunes by machinery, or by a set of keys touched by a musician. Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent are celebrated for the carillons in their steeples.
Caristia(fromχάρις, favour or gratitude). A Roman feast, at which the members of a family came together. It lasted three days: on the first, sacrifices were offered to the gods; the second was consecrated to the worship of deceased relations; and on the third the surviving members of the family met at a banquet. Strangers were not allowed in these gatherings.
Carminated Lakes.Also calledLake of Florence,Paris, orVienna. Pigments made from the liquor in which cochineal and the other ingredients have been boiled to makecarmine. (SeeMadder.)
Carmine.A beautiful pigment prepared from the insect, cochineal. Carmine is the richest and purest portion of the colouring matter of cochineal. The various kinds of carmine are distinguished by numbers, and possess a value corresponding thereto; the difference depending either on the proportion of thealuminaadded, or on the presence ofvermilionadded for the purpose of diluting and increasing the quantity of the colour: the alumina produces a paler tint, and the vermilion a tint different to that of genuine carmine. The amount of adulteration can always be detected by the use of liquor ammoniæ, which dissolves the whole of the carmine, but leaves the adulterating matter untouched. Carmine is chiefly used in miniature painting and in water-colours. It is made in large quantities in Paris.
Carmine-madder.(SeeMadder.)
Carnarium, R. (caro, flesh). (1) A larder for fresh or salted provisions. (2) The iron hooks on which they were hung.
CarnificiaorCarnificina, R. (carnifex, executioner). Subterranean dungeons, in which criminals were put to the torture, and, in many cases, executed.
CarnixorCarnyx(Celtic and Gaulish word). A trumpet in the form of a long horn, of which the mouth was curved so as to resemble the mouth of an animal. This instrument gave out a peculiarly loud strident sound, and was used more particularly by the Celtic nations, notably the Gauls. It is constantly found represented on the coins of these nations, and on bas-reliefs. Some archæologists have mistaken thecarniceson medals forcornucopiæ.
Carol, Chr. An enclosed place; a circular gallery. In old French,carolesignified a round dance, or a circle of stone. In the last century the term was applied to the ambulatory, or circular gallery, behind the choir in churches.
Carpentum, R. A two-wheeled carriage of Gaulish invention; it was often covered with an awning, resembling in form that of theCamara(q.v.). Thecarpentum funebreorpompaticumwas a hearse. It was made to resemble a shrine or small temple. Lastly, the termcarpentumwas used to denote a cart, with two wheels, employed for agricultural purposes.
Carrago(i. e. formed ofcarrior carts). A kind of intrenchment peculiar to certain barbarous nations. It was constructed by drawing up waggons and war-chariots in a curved line, approaching a circle as nearly as the nature of the ground permitted. It formed a first line of defence, behind which the combatants sheltered themselves in order to defend the camp proper, which lay in the centre of thecarrago.
Carreaux, Med. Fr. Quarrels for cross-bows, so called from their square form.
Carriolum.(SeeCarrocium.)
CarroballistaorCarrobalista(carrus, a car). Aballistamounted upon a carriage, to be transported from place to place. (SeeBallista.)
Carrocium,Carrocerum, Med. Lat. A standard fixed on a carriage.
Carrotus.A quarrel. (SeeCarellus, &c.)
Carruca,Carrucha, orCarucha. A carriage of costly description, richly ornamented with bronze and ivory carvings and chased gold. It differed widely from theEssedoand theRheda(q.v.).
CarrusorCarrum(Celtic root). A cart or chariot of Gaulish invention, on two wheels, used in the army as a commissariat waggon. Acarrusoccurs among the sculptures on the column of Trajan.
Cartamera(Gaulish word). A Gaulish girdle made of metal, and used to support thebraccæ, or trousers. It was made sometimes in the form of a serpent with its tail in its mouth, but more generally resembled a fringe of twisted hemp, like thetorques, by which name accordingly it was known among the Romans. (SeeTorques.)
Cartibulum, R. (corrupted fromgertibulum, i. e. that which bears or carries). A side-board, consisting of a square slab of stone or marble, supported in the middle by a pedestal or stem. Thecartibulumalways stood against a wall.
Fig. 139. Egyptian Cartouche.
Fig. 139. Egyptian Cartouche.
Fig. 139. Egyptian Cartouche.
Fig. 140. Egyptian Column with Cartouche.
Fig. 140. Egyptian Column with Cartouche.
Fig. 140. Egyptian Column with Cartouche.
Cartouche, Egyp. An elliptical tablet of scroll-like form, containing the names of the Pharaohs. Fig.139represents the cartouche of King Artaxerxes. Cartouches were applied to decorate columns, an illustration of which may be seen on the abacus and capital of the column in Fig.140.
Caryatides(Καρυάτιδες, i. e. women of Caryæ). Female figures, in an upright posture, which were employed in lieu of columns to support entablatures or any other members of architecture. One of the finest instances of the application of caryatides to this purpose is to be found in the portico of the temple of Pandrosos, at Athens.
Caryatis.A festival in honour of Artemis Caryatis, which was celebrated at Caryæ, in Laconia.
Case Bags, Arch. The joists framed between a pair of girders, in naked flooring.
Cash.A Chinese coin.