Chapter 39

Fig. 424. Ligula.

Ligula, R. (1) A small tongue-shaped sword. (Fig.424.) The term is derived fromlingua, a tongue. (2) A liquid measure, alargespoonful, distinguished fromcochlear, which is asmallspoonful. (3) The leather tongue of a shoe.

Lilies, in Christian art, are the symbols of purity; the special attribute of the Virgin Mary. They are frequent in the catacombs on the tombs of Christian virgins.

LilyorIris Green(It.verde giglio). A pigment anciently used in Italy. It was prepared by dipping linen rags into the juice of plants, and then preserving them dry.

Lima, R. (1) A file or rasp, applied to the same purposes as at the present day. (SeeScobina.) (2) In Med. Lat., a tool or weapon worn by archers in the French service, either as a kind of sword or for sharpening arrows with. (Meyrick.)

Limbeck, O. F. An alembeck.

Limbo, O. E. Hell.

“Beholde now what owre Lord Jhesu dide one the Saturday, as sune as he was dede. He went downe to helle to owre holy fadyrs that ware inlymboto tyme of his Resureccione.” (MS. Lincoln.A. i. 17, f. 186.)

Limbus, R. An ornamental band or border resembling scroll-work or architectural foliage, employed as an ornament on dress, vases (especially on Etruscan vases), &c.; and thence (1) a ribbon worn as an ornament in the hair; (2) the zodiacal circle described on a globe (see Fig.48); (3) a stout cord forming the main rope in a fishing-net; (4) in Med. Latin, a military tunic—the GermanWapenrock; or a wrapper worn by soldiers round the head,temp.John, usually termedcargan. (Meyrick.)

Lime.Slaked lime, alone or mixed with pulverized white marble, was a white pigment used in fresco-painting.

Lime-hound, O. E. A sporting-dog in alimeor leash.

Limen, R. The threshold or step laid down before the entrance of a door; the same term is also applied to the lintel.Limen superiusis the lintel, andlimen inferiusthe threshold properly so called.

“Limen superum inferumque, salve!” (Plautus.)

Limer, O. E. A bloodhound. “A dogge engendred betweene an hounde and a mastyve, called alymmer, or a mungrell.”

Limitour, O. E. A begging friar.

Limning, O. E. Painting, especially portrait painting.

Limoges Enamel.A kind of incrusted enamel on the system calledchamplevé; perfected at Limoges, in France, in the 15th century, and hence calledOpus de Limogia. (SeeEnamel.) The enamels andMETAL WORKofLimoges, in furniture, decoration of armour, and church utensils, are very important. The monument of Aylmer de Valence in Westminster Abbey is Limoges workmanship.

Limus, R. A kind of apron bordered with a purple hem, worn by thepopaor attendant who killed the animal offered at a sacrifice.

Lincei.An academy for natural history, founded in Rome in 1603. They adopted the lynx for their device “because the academicians should have the eyes of a lynx to penetrate the secrets of nature.” (Mrs. Bury Palliser.)

Line of Beauty.A curve like an elongated S. (SeeHogarth’s Analysis of Beauty.)

Line of Life.One of the lines in the hand; a term in palmistry.

Linea, R. (linum, a flax-thread). A line or any kind of string;linea alba, a rope whitened with chalk and stretched across the arena in a circus for the purpose of giving a fair start to runners, chariots, or riders.

Lined, Her. (1) Having a cord attached. (2) Having a lining.

Lineleon.Linseed oil. “Lineleon ex semine lini fiet.”

Linen.Painting on linen was largely practised in England during the 14th century; and a drawing sent by Albert Durer to Raphael is described by Vasari as having been painted “in water-colours on a fine linen cloth, which showed the transparent lights on both sides, without white; water-colours only being added, while the cloth was left for the lights; which thing appeared wonderful to Raphael.” (Vasari,Vita di Raffaello.)

Linen-scroll.A decorative ornament, common in German wood-carving of the 15th and 16th centuries. It resembles a napkin stood on end, and partly opened into scroll-shaped cylinders.

Linset, O. E. The stool on which women sat while spinning.

Linsey-woolsey(O. E. Lylse-wulse). Coarse woollen stuff first made at Linsey in Suffolk.

Linstock, O. E. (15th century). A pike, with branches on each side to hold a lighted match for firing artillery.

Lintel.The stone or beam placed across a door or window overhead (limen superius).

Linteolum, R. and Chr. (linteum). Any small piece of linen, such as a napkin or handkerchief.

Linter, R. A flat boat, frequently formed of the trunk of a tree, used in shallow waters for the transport of produce; it was also used in the construction of bridges of boats.

Linum, R. (λίνον). Flax, and thence anything made of that fibre.

Lion, O. E. (fromlie on). The main beam of a ceiling.

Fig. 425. Heraldic Lions.

Lion.In Heraldry, the lioncouchantrepresents sovereignty;rampant, magnanimity;passant, resolution;guardant, prudence;saliant, valour;seiant, counsel; andregardant, circumspection. (SeeLeopard,Marzocco.)

Lioncel, Her. A lion drawn to a small scale, generally rampant.

Lions, in Christian art, typify the resurrection of the Redeemer; because, according to an oriental fable, the lion’s cub was born dead, and in three days its sire licked it into life. The lion also typifies solitude, and is therefore the attribute of hermits; and as the type of fortitude and resolution it was placed at the feet of martyrs.

Lip Moulding, Arch. So called from its resemblance to an overhanging lip. It is common in the Perpendicular period.

Liquid Madder LakeorRubiate. A brilliant rose-coloured pigment, used in oil or water-colour painting.

Fig. 426. Liripipes. Italian, 16th century.

Liripipes, O. E. The long tails of hoods, which hung down the back. Worn also by the Italians. (Fig.426.)

List, Arch. A straight upright ring encircling the lower part of a column, just above the torus, and next to the shaft.

Fig. 427. Listels.

List,Listel, Arch. A small square moulding, also called afillet. Fig.427represents a base, the ornamentation of which is made up of numerouslistelsor fillets.

Litany Stool.In a church, a small low desk at which the Litany was sung.

“The priest goeth from out of his seat into the body of the church, and (at a low desk before the chancel door, called thefaldstool) kneels and says or sings the Litany.” (Eliz.xviii. 1559.)

LiteratusorLitteratus, R. (litera, a letter). In general, anything that is marked with letters; and thence (1) a slave who has been branded on the forehead with a hot iron, also calledinscriptus,notatus,stigmatus. (2) A grammarian, learned man, or commentator.

Litharge.An ingredient ofdrying oil(q.v.).

Lithochrome.Another name forChromolithography, or colour-printing.

Lithography, or drawing on stone, was invented by Aloys Senefelder of Munich in 1796. Drawings are made on a polished surface of calcareous stone, with ink and chalk of a soapy nature. Thelithographic inkis made of tallow-soap, pure white wax, lamp-black, and a small quantity of tallow, all boiled together, and, when cool, dissolved in distilled water; the ingredients for thelithographic chalkare the same, with a small quantity of potash added during the boiling. After the drawing on the stone is perfectly dry, a very weak solution of sulphuric acid is poured over it, which takes up the alkali from the ink or chalk, and leaves an insoluble substance behind it, while it lowers in a slight degree the surface of the stone not drawn upon, and prepares it for the free absorption of water. Weak gum-water is next applied to close the pores of the stone, and to keep it moist. The stone is then washed with water, and the printing-ink applied in the ordinary way. It then passes through the press, the washing with water and daubing with ink being repeated after every impression. As many as 70,000 copies have in this way been taken from one stone, the last being nearly as good as the first. Copper-plate and steel engravings can be transferred to stone. (See the article “Lithography” in theEncyclopædia Britannica, 8th ed.)

Lithostrotum, R. (λιθό-στρωτον). The pavement of a Roman road, and thence any ornamental pavement, mosaic, incrusted marble, coloured inlaid-work, &c.

LitmusorLacmus. The red, violet, and blue colours known asarchil,cudbear, andlitmus, are derived from certain lichens;litmusfrom theroccella tinctoria.

Liturgy(λειτουργός). The printed formulary according to which the public services in a church are performed.

Lituus, R. (an Etruscan word, signifyingcrooked). (1) A brass trumpet formed of a long, straight tube, but curved and opening out wide at the end like a tobacco-pipe. Thetubawas straight, thecornuspiral. (2) An augur’s staff curved into the form of a crook, with which they divided the expanse of the sky into regions in their divinations.

Livery(Fr.livrée). Literally, thedistribution; that is to say, of clothes to be worn by the servants of palaces, &c. (SeeBadges.)

Livery Colours.In the Middle Ages all great houses had their own livery colours. Thus those of the House of York were blue and crimson, those of the House of Lancaster white and blue, of the House of Tudor white and green, of the House of Stuart scarlet and gold.

Loaves, in Christian art, are the emblems of charity to the poor; the attribute of St. Philip the Apostle and other saints.

Lobe(of an arch), Fr.; Anglicéfoil; e. g. a trefoil arch isarc trilobé.

Local Colouris the real fundamental colour of an object, considered apart from all accidental variations of light and reflexion.

Locellus, R. A box or casket; this term is a diminutive ofLoculus.

Lochaber Axe.A short pole with a sharp axe at one end, an ancient weapon of the Highlanders of Scotland.

Locker, Chr. Arch. A cupboard for sacred vessels generally left in the thickness of the wall on the north side of the altar of a church. (SeeSecretarium.)

Locking up.Any process by which a colour, liable to be affected by damp, can be rendered durable.

Loculamentum, R. (loculus, a little place). Any box, chest, or case, the interior of which is divided into compartments.

Loculus, R. (dimin. oflocus, a place). (1) A coffin, generally of stone. (SeeSarcophagus.) (2) A compartment in the manger of a stable. (3) A small chest fitted with compartments.

Locutorium, Chr. Of a convent, &c., theparlour.

Figs. 428, 429. Badge of Richard II. in Westminster Hall.

Lodged, Her. Said of animals of the chasein repose. The illustration shows the favourite badge of Richard II.: a white hart chained, and in an attitude of rest. “This device is repeated inWestminster Hall83 times; and all are equally consistent with heraldic truth and accuracy, without any of them being an exact counterpart of any other.” (Boutell,English Heraldry.) (Fig.428.)

Loegria, O. E. England. (Geoffry of Monmouth.)

Logan Stones(properlylogging stones, from O. E.log, to oscillate).Rocking stones(q.v.).

Logeum, Gr. (λογεῖον). A Greek term synonymous withPulpitum(q.v.).

Loggia, It. The gallery, or corridor, of a palace.

Lombard Architecture.“A style invented by the Lombards (Longobardi) in the 7th century in imitation of the Roman. It continued in use till the 10th century, and gave place to the Norman style. It is rude, heavy, and massive, with small narrow windows.” (Parker.) The above is only one application of the term, which is applied by different writers to a great number of different styles. TheLombardesquestyle (It.lo stile Lombardesco) applies to the architectural works of the family of PietroLombardo(15th century). TheLombard Gothicis still another style (of the 12th century).

Loops,Loups, Arch. Another name forCrenels(q.v.), or embrasures.

Lord.The word is Saxon; fromhlaforklaf, a loaf of bread; andford, to give; hence it means originallybread-giver.

Fig. 430. Gallic cuirass in the Louvre.

Fig. 431. Fragment of a Gallic cuirass.

Lorica, Gr. and R. (lorum, a thong). A cuirass; it was made either for officers, of twoγύαλα, the breast and back-pieces; or, for the soldiers, of a number of small metal scales or bands, fastened together with rivets or rings, and flexible. Among the Asiatics the cuirass was frequently made of cotton; and among the Sarmatians, and other nations, of horn.

Lorimers, O. E. Bit-makers.

Lorraine Cross.A cross with two projecting arms on each side.

Lorraine Glassfor painted windows; obtained from the Vosges as early as the 13th century, and then called Burgundy glass. “When any one means to paint, let him choose the Lorraine glass, which inclines to the white yellow because that bears the fire best, and receives the colour better than any other.” (Félibien, 1619.)

Lota.A sacred utensil in India, used in ceremonial and other ablutions. It is a globular bowl with a low narrow neck, sometimes chased or engraved and incrusted.

Fig. 432. Lotus-flowers.

Lotus(λωτός). The lotus is a frequently recurringcymain Hindoo architecture. In Egyptian archæology, the lotus, of which two partially opened buds may be seen in Fig.432, was the symbol of the rising of the sun, of fertilization, life, and resurrection. The lotus appears in the ornamentation of the largest as well as of the smallest monuments of Egyptian art; and is the motive of many of the columns and capitals of the temples and palaces of a certain period, as well as of the decoration of vases and other small objects. Three lotus-stems issuing from a basin symbolized Upper Egypt.

Louis d’Or, Fr. A gold coin, value about 20s., first struck in 1640.

Louis Treize Style(Arch.), a French version of Italian art, prevailed from 1625 to 1650, and producedJean le Pautre, the ornamentist, and the following styles:—

Fig. 433. Heraldic Decoration at Versailles—Louis Quatorze.

Louis Quatorze, Arch. A style of ornament developed towards the close of the 17th century (1643–1715). It is described as “essentially anornamentalstyle, its chief aim being effect by a brilliant play of light and shade; colour, or mere beauty of form in detail, having no part in it. This style arose in Italy, and the Chiesa del Gesù at Rome is mentioned as its type or model. The great medium of the Louis Quatorze was gilt stucco-work, which, for a while, seems to have almost wholly superseded decorative painting; and this absence of colour in the principal decorations of the period seems to have led to its more striking characteristic,—infinite play of light and shade.” (Wornum,Analysis of Ornament.) In this style symmetry was first systematically avoided. In theFurnitureof the period the characteristic details are the scroll and shell. The classical ornaments and all the elements of theCinque-cento, from which the Louis Quatorze proceeded, are admitted under peculiar treatment, as accessories; the panels are formed by chains of scrolls, or a combination of the scroll and shell. Versailles is the great repertory of the Louis Quatorze (Fig.433), and the designs of Watteau its finest exemplification.

Louis Quinze, Arch. This style (1715–74) is the exaggeration of the Louis Quatorze, rejecting all symmetry, and introducing the elongation of the foliations of the scroll, mixed up with a species of crimped conventionalcoquillageor shell-work. The style found its culmination in the bizarre absurdities of the Rococo.

Louvre, Arch. The open turret in the roofs of ancient halls, through which the smoke escaped before the introduction of modern chimneys.

Louvre-boardingorLuffer-boarding, Arch. A series of overlapping boards sloping from the top downwards, and from within outwards, and fixed in a framework of timber. They are placed in the apertures of towers and belfries for the sake of ventilating the timbers, and are sloped to prevent rain and snow from penetrating within, and to direct the sound of the bells downwards. Sometimes the wooden boardings are covered with lead, slate, or zinc, in order to preserve them.

Louvre-window,Belfry-arch, Arch. The large lights fitted with louvre-boarding in belfries.

Love-apple.The tomato is so called.

Love-feast.An annual feast celebrated in some parishes in England on the Thursday before Easter. (SeeEdwards’s Old English Customs.)

Love-in-Idleness, O. E. The heart’s-ease.

Love-knot.A complicated figure by which an interchange of affection is supposed to be figured.

Love-lies-bleeding, O. E. A flower; a kind of amaranth.

Love-lock.A long ringlet of hair worn on the left side of the head, and allowed to stream down the shoulder sometimes as far as the elbow. The love-lock is mentioned in Queen Elizabeth’s reign. “Will you be Frenchified, with a love-lock down to your shoulders, wherein you may weave your mistress’s favour?” (Quip for an Upstart Courtier.)

“Why should thy sweete love-locke hang dangling downe,Kissing thy girdle-stud with falling pride?Although thy skin be white, thy haire is browne;Oh, let not then thy haire thy beautie hide.”(The Affectionate Shepheard.)

“Why should thy sweete love-locke hang dangling downe,

Kissing thy girdle-stud with falling pride?

Although thy skin be white, thy haire is browne;

Oh, let not then thy haire thy beautie hide.”

(The Affectionate Shepheard.)

Lovel, O. E. A dog.

“The Ratte, the Catte, and Lovell our dogge.Rule all England under the hogge.” (1484.)

“The Ratte, the Catte, and Lovell our dogge.

Rule all England under the hogge.” (1484.)

Low Side-window, Arch. A peculiar small window found in many churches near the west end of the chancel, and very near the ground. It was never glazed, but closed with wooden or iron gratings. Its object has never been ascertained. Most of the examples are of the 13th or 14th century. (SeeArchæological Journal, vol. iv. p. 314.)

Low Sunday, Chr. The Sunday next after Easter.

Lozenge.In Heraldry, the diamond-shaped figure used for a shield to display the arms of spinsters and widows. Thelozengeis always placed upright on the shield, and its true proportions are as 5 to 4. (SeeMascle.)

Lozenge MouldingorLozenge Fret. An ornament used in Norman architecture, presenting the appearance of diagonal ribs, enclosing diamond-shaped panels.

Lozenges.A term in wood-engraving for a class of fine gravers used for outlines and very fine shading.

Fig. 434. Shield of Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent.

Lozengy, Her. A field divided lozenge-wise. (Fig.434.)

Lucariæ, R. Festivals instituted at Rome to commemorate the refuge which the Roman army had once found in a wood (lucus) between the Via Salaria and the left bank of the Tiber. At the time of the invasion of the Gauls in the year 365B.C., the Roman army would have been entirely cut to pieces but for this refuge.

Lucarne, Fr. Arch. A dormer or garret window.

Luce, Her. The fish now called a pike. (Fig.380.)

Fig. 435. Bronze Lucerna. Roman.

Lucerna, R. (luceo, to shine). An oil lamp of terra-cotta or bronze. (Fig.435.) On one side they had a handle, and on the other one or more places for wicks (myxæ). The oil was poured in through an opening in the centre.Lucerna bilychnis,trilychnis,polylychnis, andlucerna bimyxos,trimyxos, orpolymyxos, were respectively lamps with two, three, or several nozzles, or with two, three, or several wicks;lucerna pensiliswas a hanging lamp. (See Fig.435.)

Lucidæ, Med. Lat. Lustrous varnishes.

Lucifer(lux, light;fero, to bring). The morning or evening star.

Lucta,Luctamen,Luctatio(Gr.πάλη,πάλαισμα,παλαισμοσύνη, orκαταβλητική). Wrestling. In the Homeric age the wrestlers contended naked, excepting theperizomaround the loins; aboutB.C.720 (the 15th Olympiad) this was discarded. The Cretans and Lacedæmonians, and afterwards the Greeks, anointed the body with oil, and then strewed it over with sand or dust. The Lucta or Palé differed from thePancratium. In the latter, boxing and wrestling were combined, and the contest continued until one party was killed, or unable to continue. In wrestling, on the other hand, the victory was awarded to the man who first threw the other three times. The most famous wrestler of antiquity was Milo of Crotona, who flourishedB.C.509, and was seven times crowned at the Pythian games, and six times at Olympia.

Lucullite.A variety of black marble, first brought to Rome from an island at Assouan on the Nile by Lucullus.

Ludi.Games at festivals, or a general name for such festivals as consisted entirely of games and contests.Ludi circenseswere games held in the circus, gladiatorial and other. (SeeCircus.)Ludi sceniciwere theatrical representations.Ludi stati, like theFeriæ statæ, were those held regularly on certain days marked in the calendar.Ludi imperativi, on the other hand, were held by special appointment, andvotiviin fulfilment of vows. The games were superintended by theÆdiles. The principal games will be found described under the headings Apollinares, Augustales, Capitolini, Circenses, Compitalia, Floralia, Funebres, Liberales or Dionysia, Megalesia, Plebeii, Sæculares, &c.

Ludus, R. A game or pastime;ludus litterarius, orludussimply, was a school for the instruction of youth;ludus duodecim scriptorum, a kind of backgammon played by the ancients;ludus fidicium, a music school;ludus gladiatorius, a school for gladiators directed by alanista.

Lumachel(It.lumachella, a little snail). A marble full of fossil shells, and of beautiful iridescent colours, sometimes a deep red or orange; called alsofire marble.

Luna, R. (lit. moon). An ivory or silver shoe-buckle worn by Roman senators. (CompareLunula.)

Lunated.Crescent-shaped.

Lunette.(1) In Fortification, a work with twofacesand two flanks, i. e. aRedanto which flanks or lateral wings have been added; in form, therefore, it resembles aBastion. (2) In Architecture, a crescent or semicircular window, or space above a square window beneath a rounded roof. Hence thepaintingson such a space are calledlunettes; e. g. those of Raffaelle in the Vatican.

Lunula, R. (dimin. ofluna). (1) An ornament in the form of a crescent worn by women round the neck. (2) The white moon-shaped marks at the roots of the finger-nails. (Cf.Menis.)

Lupatum, R. A jagged bit with teeth like a saw (lupus); whence its name.

Lupercalia, R. Festivals held at Rome on the fifteenth of the calends of March (15th of February), in theLupercal, a sacred enclosure or cave on the Palatine, regarded as the den of the she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus. Theluperciassembled together and sacrificed goats and young dogs, with the skins of which they ran through the streets half naked. [Lupercus, or Februus, was the god of fertility. The festival was originally a shepherd festival; the ceremony was symbolical of a purification of shepherds, and commemorated the time when Rome was a nation of shepherds.]

Lupus, R. (lit. wolf). (1) A hand-saw. (2)Lupus ferreus, a huge iron hook, lowered from the walls of a besieged place to catch the point of the battering-ram. (SeeHarpaga.)

Lura, R. Literally, the mouth of a large leathern sack for wine and oil, and thence the sack itself.

Fig. 435 a. Hawk’s Lure.

Lure.A falconer’s decoy, made of feathers on a cord, to attract a hawk back to the wrist. The illustration is a heraldiclure. (See Fig.91. See alsoIn Lure.)

Lusiad.The great epic of the Portuguese poet Camoens.

Lustratio(Gr.κάθαρσις). A purification, originally by water, afterwards by solemn ceremonies of sprinkling, or the smoke of sacrifice; made privately after deaths or accidental pollutions, and publicly on the occasion of public disasters, prodigies, or the like; and at certain fixed periods, especially at the close of everylustrum.

Lustricus(sc.dies), R. (lustrum, a lustration). The day of purification for a new-born infant, when it received its name.

Lustrum, R. (luo, to wash). A solemn purification performed by the censors on laying down their office, that is to say, everyfive years; whence the term was used to denote that space of time.

Lute(Arabic,el oud). A stringed instrument of great antiquity, first mentioned in Persia in 682A. D.Before the 10th century the lute had only four strings, or four pairs producing four tones, each tone having two strings tuned in unison. About the 10th century a string for a fifth tone was added. The strings were made of silk neatly twisted. The neck of the instrument was provided with frets of string, regulated according to the system of seventeen intervals to an octave. The Chinese god of music is represented playing on a lute with four strings. The lute was very popular in England in Elizabeth’s time. Originally it had eight catgut strings, arranged in four pairs, each pair being in unison. The number of strings varied from time to time, and in the 17th century they were twenty-four. The size of the lute also varied; the treble lute was the smallest, and the bass lute the largest. There were also theArchlute, theChitarrone,Theorbo, &c. (Consult Thomas Mace’sMusick’s Monument, 1676.)

Lycæa.A festival of the Arcadians in honour of ZeusΛυκαῖος.

Lyceium.A sacred enclosure at Athens, dedicated to Apollo Lycius, where thepolemarchoriginally held his court. It was decorated with fountains, plantations, and ornamental edifices by Peisistratus, Pericles, and Lycurgus. Here Aristotle delivered his lectures, as hewalked aboutwith his followers, hence called “Peripatetics.”

Fig. 436. Lychnus.

Lychnus,Lychnuchus, R. (λύχνος,λυχνοῦχος). The former of these terms is of by far the most frequent occurrence. It denotes a kind of lantern or candlestick made to support oil lamps (lucernæ). Fig.436represents a lychnus supporting threelucernæ.

Lydian.Of music, soft and slow;generallyeffeminate.

Lydian Stone(Lydius lapisorHeraclius lapis) was a kind of flinty slate used by the ancients as a touchstone for the trial of gold and silver.

Fig. 437. Lymphad.

Lymphad, Her. An ancient galley, the feudal ensign of the house of Lorn, and as such quartered by the Dukes of Argyle. It is borne also by the Prince of Wales as “Lord of the Isles.” (Fig.437.)

Lynx Sapphire.A lapidary’s term for dark-grey or greenish-blue varieties of the sapphire.

Lyon King at Arms.The Scotch Herald, Lord Lyon. The regalia of this officer are, a crown of gold, with a crimson velvet cap, &c.; a velvet robe reaching to his feet, with the arms of the kingdom embroidered thereon, both before and behind, in the proper tinctures; a triple row of gold chains round his neck, with an oval gold medal pendent thereto, on one side of which is the royal bearing, and on the other St. Andrew with his cross enamelled in proper colours, and a baton of gold enamelled green, powdered with the badges of the kingdom.

Lyra, Gr. and R. (λύρα). A lyre; a stringed instrument which assumed various forms. On Assyrian monuments the lyre occurs in three different forms, and is held horizontally in playing. Its front bar was generally either oblique or slightly curved. It was played with aplectrumor with the fingers. TheHebrewlyre is represented on coins of Judas Maccabæus. Some have three strings, others five, and others six. The two sides of the frames appear to have been made of horns of animals. The Hebrew square-shaped lyre is probably thePsalterion, theKinnor, a lyre of triangular shape, the instrument of King David, is named in the Bible as the oldest stringed instrument, the invention of Jubal. The Rabbis record that King David used to suspend his over his pillow at night. On Egyptian monuments, at Beni Hassan, a Hebrew lyre is represented, probably of the date of Joseph, 1700B.C.TheGreekshad lyres of many kinds, distinguished by different names;Lyra, a generic term, and also the lyre oval at the base, to be held in the lap;Kithara, with a square base, to be held against the breast;Chelys, a small lyre with body made of tortoise-shell;Phormix, a large lyre, &c. Some lyres have a bridge, others have none; the largest were probably held on or between the knees, or were tied by a band to the left arm. The strings of catgut or sinew were twanged with aplektronor short stem of ivory or metal, pointed at both ends. The lyre was the most favourite instrument of theRomans, under various names. TheCornuhad a frame ending at the top in two long horns; theBarbitoswas a lyre with a large body; thePsalteriumwas of an oblong square shape, &c. The lyre is represented in earlyChristianmonuments of the 4th century. In one of them the Saviour is represented as Apollo touching the lyre.Anglo-Saxon MSS.of the 9th century also represent the lyre. AGermanfiddle of the 9th century, with only one string, is calledlyrain the MS. In Christian symbolism the lyre represented “the attractive power of the Lord.” (SeeMese.)

Lysis, Arch. A plinth, or step above the cornice of thepodiumwhich surrounds thePedestal.

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