Fig. 693. Vitta.
Fig. 693. Vitta.
Fig. 693. Vitta.
Vitta, R. A ribbon or band worn round the head by Roman women of free birth to confine their hair.Vitta sacrawas a long ribbon confining the flocks of wool which formed aninfula, and worn by the priests or the victim destined for sacrifice. The term was further applied to the ribbon which passed round garlands or festoons of leaves and fruits, and thence to any ribbon employed in the decoration of an architectural motive, such as tori for instance, as shown in Fig.693.
Vittatus, R. Adorned with thevitta; a term applied to women, victims, and certain architectural ornaments.
Vivarium, R. (vivum, a living thing). A general term for any kind of place in which live animals are kept; such as aviaries, warrens, fish-ponds, game preserves, &c.
Vivianite.A blue phosphate of iron, occasionally used as a pigment.
Vizard.A mask for the face.
“On with this robe of mine,Thisvizardand this cap!”(Old Play.)
“On with this robe of mine,Thisvizardand this cap!”(Old Play.)
“On with this robe of mine,Thisvizardand this cap!”(Old Play.)
“On with this robe of mine,
Thisvizardand this cap!”
(Old Play.)
Vizor.(SeeVisor.)
Voided, Her. Having the central area removed.
Volant, Her. Flying.
Volante Piece.A piece of jousting-armour fastened to theGrand-gardeabove it, protecting the neck and breast.
Volets, Fr. (1) The sidewingsof aTriptych. (2) A gauze veil worn at the back of the head, by ladies, in the Middle Ages. (See Fig.704.)
Volumen, R. (volvo, to roll). A very long, narrow sheet made of strips of papyrus glued together. This sheet was gradually rolled round a wooden cylinder as the reader perused what was written on it, an operation expressed by the termevolvere volumen. When a work was of considerable length, each book or chapter was rolled round a separate stick or wooden cylinder, so that a single volume (volumen) consisted of a large number of rolls.
Volupere, O. E. A woman’s cap or nightcap.
“The tapes of her whitevolupere.”(Chaucer,The Miller’s Tale.)
“The tapes of her whitevolupere.”(Chaucer,The Miller’s Tale.)
“The tapes of her whitevolupere.”(Chaucer,The Miller’s Tale.)
“The tapes of her whitevolupere.”
(Chaucer,The Miller’s Tale.)
Fig. 694. Ionic Volute.
Fig. 694. Ionic Volute.
Fig. 694. Ionic Volute.
Volute, Arch. (volvo, to roll). (1) The spiral scroll peculiarly distinguishing the capital in the Ionic order. (Fig.694.) (2) The small volutes of the Corinthian capital which are placed at the four angles of theabacus; they are calledhelices majores, while the volutes beneath the cinque-foils are calledhelices minores. (SeeHelix.)
Vomer,Vomis, R. A plough-share; it resembled almost exactly our modern ones.
Fig. 695. Vomitorium.
Fig. 695. Vomitorium.
Fig. 695. Vomitorium.
Vomitoria, R. (vomo, to discharge). Doors in a theatre or amphitheatre opening on the corridors of the building, or on to thescalæleading into thecavea. Fig.695represents avomitorium(restored) in the Coliseum or Flavian amphitheatre, at Rome.
Votive Tablets.Sculptured representations of parts of the body affected with disease, offered to the gods, either in gratitude or propitiation. The superstition introduced by the ancient Egyptians has survived all religious revolutions, and survives in Roman Catholic countries at the present day. Wilkinson says:—
“After the cure of a disease was effected they (the ancient Egyptians) frequently suspended a model of the restored part in the temple of the god whose interposition they had invoked, precisely in the same manner as in the sheikh’s tombs in modern Egypt, and in the Roman Catholic chapels of Italy and other countries, consecrated to the Virgin or a saint; and ears, eyes, distorted arms and other members were dedicated as memorials of their gratitude and superstition.” (Ancient Egyptians.)
Voulge.(SeeLangue-de-Bœuf.)
Voussoir, Arch. A French term for the wedge-shaped stones (ring-stones) of which an arch is composed.
Vulcanalia.Roman festivals to Vulcan, celebrated with games in the Flaminian circus on the 23rd August. The sacrifices were offishes, which the people threw into the fire; and it was the custom to commence the work of the day by candle-light, in honour of the god of fire.
Vulned, Her. Wounded or bleeding. The pelican in its piety (Fig.531) is described asvulning herself.
Vulture, Egyp. Among the Egyptians, the vulture is the symbol of maternity, and accordingly a representation of it served to write the wordmother, and the name of the goddessMaut.
Vulture Feathers.Largely used for making artificial flowers; the feathers of species ofaccipitresimported from Bombay.
Vulturius,Vulture, R. A throw at dice. It is not known how many points made up a vulture, but it is clear from certain authors that it was a bad throw, although not so bad as thecanisor dog.
VuydersorGuiders. Straps to draw together the parts of armour.