U.
U.The letter repeated so as to mark the feathering upon tails of birds, is a peculiarity of Sicilian silks.
Udo, R. A sock made of goat-skin, or felt.
Ulna, R. A measure of length, subdivision of the foot measure.
UltramarineorLapis Lazuli(azurrum transmarinum). A beautiful blue pigment obtained from lazulite, highly esteemed by early painters. In consequence of the costliness of this pigment its use in a picture was regulated by special contract, and it was either supplied or paid for by the person who ordered the picture. Lely has recorded that he paid for his as much as 4l.10s.the ounce. The pigment is now artificially compounded. (Cf.Guimet’s U.)
Umbella,Umbraculum, R. (umbra, shade). An umbrella, made to open and shut like those of modern times. It is represented on vases held by a female slave over the head of her mistress. (See alsoUmbrellas.)
Umber.A massive mineral pigment used by painters as a brown colour, and to make varnish dry quickly.Raw umberis of an olive brown, which becomes much redder whenburnt. (SeeOchres.)
Umbilici, R. (lit.navels), were the ornamental bosses which projected from each end of the staff round which a volume of papyrus or parchment (liber) was rolled. They were also calledcornua, andgeminæ frontes. (SeeLiber.)
Umbo(Gr.ὀμφαλός). (1) The boss of a shield, often sharp and projecting so as to form an offensive weapon in itself. (2) A bunch formed by the folds of the toga tacked in to the belt across the chest.
Umbræ, R. The shades of the departed; represented in the forms in which they abandoned life. Those killed in battle,mutilated, &c.
Umbrellas.Anglo-Saxonmanuscripts sometimes represent a servant holding an umbrella over the head of his master. In the sculptures of ancientEgyptandAssyriathey are represented borne by the attendants on a king. TheGreekandRomanladies used parasols in all respects resembling those of modern times. In thePanathenaicprocession the daughters of foreign settlers in Athens had to carry parasols over the heads of the Athenian maidens taking part in the procession. They were substituted later on by broad hats, the RomanPetasusand the GreekTholia. In theSiameseempire an umbrella is the emblem of the royal dignity.
Fig. 672. Umbril.
Fig. 672. Umbril.
Fig. 672. Umbril.
Umbrere,Umbril. In mediæval armour, a projection on a helmet acting as a guard to the eyes.
Umbril.(SeeUmbrere.)
Uncia(Gr.οὐγκία,Angl.ounce). Theunitof measurement. The twelfth part of anything. In currency, a copper coin; the twelfth part of an As. Its value was expressed on the obverse and reverse byoneball; in lineal measurement, the twelfth of a foot, whence ourinch; in square measure, the twelfth of ajugerum; of liquids, the twelfth of asextarius; in weight, the twelfth of a pound (libra).
Uncial Letters.When writing on papyrus or vellum became common, many of the straight lines of the capitals, in that kind of writing, gradually acquired acurvedform. From the 6th to the 8th, or even 10th century, theseuncials, or partly rounded capitals, prevail in illuminated MSS. (See alsoMinuscule,Semi-uncials.)
Uncus, R. (ὄγκος). A hook such as (1) that with which the corpses of gladiators were dragged out of the arena; or those of criminals from the carnificina where they were executed. (2) The fluke of an anchor, &c.
Under-croft, Arch. A subterranean chamber.
Fig. 673. Undulated moulding.
Fig. 673. Undulated moulding.
Fig. 673. Undulated moulding.
Undulated, Arch. (unda, a wave). Moulded or sculptured in the form of awave; as for instance theundulated torus. (SeeNebule.) (Fig.673.)
Undy,Undée, Her. Wavy.
Unguentaria, R. Flasks or boxes of costly workmanship for holding perfumes, essences, oils, and salves, for use in the baths, &c. (SeeNarthecia.)
Fig. 674. Unicorn. Device of the Orsini family.
Fig. 674. Unicorn. Device of the Orsini family.
Fig. 674. Unicorn. Device of the Orsini family.
Unicorn.In Christian art a symbol of purity, especially of female chastity. Attribute of St. Justina of Antioch. In Heraldry it is famous as the sinister supporter of the Royal Shield of England. The legend was that its body took the form of a horse and antelope, and it had one horn on its head. It was believed to live solitary in the woods, and could only be caught by a maiden. The property of detecting poison was attributed to its horn, and Hentzner, who visited England in 1598, says:—
“We were shown at Windsor the horn of an Unicorn, of about eight spans and a half in length, valued at above 100l.”
It is frequently mentioned in ancient inventories:—
“1391. Une manche d’or d’un essay de lincourne pour attoucher aux viandes de Monseigneur le Dauphin.”Comptes Royaux, quoted by Mrs. Bury Palliser.
In allusion to this property, Alviano, the champion of the Orsini family, adopted as his device a unicorn at a fountain surrounded by snakes, toads, and other reptiles, and stirring up the water with its horn before he drinks, with the motto, “I expel poisons.”
Union Cloths.Fabrics of wool with wefts of cotton.
Fig. 675. Present Union Jack.
Fig. 675. Present Union Jack.
Fig. 675. Present Union Jack.
Union Jack.The National Ensign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain—exhibiting the Union of the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew combined—first displayed in the reign of James I., 1606. The flag as it is now used, dates from the beginning of this century. It is borne on a shield, charged in pretence upon the escutcheon of the Duke of Wellington.
Upapitha, Hind. The pedestal of the Hindoo orders, which included, besides the pedestal properly so called, the base (athisthama), the pillar or shaft (stambu) which was either square or polygonal and only rounded at the upper part near the capital orcushionwhich took its place, and lastly the entablature (prastura).
Uræus, Egyp. A transcription of the Egyptian wordârâor the asphajé, a kind of serpent called by the Greeksbasilicon(βασιλικόν). Theuræusas an emblem of the sovereign power forms the distinctive ornament in the head-dress of the Egyptian kings.
Fig. 676. Plate of Urbino Ware, Louvre Museum.
Fig. 676. Plate of Urbino Ware, Louvre Museum.
Fig. 676. Plate of Urbino Ware, Louvre Museum.
Urbino Ware, made at Urbino, under the patronage of its Duke. “A city,” says Jacquemart, “which has supplied potters and painters to the greater part of the workshops of Italy; which has sent ceramic colonies to Flanders and Corfu, and yet we are scarcely acquainted with its works, except those of its decline.” (Fig.676.) (SeeMajolica.)
Urceolated(Basket), Arch. The corbel of the capital which narrows a little underneath its upper part.
Urceolus.Diminutive ofUrceus(q.v.).
Urceus, R. An earthenware pitcher used in religious ceremonies; represented on coins in the form of a modern ewer.
Uriant, Her. Said of a fish when it swims in a vertical position; head downwards. (Cf.Hauriant.)
Fig. 677. Funereal urn, Indian.
Fig. 677. Funereal urn, Indian.
Fig. 677. Funereal urn, Indian.
Urn.The common urn, theκάλπιςof the Greeks, had a narrow neck and swelling body; it was used for conveying water from the fountain. The funereal cinerary urn was in general quadrangular, but there were a large number which resembled thekalpis, with the exception that they had a wider neck and were furnished in every case with a lid. Fig.677represents a funeral urn of Indian pottery, of very ancient date. The electoral urn, from which lots were drawn at the comitia to decide the order of voting, was of an oval form and had a narrow neck to prevent the possibility of more than one number being drawn out at a time. An urn is always introduced as an appropriate emblem of the river-gods. Theurnawas a measure of capacity containing eightcongiior half anAmphora.
Urnarium, R. A square table or hollow slab on whichurnæor earthenware vessels were placed.
Ustrina,Ustrinum, R. (uro, to burn). A public place for burning the bodies of the dead, in contradistinction toBustum, a private place of cremation, situated within the sepulchral enclosure. It was in the public ustrina that the bodies of people of moderate means as well as the poor were burned.
Uter, R. A wine-skin or large leathern bag made of goat-skin, pig-skin, or ox-hide, and used for holding wine or other liquids.Uter unctuswas a goat-skin inflated with air and thoroughly greased on the outside. The peasants of Greece were fond of dancing and leaping upon these wine-skins, which it was extremely difficult to do without frequent falls. This was a very popular rustic game, and formed a principal feature of the second day of the festival of Bacchus, called by the GreeksAscolia(Ἀσκώλια),ἀσκὸςbeing the Greek equivalent ofuter.
Uti Rogas, R. A voting formula affirmative of the proposition in debate, written on the ticket in the abbreviated form V. R. foruti rogas(as you propose).
Utricularius, R. (fromuter). A performer on the bagpipe.
Utriculus.Diminutive ofUter(q.v.).