Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Pilarius

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PILA'RIUS. One who exhibits feats of dexterity with a number of balls, similar to the Indian juggler (Quint. x. 7. 11. Inscript. ap. Fabrett. p. 250. n. 2.), by throwing them up with both hands, catching them on, and making them rebound from, the inner joint of the elbow, leg, forehead, and instep, so that they kept playing in a continuous circle round his person without falling to the ground, as minutely described by Manilius (Astron. 169 — 171.), and as exhibited by the annexed figure (Pilarius/1.1) from a Diptych in the Museum at Verona. The player is exhibiting with seven balls, in a handsome building (the scena pilariorum of Quint. l. c.), whilst a number of boys and other persons stand round, and look on. Two figures in precisely the same attitude, and with the same number of balls each, are sculptured on a sepulchral marble in the collection at Mantua. Labus. Antich. di Mantova. tom. ii.

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