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Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Scabellum

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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. 

SCABEL'LUM. Diminutive of SCAMNUM (Quint. i. 4. 12.); a small square stool, forming but one step, or consisting of a single height (Varro, L. L. v. 168.), employed as a bedstep, when the bedstead was not a very high one (Varro, l. c.), as shown by the annexed illustration (Scabellum/1.1) from a Roman bas-relief.

2. (ὑποπόδιον). A foot-stool, of similar character, placed before a chair or seat for the feet to rest upon as in the annexed example (Scabellum/2.1) from a Pompein painting. Isidor. Orig. xx. 11. 8.

3. (κρουπέζια). A musical instrument; consisting of a very thick-soled wooden shoe (Pollux, vii. 87.) with a deep fissure under the toes, which, when yielding to the pressure of the foot, emitted certain notes from a small machine of metal (compare Lucian, Salt. 83.) placed between its upper and lower surfaces. It was worn by the pipe-player (tibicen) at the theatre (Pollux, x. 153.); and was especially used to give notice of the commencement and termination of an Act (Cic. Cael. 27.); to beat the time, and make an accompaniment with other instruments (Suet. Cal. 54. August. de Mus. 3.) Although some doubts are entertained respecting the accuracy of the interpretation here given, yet the numerous remaining representations of a contrivance similar to the one exhibited by the woodcut (Scabellum/3.1), from an ancient marble statue, and the characters by whom it is used, afford a very strong evidence of its correctness. A terra-cotta of the British Museum shows a figure by the side of a wine-vat playing on the double pipes (tibiae pares) while he beats time upon an instrument similar to the one engraved above; a marble sarcophagus published by Visconti (Mus. Pio Clem. v. tav. C.) exhibits a female playing the Phrygian pipes (tibia Phrygia) and beating time upon a similar instrument; and a female statue of the Capitol (Mus. Capitolin. iii. 36.) has the same contrivance under her foot.

  • Scabellum/1.1
    Scabellum/1.1
  • Scabellum/2.1
    Scabellum/2.1
  • Scabellum/3.1
    Scabellum/3.1

References

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