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 A

SMALLER DICTIONARY

OF

GREEK AND ROMAN ANTIQUITIES.

[)A]B[)A]CUS ([Greek: abax]), denoted primarily a square tablet of any description, and was hence employed in the following significations:—(1) A table, or side-board, chiefly used for the display of gold and silver cups, and other kinds of valuable and ornamental utensils. The use of abaci was first introduced at Rome from Asia Minor after the victories of Cn. Manlius Vulso, 187, and their introduction was regarded as one of the marks of the growing luxury of the age.—(2) A draught-board or chess-board.—(3) A board used by mathematicians for drawing diagrams, and by arithmeticians for the purposes of calculation.—(4) A painted panel, coffer, or square compartment in the wall or ceiling of a chamber.—(5) In architecture, the flat square stone which constituted the highest member of a column, being placed immediately under the architrave.

Abacus.

ABOLLA, a cloak chiefly worn by soldiers, and thus opposed to the toga, the garb of peace. [] The abolla was used by the lower classes at Rome, and consequently by the philosophers who affected severity of manners and life. Hence the expression of Juvenal, facinus majoris abollae,—"a crime committed by a very deep philosopher."

Abolla. (Bellori, Arc. Triumph., pl. 11, 12)

ABR[)O]GĀT[)I]O. []

ABS[)O]LŪT[)I]O. []

[)A]CAENA ([Greek: akainê, akaina], or in later Greek [Greek: akena], in one place [Greek: akainon]), a measuring rod of the length of ten Greek feet. It was used in measuring land, and thus resembles the Roman decempeda.

[)A]CAT[)I]UM ([Greek: akation], a diminutive of [Greek: akatos]), a small vessel or boat used by the Greeks, which appears to have been the same as the Roman scapha. The Acatia were also sails adapted for fast sailing.

ACCENSUS. (1) A public officer, who attended on several of the Roman magistrates. The Accensi summoned the people to the assemblies, and those who had lawsuits