Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/537

 IN .MlF.lTAltV OPERATIONS. 8(7 to a Roman family of great distinction,^ in all probability originated in the same practice. The first Roman who bore it, had achieved, we may suppose, some famous exploit in the capture of a city ; and hence, partly in jest, and partly in compliment, he was called the little chisel, " dolabella " being the diminutive of " dolabra," the common Latin name of this instrument. In accordance with the expression of Livy, which proves that dolabra3 were used to destroy an earth-work, we find from Veo'etius, that the soldiers used them likewise in makins; roads : " Quod si angustse sint viae, sed tamen tutse, melius est praecedere cum securibus ac dolabris milites, et cum labore vias aperire, quam in optimo itinere periculum susti- nere." I)e Re Militari, iii. G."* This passage affords another proof that the ancients, although they were acquainted with the adze (ascia, a-K^Trapvov) and the pick {aciscidus, tvkos), never used the pick-axe. Where we should employ the pick-axe in overturning soil or loosening stones, they used the dolabra, or an agricultural implement, called bidens. II. — The passages here cited have lately received a most remarkable illustration from the bas-reliefs brought to light by Dr. Layard among the ruins of the ancient edifices^ of Nimroud. In two of these bas-reliefs we see Assyrian soldiers performing the very act described by Curtius, " dolabris per- fringentes murum," i. e., " breaking through a Avail with chisels." See the annexed wood-cuts, copied from Plates XIX. and XXIX. of Layard's " Monuments of Nineveh," London, 1849. In both instances the wall, built of bricks or small stones, is destroyed by the use of chisels fixed at the end of staves ; and in studying this representation, it must be borne in mind, that two soldiers, or even a single soldier, must be considered as representing a troop, just as a flock of sheep is in the same series of bas-reliefs expressed by ^ No less, than eleven persons of this This translator, not knowinpj the sense of family are mentioned in Roman history. *' dolabriB," has used for it the expression See Smith's Dictionary of Greek and " other tools." For the same reason Roman J^iof/rap/ii/. Philemon Holland, in his translation of ■• '• It is better to send men forward Livy, has rendered the word " all mamier with hatchets and other tools, to open ways of instruments." that are narrow but safe, without regard * These edifices are ro£;arded by their to their labour, than to run any risk in enterprising; and accomplislied discoverer the finest roads." — Militnrii InMitntionx as palaces. I incliiio to the opinion that <if Vtr/etluK, translated from the Latin by thov were tombs. Lieutenant .lohu Clarke, London, 1767.