Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/362



the Kalends of August, protected the forum from the rays of the sun, that the persons engaged in lawsuits might stand with less injury to their health. What a change from the manners which prevailed under Cato the Censor, who thought that the forum should even be strewed with caltrops! Of late sky-blue awnings, spotted with stars, have been extended by means of strong ropes, even in the amphitheatre of the Emperor Nero. Red awnings are used to cover the atria of houses, and they defend the moss from the sun. As for the rest, white linen has always remained in favor. This plant was honored in the Trojan war. ''For why should it not perform its part in battles as well as in shipwrecks?'' Homer testifies, that a few of his warriors fought in linen cuirasses. The tackle of his ships was also of flax, according to some of his more learned interpreters, who argue that by the term sparta he meant sata, or things that are sown."—Pliny, Lib. xix. chap. vi.

Lucretius apparently refers to the introduction by Lentulus Spinther of the cotton awnings above mentioned (vi. 108.), when he is theorising on the cause of thunder, and compares the clouds spread over the sky to the awnings of calico, which veiled the theatres and sheltered the spectators from the sun:

Carbasus ut quondam magnis intenta theatris Dat crepitum, malos inter jactata trabeisque.

As flaps the cotton, spread above our heads In the vast theatres from mast to beam.

We now find frequent mention of cotton by the poets of the Augustan age and by many subsequent writers. As in the case of silk, these authors introduce cotton, not only historically, but for the purpose of embellishment; and, considering Carbasus as a poetical term, they often by a catachresis employ it where they mean to speak of linen. Also as was before observed in regard to silk (Part I. chapter II.), it may likewise be noticed here, that the wars against Mithridates and the Parthians may have contributed to make the Romans familiar with the use of cotton, although their chief supply of it was more probably through Egypt, than through Persia and Babylonia.


 * [Footnote:

Linen awnings first used in the theatre at the dedication of the temple of Jupiter by Catulus   69 B. C. Cotton awnings first used in the theatre by Lentulus Spinther, July 6th,                         63 B. C. Linen used to cover the forum and Via Sacra at the gladiatorial show by Julius Caesar              46 B. C. Linen awnings extended over the forum by Marcellus, July 31st                                      23 B. C. ]