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XXI. Observations on a Crystal Vase in the possession of the Earl of Besborough. By Thomas Pownall, Esq.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
Extract
Introduction, giving an account of the antique cup, the subject of this paper.
§ 1. Of the nature and ceremony of the convivial libations.
§ 2. Of the Deities to whom these libations were made at the convivial table, the Trina Numina. An inquiry who these were.
The causes of the confusion in this point even amongst the early Roman antiquaries.
Inquiry into the particular idea annexed by the ancients to the word Numen, and of the word Genius.
Close of this section of the Trina Numina. That Mercury, according to the original ancient idea of this God and his Numen, always was one.
And the two Lares, under the same original idea, the other two of these Trina Numina.
The cup described: and by the ideas above suggested and premised.
An attempt to show that this cup was one of those three, which used to be set on the table after the eatables were removed, and used in this ceremony of the Convivial Libation.
- Type
- Research Article
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- Copyright
- Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1785
References
page 181 note [a] Donatus prò Ara Mensam succedere dicit. Et Pierius in Virgil: Aræ vicem præstare posse Mensam dicatam.
page 181 note [b] Virgil, Æneid. Lib. v. 740.
page 182 note [c] Saturnalia, lib. I. c. 19. and Plutarch de Iside & Osiride.
page 182 note [d] 
. Athenæus XV. c. v. p. 675.
See more of this in Jensii epist. ad Grævium sectionibus Lucianeis ad juncta, p. 399.
page 182 note [e] 
. Suidas.
page 182 note [f] “Nec Deus hunc mensâ, Dea nec dignata cubili est;” Vi g. Eclog. IV. The Deus and Doa are here understood; the 
& Bona Dea, or Jupiter Soter & Bona Juno.
page 184 note [g] 
. Dionys. Halicarn. Lib. I. c. 67. p. 53. Edit. Hudson.
page 184 note [h] Penates esse dixerunt per quo penitus spiramus; per quos habemus corpus; per quos rationem animi posidemus. Macrobius, Saturn. Lib. III. c. 4.
page 185 note [g] I. 89.
page 186 note [h] Vide Dr. Hunter's Collection of Coins, especially No. 5. of table XLV.
page 188 note [i] There are instances of drinking less than the Cyathus for a draught; of drinking only by the Ounce.
“Interponis aquam subinde, Ruse,
“Et, si cogeris a sodali, raram
“Diluti bibis Unciam Falerni.” Martial, Lib. I. 106.
“Sextantes, Caliste, duos infunde Falerni,
“Tu super æstivas, Alcime, solve nives.” Id. Lib. V. 64.
“Addere quid cessas, puer, immortale Falernum
“Quadrantem duplicate seniore cado.” Id. L. IX. 93.
“Ciebras ergo bibas licet Trientes.” Id. L. IX. 106.
“Te, conviva, leget misto Quincunce.” Id. L. II. 1.
I do not recollect, nor am able to turn to any instance of the Semis.
“Septunce multo deinde perditus stertit.” Id. L. III. 82.
“Quincunces, & sex Cyathos, Bessamque bibamus
“Caius ut fiat Julius & Proculus.” Id. L. XI. 36.
Dodrans, that is to say, Deest Quadrans de Sextario—is nine Cyathi, or a quarter less than a Sextarius.
A Duodecim, unâ demptâ uncia, Deunx. Dextans demptâ sextante.
Poto ego Sextantes, tu potas Cinna Deunces.” Id. L. XII. 28.
“Misceri sibi protinus deunces
Sed crebros jubet.” Id. L. VI. 78.
page 190 note [k] Private tutor to Lord Duncannon. A gentleman whose merits in literature, though above the common scale, bore but a small proportion to those virtues for which his patron honoured him.
page 190 note [l] 
. Horapollo, Lib. I. c. 1.
page 190 note * I here follow John Mercier's amendment from the reading in Morell's MS.
page 191 note [m] I venture to assert this, although Mr. Bryant has called it a Medusa, and exhibits it in his Mythology as such.
page 191 note [n] 
.
page 191 note [o] 
.
page 191 note [p] Vide Ovidii Metamorph. Lib. IV.
page 193 note [q] 
. Herodot. lib. II. c. 74.
. Id. lib. VIII. c. 41.
Angues apud Gentiles pro Geniis Locorum erant habiti semper. Isidorus XII. 4.
page 194 note [r] In Mercurio solem etiam coli ex caduceo claret, quod Ægyptii, in specie draconum maris et fæminæe conjunctorum, figuraverunt Mercurio consecrandum.
Macrobius, Saturn, lib. I. c. 19.
page 195 note [s] 
. Dionys. Halicarn. I. c. 67. p. 53. edit. Huds.
Argumentum Caducei, ad genituram quoque hominum, quæ Genesis appellatur, Ægyptii portendunt Deos Prœsites, homini nascenti quatuor adesse memorantes, 
; et Duo priores Solem et Lunam intelligi volunt, quod Sol auctor Spiritûs, Caloris, et Luminis, humanæ vitæ Genitor et Custos est; et ideo nascentis Dœmon Deus creditur: Luna τύχη, qui corporum præsul est, quæ fortuitorum varietate jactantur: Amor osculo significatur; Necessitas nodo. Macrobius, Saturn. lib. I. c. 19.
page 195 note [t] 
. Dionys. Hal. Ibid.
page 195 note [u] 
. said of Mercury in the Plutus of Aristophanes.
page 196 note [x] In his Connexion of Roman, Saxon, and English Coins, chap. III.