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Scaphium (vessel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scaphium (Ancient Greek: Σκάφιον or Σκαφεῖον) was a shallow vessel without a handle. It was called like that because it was shaped like a small boat (σκάφιον in Greek was a small boat, for example a skiff).[1]

These vessels could be:

  • Drinking cup[1][2]
  • Vessel which was used for dipping and pouring water over the body in the bath[1]
  • A primitive substitute for a concave mirror or burning-glass used to relight the sacred fire[1]
  • Chamber pot[3]
  • Concave sundial[3]
  • The reservoir of a Water clock[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890), Scaphium Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, Scaphium Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b c Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Scaphium Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.