Cera (akin to κηρός). Wax, and, by analogy, any objects made of wax, such as images of the family ancestors (imagines majorum); or the wax tablets for writing on with the stylus. These were called respectively ceræ duplices, triplices, quintuplices, according as they had two, three, or five leaves. The first, second, third, and last tablet were called respectively prima, secunda, tertia, ultima or extrema cera.
Ceramic. Appertaining to Pottery (q.v.).
Cerberus. The three-headed dog who guarded the gates of hell.
Cercurus (κέρκουρος, perhaps from Κέρκυρα, the island Corcyra). A Cyprian vessel propelled by oars. Its form is unknown.
Cerebrerium. An iron skull-cap, temp. Edward I.
Cere-cloth (cera, wax). Cloth saturated with wax, used for enveloping a consecrated altarstone, or a dead body.
Cereus (cera, wax). A wax candle, made either with the fibres of cyperus or papyrus twisted together and dipped in wax, or with the pith of elder, or rush, covered with the same material.
Ceriolare (cera, wax). A stand, holder, or candelabrum for wax candles. There were a great variety of this kind of vessel. (See Candelabrum.)
Cernuus (from cer = κάρα, and nuo, i. e. with head inclined to the ground). A tumbler who walks upon his hands with his feet in the air. Women even used to turn series of summersaults, resting alternately on the feet and hands, among a number of swords or knives stuck in the ground. This exhibition was called by the Greeks εἰς μαχαίρας κυβιστᾶν, i. e. lit. to tumble head over heels between knives).
Cerōma (κήρωμα, a wax-salve). A room in which wrestlers rubbed themselves over with oil and fine sand. The room was so named from the unguent employed, which consisted of wax mixed with oil [which was also called cerōma].