Corona (κορώνη), R. A crown or garland made with natural or artificial leaves and flowers (of horn, parchment, &c., or metal). There were many different kinds of coronæ, of which the principal were the following: corona civica; corona classica, navalis, or rostrata; corona castrensis or vallaris; corona longa; corona muralis; corona obsidionalis; corona natalitia; corona oleagina; corona ovalis; corona pactilis, plectilis, or plexilis; corona triumphalis; corona sutilis, &c. The most honourable was the c. obsidionalis, presented by a beleaguered army, after its liberation, to the general who raised the siege. It was made of grass, or wild flowers plucked on the site. The c. civica was presented to a Roman soldier who had saved the life of a citizen in battle. It was made of oak leaves. The c. navalis was made of gold. The c. muralis, presented to the first man over the wall of a besieged city, was also made of gold, and it was ornamented with turrets. The c. castrensis, presented to the first soldier who forced an entrance into an enemy’s camp, was of gold ornamented with palisades. Of the c. triumphalis there were three kinds: one of laurel or bay leaves, worn by the commanding officer during his triumph; one of massive gold held over his head; and a third of still greater value, also of gold. The c. ovalis, to commemorate an ovation to an officer, was made of myrtle leaves. The c. oleagina, of olive leaves, was given to common soldiers. Besides these, there were the various sacerdotal coronæ, emblematical of their functions: the funereal chaplets of leaves and flowers for the dead, called c. funebres or sepulchrales; the wreaths of roses, violets, myrtles, ivy, &c., worn at convivial meetings, c. convivialis; and the bridal wreath, of Greek origin, made of flowers not bought, but plucked by the bride herself, the verbena being the chosen flower among the Romans, c. nuptialis; and finally the c. natalitia suspended over the door of a house where a child was born. At Athens this was of olive for a boy, and of wool for a girl. At Rome the wreath was made of laurel, ivy, or parsley. The various crowns used in heraldry are described under their respective headings. (See Crown.)
Corona or Drip-stone, Gen. A moulding forming part of a cornice, the lower part or drip of which is grooved, so as to throw off the rain-water from the structure. Drip-stones are sometimes plain, sometimes decorated with rich sculptures.
Corona Lucis, Chr. A lamp or chandelier suspended above the altar of a church, from which usually depended a jewelled cross.
Coronach, Scotch. A dirge.
Coronarium (aureum), R. The gold for a triumphal crown (corona triumphalis): it was sent by the provinces to a victorious chief or general.
Coronarium (opus), R. Stucco-work applied to the decoration of a cornice or projecting moulding.
Coronel, Med. The head of a jousting-lance, so called from its resemblance to a little crown. Twelve were allowed to a tilter in the time of Henry VI. (Meyrick.)
Coronell, O. E. A colonel.
Fig. 195. Prince of Wales’s coronet.