Lucarne, Fr. Arch. A dormer or garret window.
Luce, Her. The fish now called a pike. (Fig. [380].)
Fig. 435. Bronze Lucerna. Roman.
Lucerna, R. (luceo, to shine). An oil lamp of terra-cotta or bronze. (Fig. [435].) On one side they had a handle, and on the other one or more places for wicks (myxæ). The oil was poured in through an opening in the centre. Lucerna bilychnis, trilychnis, polylychnis, and lucerna bimyxos, trimyxos, or polymyxos, were respectively lamps with two, three, or several nozzles, or with two, three, or several wicks; lucerna pensilis was a hanging lamp. (See Fig. [435].)
Lucidæ, Med. Lat. Lustrous varnishes.
Lucifer (lux, light; fero, to bring). The morning or evening star.
Lucta, Luctamen, Luctatio (Gr. πάλη, πάλαισμα, παλαισμοσύνη, or καταβλητική). Wrestling. In the Homeric age the wrestlers contended naked, excepting the perizoma round the loins; about B.C. 720 (the 15th Olympiad) this was discarded. The Cretans and Lacedæmonians, and afterwards the Greeks, anointed the body with oil, and then strewed it over with sand or dust. The Lucta or Palé differed from the Pancratium. In the latter, boxing and wrestling were combined, and the contest continued until one party was killed, or unable to continue. In wrestling, on the other hand, the victory was awarded to the man who first threw the other three times. The most famous wrestler of antiquity was Milo of Crotona, who flourished B.C. 509, and was seven times crowned at the Pythian games, and six times at Olympia.
Lucullite. A variety of black marble, first brought to Rome from an island at Assouan on the Nile by Lucullus.
Ludi. Games at festivals, or a general name for such festivals as consisted entirely of games and contests. Ludi circenses were games held in the circus, gladiatorial and other. (See Circus.) Ludi scenici were theatrical representations. Ludi stati, like the Feriæ statæ, were those held regularly on certain days marked in the calendar. Ludi imperativi, on the other hand, were held by special appointment, and votivi in fulfilment of vows. The games were superintended by the Ædiles. The principal games will be found described under the headings Apollinares, Augustales, Capitolini, Circenses, Compitalia, Floralia, Funebres, Liberales or Dionysia, Megalesia, Plebeii, Sæculares, &c.