An Illustrated Dictionary of Words used in Art and Archaeology / Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations.

by John W. Mollett

Menzil, Orient. Houses in the East for the reception of travellers, in places where there are neither caravanserais nor khans.

Mereack, Hind. A sort of thick black varnish employed by the Khmers to coat over statues made of any soft stone, which are exposed to the changes of the weather. This varnish was, in many instances, itself covered with gold leaf.

Merkins, O. E. A name given to ringlets of false hair, much worn by ladies temp. Charles I.

Merlons, Arch. The Cops or raised parts of a battlement. Figures of warriors or animals are sometimes carved on the tops. (See Battlement.)

Fig. 455. Mermaid and Pillars of Hercules. Arms of the Colonna family.

Mermaid. An ancient device of the Colonna family was the mermaid between the pillars of Hercules, with the motto Contemnit tuta procellas.

Mesaulæ (μέσ-αυλα). (1) The narrow passage or corridor which, in a Greek house, connected the andron with the gynæceum. (2) The door in this passage.

Mese (the middle, sc. χορδή). The central note of the seven-stringed lyre. The Greeks had no names to distinguish musical notes. They were expressed by the names of the strings of the lyre. Thus, Nete, d; Paranete, c; Paramese, b flat; and Mese, a, in the treble or upper tetrachord; and Lichanos, g; Parhypate, f; and Hypate, e, in the base or lower tetrachord.

Mesjid, Arab. A small mosque. These exist in great numbers. The Sultan Mohamet II. alone consecrated 170 mesjids in Constantinople.