Arundo, R. A term with various significations. (1) A reed or cane. (2) An arrow or bow made of cane. (3) A fishing-rod. (4) A cane rod tipped with bird-lime for catching birds. (5) A reed pen for writing. (6) A Pan’s pipe in which the reeds were joined together by wax; whence its name arundo cerata. (See Calamus.)
Arx, R. (arceo, to enclose). A citadel or fortress. Arx is almost equivalent to Acropolis (q.v.), since citadels were usually built on elevated sites, thus forming an upper city (ἀκρόπολις).
Fig. 46. Greek Aryballos.
Aryballos. A Greek flask or vase used for oil or wine. It was commonly of a bladder shape with a thin neck. The example engraved (Fig. [46]) is painted in the Asiatic style. On some of these vases the ornament is engraved.
Arystichos, Gr. and R. (from ἀρύω, to draw water). A vessel for drawing water, especially from the Amphora (q.v.). It was also called ephebos (ἔφηβος), because, at banquets, it was the duty of youths to mix the wine with water before handing it to the guests. This term has as synonyms aruter, arusane, arustis and oinerusis.
Arzica. (1) An artificial pigment of a yellow colour, used for miniature painting. (2) A yellow lake made from the herb “reseda luteola.” (3) A yellow earth for painting, of which the moulds for casting brass are formed; it yields an ochreous pigment of a pale yellow colour, which, when burned, changes to an orange colour.
Arzicon. A contraction of Arsenicon, for orpiment (q.v.).
As, R. The unit of value in the bronze currency of the Romans. Originally the as weighed one pound, whence its name as liberalis; and as it was composed of a mixture of copper and tin (æs), it was also called æs grave. At a later period the as had much declined in value; under Augustus it was only worth somewhat less than a penny.
Asaminthos, Gr. (ἀσάμινθος). A large vase of the Homeric epoch, large enough to admit of a person bathing in it. It is supposed that this was the tub of Diogenes.