Pedum, Gen. (pes, a foot). A shepherd’s crook, or curved stick for catching goats or sheep by the leg. Fauns and satyrs are often represented carrying the pastoral crook, and it is the attribute of Thalia, as the muse of pastoral poetry. (See under Peplum.) In Egyptian archæology it is a symbol of authority, and is frequently to be seen in the hands of Osiris and the Pharaohs; the Egyptian term for it is hyq. (Cf. Hycsos.) In early Christian art it is an attribute of Our Lord as the Good Shepherd. Representations of the pedum are of frequent occurrence in the catacomb paintings. (See Pastoral Staff.)
Fig. 530. Pegasus. Device of Cardinal Bembo.
Pegasus. A horse with wings; emblem of fame, eloquence, poetic study, and contemplation. A bronze medal of Cardinal Bembo, the great Italian author of the 16th century, in the Museum at South Kensington, shows his device given above. (Fig. [530].)
Pegma, R. (πῆγμα, i. e. a thing fastened). (1) This term denotes generally anything made of a number of boards joined together. (2) In a more restricted sense it means a theatrical machine of several stages (tabulata), one above the other, which could be raised or lowered by balance weights. On such stages gladiators called pegmares fought in the amphitheatres, and battles and other scenes were represented. When they were used in sacrifices, the victim was slaughtered in an upper stage and the priest stood in one under the ground, and was afterwards brought up to be shown to the people with the blood of the victim upon him. In theatres similar pegmata were employed for the purpose of changing the scenery. (3) Lastly the term was used to denote any kind of wooden furniture or joinery in a house, such as shelves, side-boards, bookcases, &c.
Pegola, It. Greek pitch; boiled resin for varnishes.
Pel, O. E. (Lat. palus). A post, six feet in height, set firmly in the ground, to be hewn at with sword or mace for exercise. The weapons were double the ordinary weight, and the swordsman had to cover himself from imaginary blows in return with a shield, called a fan, also of double weight. (See Quintain.) (Consult Meyrick, vol. i. 145.) The pel was in the same way set up as a mark to throw spears at, and for archery practice.
Pelecinon, Gr. A sun-dial so called because it ended in a “dove-tail” (πελεκῖνος).
Fig. 531. A Pelican in its piety.