Proletarii, R. The proletariate, or Roman citizens of the lowest class of the people, so called because they contributed nothing to the resources of the republic except by their offspring (proles); being, as they were, too poor to pay taxes.
Prom, Hind. An ornamented carpet in Khmer art.
Prometheia. An Athenian festival in honour of Prometheus, with a torch-race (lampadephoria).
Promulsis. The first course at a Roman dinner, arranged to stimulate the appetite; eggs were a principal ingredient, whence the proverb ab ovo usque ad mala (from first to last).
Pronaos, R. (πρό-ναος). A portico situated in front of a temple; it was open on all sides, and surrounded only by columns, which, in front, supported not only the entablature, but the pediment (fastigium).
Proper, Her. Said of a thing exhibited in its natural, or proper, colour.
Proplasma, Gr. and R. (πρό-πλασμα). A rough model or embodiment of the sculptor’s first idea, executed by him in clay.
Propnigeum, Gr. and R. The mouth of the furnace of the Hypocausis (q.v.).
Propylæa, Gr. The open court at the entrance to a sacred enclosure; e. g. an Egyptian temple, or especially the Acropolis at Athens.
Prora, R. (πρῷρα). The prow or fore-part of a ship, whence proreta, a man who stood at the ship’s head; proreus was a term also used. (See Acrostolium.)