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

Sella, R. (sedeo, to sit). A low seat without back, a stool; sella curulis, a curule chair; its feet were of ivory, and took the form of an X, and it folded like a camp-stool; sella castrensis, a real camp-stool; sella balnearis, a bath-seat, we possess a specimen in ancient red marble of the greatest beauty, another name for it was sella pertusa; sella tonsoria, a barber’s chair. Again, the term sella was applied to a sedan-chair (sella portatoria, gestatoria, fertoria), and a pack-saddle for beasts of burden (sella bajulatoria), and to a riding-saddle (sella equestris).

Sellaria, R. A large reception-room, so called because it was furnished with a number of sellæ.

Sellaris (sc. equus), R. A saddle horse.

Sellula, R. (dimin. of Sella). A small sedan-chair.

Sembella, R. A nominal subdivision of the denarius, of which it was worth a twentieth part, or about fivepence.

Fig. 608. Fleur-de-lis (semée). Ancient France.

Semée or Aspersed, Her. Sown broadcast, or scattered, without any fixed number, over the field. (Fig. [608].)

Sementivæ, R. (sementis, a sowing). A festival which took place at seed-time in honour of Ceres and Tellus.

Semi- (ἡμι-), as an adjunct, is the Greek form of demi = half.