Sonnachiosi of Bologna. One of the Italian Academies, having for their device a bear, which sleeps through the winter; and the motto spero avanzar con la vigilia il sonno. (I hope by vigils to make up for sleep.)
Sorrows of the Virgin. (See Joys of the Virgin.)
Sortes, R. Lots; small tablets or counters thrown into a Sitella or urn full of water, and withdrawn for soothsaying.
Soteria, Gr. and R. (σωτήρια, i. e. of saving). Sacrifices in honour of the gods offered by way of thanksgiving for escape from any danger.
Sounding-board, Chr. A sort of dome or canopy, placed above pulpits to convey the voice of the preacher to his auditory. In the centre of the lower part of the canopy there is often a carved dove, symbolizing the Holy Ghost. Sounding-boards must be placed five feet above the speaker’s head, and their diameter should exceed that of the pulpit by six to eight inches on either side.
Soutane, Fr. A white woollen cassock, worn by priests under the rochet.
Sow, Chr. In Christian iconography, the sow is a symbol of evil, impurity, gluttony, and fecundity. It is borne in the crest of Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, with the motto, “Through.”
Span. Of an arch, the breadth between the imposts.
Spandril, Arch. The triangular space between the upper arch of a door and the square mouldings which form a frame to it.
Spangles, of gold and silver, were, in the Middle Ages, artistically shaped concave, and sewed on like tiles, one overlapping the other, producing a rich and pleasing effect. Our present flat spangles are quite modern.