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

Belt, Chr. A girdle used to confine the alb at the waist.

Belt of Beads, Chr. A rosary was sometimes so called.

Belvidere, It. A prospect tower over a building.

Bema, Gr. (1) A stone platform or hustings, used as a pulpit in early Christian churches. (2) The term is synonymous with sanctuary. (3) It also serves to denote an ambo and a bishop’s chair. (See Ambo.) The Athenian bema was a stone platform from which orators spoke at the assemblies (ecclesiæ) in the Pnyx.

Bembix, Gr. and R. (Lat. Turbo). (1) A child’s whipping-top. (2) The whorl of a spindle.

Benches, for seats, are represented in the 14th century formed by laying a plank upon two trestles.

Fig. 81. Bend. Arms of Le Scrope.

Bend, Her. One of the Ordinaries. It crosses the field diagonally, from the dexter chief to the sinister base, as in Fig. [81], the arms of Richard Le Scrope: Azure, a bend or.

Bendideia, Gr. (Βενδίδεια). A festival held in the Piræeus in honour of the goddess Bendis (the Thracian name of Artemis or Diana).