Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ala

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

A'LA. The wing of a bird, and thence, from the resemblance in use, the feather affixed to the shaft of an arrow to guide and steady its course through the air. (Virg. Aen. ix. 578.) The example (Ala/1.1) shows a Greek arrow found in Attica.

2. A large recess in Roman houses of any size and splendour, of which there were generally two, one on each side of the atrium (Vitruv. vi. 3. 4.), furnished with seats, and closed in front with curtains; and which, if we may judge from the analogy afforded by the houses of modern Turkey, (which have two precisely similar recesses on their galleries, closed with curtains, and fitted with divans,) were intended for the master of the house to receive his visitors, and enjoy the conversation of his acquaintance. The position of the Alae is shown on the ground-plan of the house of Pansa [see DOMUS], where they are marked C. C.; their internal elevation in the engraving (Ala/2.1) above, which is a restoration of the atrium of the house of Sallust at Pompeii, and in which the entrance to the alae is formed by the two large doorways with the curtains drawn aside at the furthest angle of the chamber, on the right and left hand.

3. In large buildings, such as a basilica or Etruscan temple, which were divided by rows of columns into a centre nave and two side aisles, like our churches (a distribution, of which the great temple at Paestum affords an existing specimen; see also the illustration to BASILICA), these side aisles appear to be termed Alae by Vitruvius (iv. 7. 2.); and, in consequence, Professor Becker (Gallus, p. 107. Transl.) wishes to establish that the alae of private houses were not the apartments described above, but merely two side-aisles, separated in like manner by rows of columns from the centre of the atrium. But, to support this position, he is under the necessity of inventing an imaginary atrium of his own, unlike any which has yet been discovered either at Pompeii or elsewhere — of separating the cavaedium from the atrium, — and of composing a Roman house upon a plan entirely conjectural, which he, therefore, distributes into the three separate divisions — the atrium first, next the cavaedium, and the peristyle beyond; all which, though plausible enough in theory, receives no corroboration from anything yet brought to light; and, therefore, in the absence of positive authority, the interpretation given under No. 2. seems most entitled to confidence.

4. The wing of an army, which, in the Latin writers, is equivalent to saying the division or contingent furnished by the allies; for these were always stationed on the flanks, to cover the legions consisting of Roman citizens, who always occupied the centre of the battle array. Veget. Mil. 2. 14.

5. For a similar reason, also applied to a brigade of cavalry containing 300 men and upwards, furnished by the allies, and in like manner posted upon the flanks. Cincius ap. Gell. xvi. 4. 4.

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  Ala/1.1
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  Ala/2.1