Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ancon

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

ANCON (ἀγκών). Literally an elbow; i. e. the bend or angle formed by the two bones of the arm when bent at the elbow joint; from this it is transferred to several other things which partake of the same form, or have a resemblance to it; and, as this flexure consists of two separate parts or sides, the word is generally applied in the plural.

1. The arms or branches of a stone-mason's or carpenter's square (norma), which is employed in measuring right angles; and was formed of two flat rules mitred together like an elbow joint. (Vitruv. iii. 5. 14.) The example (Ancon/1.1) represents a square thus formed, which is carved upon a sepulchral marble amongst many other implements of a carpenter's trade. Fabretti. Aq. 73.

2. (παρωτίς — οὖς τῷ ὑπερθύρῳ. Inscript. in Elgin collection of Mus. Brit.) The trusses or consoles which support an ornamental cornice (hyperthyrum) over a doorway; which are usually made in the form of the letter S, and are affixed under each extremity of the cornice, at right angles with it. (Vitruv. iv. 6. 4.) The small figure on the left hand of the engraving (Ancon/2.1) gives a side view of one of these consoles, from the temple of the "Dio Redicolo," as it is now called, near Rome; the other represents the cornice over the doorway to the temple of Hercules, at Cora, and gives a front view of the ancones depending on each side of the cornice.

3. Cramps of bronze or iron employed in building, for connecting together large blocks, or courses of masonry. (Vitruv. x. 13. 21.) These were used instead of mortar, in all structures of great size, and account for the number of holes observable in the masonry of many ancient buildings, from which the cramps have been removed during the middle ages in order to get possession of the metal. The top figure in the illustration (Ancon/3.1) shows the form of a bronze ancon from the Coliseum, and the lower one the manner in which it was applied to cramp together two blocks of stone in the same edifice.

4. The arms of an arm-chair, which are attached to the uprights forming the back, and thus with them constitute a right angle like the carpenter's square. (Coel. Aur. Tard. ii. 1.) The illustration (Ancon/4.1) is copied from a marble chair in a bas-relief formerly in the palace of the Cardinal Mazzarini at Rome.

5. The prongs or forks at the end of the props (Ancon/5.1) (varae), which the ancient sportsmen used to hang their nets upon. (Grat. Cyneg. 87.) These were stuck by their sharp ends into the ground, and at short intervals from one another, around any spot which it was wished to enclose, and the nets then hung upon the fork. Compare VARA, where the manner of setting up the net is shown.

6. A particular kind of bottle or vessel for holding wine used in the Roman taverns (Paul. Dig. 33. 7. 13.), and which, from its denomination, is not unreasonably supposed to have been made with a bent neck, something like a retort. An example alone is wanting to confirm the conjecture.

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  Ancon/1.1
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  Ancon/2.1
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  Ancon/3.1
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  Ancon/4.1
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  Ancon/5.1