Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Artemon

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

AR'TEMON (ἀρτέμων, N. T.). One of the sails on a ship, but which one, or where placed, is extremely doubtful. Isidorus (Orig. xix. 3. 3.) says, that it was used more for the purpose of assisting the steerage of a vessel than for accelerating her speed — dirigendae potius navis causa, quam celeritatis — which would seem to indicate a sail attached to a low mast, slanting over the stern, like that which is frequently used in our fishing boats, and in the small crafts of the Mediterranean, which the sailors there call the trinchetto. This is probably the true interpretation, for it distinguishes the sail by a particular use and locality, entirely distinct from the various other sails of which the position and nature are sufficiently ascertained. Bayfius, however (R. Nav. p. 121.) considers it to be the mainsail, which the Italians of his day called artemone; and Scheffer (Mil. Nav. v. 2.) a topsail hoisted above the mainsail.

2. The principal pulley in a system comprising several others (polyspaston), which was attached to a contrivance for raising heavy weights. Vitruv. x. 2. 9.