Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Bucina

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

BU'CINA and BUC'CINA (βυκάνη). A particular kind of horn, formed in spiral twists (Ovid, Met. i. 336.), like the shell of the fish out of which it was originally made, as shown by the annexed engraving (Bucina/1.1), from a small bronze figure once belonging to Blanchini.{TR: probably "Bianchini"} In this, its earliest form, it was commonly used by swine and neat-herds to collect their droves from the woods (Varro, R. R. ii. 4. 20. Id. iii. 13. 1. Prop. iv. 10. 29.); by the night watch, and the Accensi, to give notice of the hours by night or day (Prop. iv. 4. 6. Seneca, Thyest. 798.); and in early times, to summon the Quirites to the assembly, or collect them upon any emergency. Prop. iv. i. 13.

2. The bucina was also employed as one of the three wind instruments with which signals were made, or the word of command given to the soldiery (Polyb. xv. 12. 2. Virg. Aen. xi. 475. Veget. Mil. iii. 5.); but the military instrument was then of a different form, having a larger mouth made of metal, and bent round underneath (quae in semetipsam aereo circulo flectitur, Veget. l. c.), of which kind a specimen (Bucina/2.1) is here given, from a marble bas-relief, published by Burney, Hist. of Music, vol. i. pl. 6.

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  Bucina/1.1
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  Bucina/2.1