Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Calamister

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

CALAMIS'TER, CALAMIS'TRUS, CALAMIS'TRUM (καλαμίς). A pair of curling-irons; so termed because the outside was hollow like a reed (calamus), though, like our own, they were made of iron, and heated in the fire, to produce artificial curls in the hair. (Varro, L. L. v. 129. Cic. Post Red. i. 7. Pet. Sat. 102. 15). The illustration (Calamister/1.1) is copied from a sepulchral bas-relief in the Florentine Gallery, on which it appears amongst various other articles of the toilet; the curling part alone is indicated on the marble, as here represented, but that is sufficient to show that the instrument was similar in character to the one still employed for the same purpose.

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  Calamister/1.1