Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Calcar

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

CALCAR. A horseman's spur (Plaut. As. iii. 3. 118. Virg. Aen. vi. 882.); so called, because it was affixed to the heel (calx) of the rider (Isidor. Orig. xx. 16. 6. compare Virg. Aen. xi. 714.); whence the manner of applying it is clearly illustrated by the expression subdere equo calcaria. (Curt. vii. 4. compare iv. 16.) The right-hand figure in the annexed engraving (Calcar/1.1) represents an original from Caylus (Recueil d'Antiq. vol. iii. pl. 59. no. 5.), and closely resembles one found at Herculaneum, excepting that the latter has its point formed like a lance head, or lozenge shaped. All the ancient spurs are like these, with a simple goad, calcis aculeus (Columell. viii. 2. 8., where it is applied to poultry), and not rowelled. The left-hand figures present a side and back-view of the left foot of a statue in the Vatican, representing an Amazon, and show the straps and fastenings by which the spur was fixed to the foot; the goad itself is broken off, but the place from which it projected is clearly seen. The right foot of the statue is not equipped in the same way; from which circumstance some antiquaries incline to the belief that the ancients only rode with one spur, and that one on the left leg.

2. In like manner, the spur which grows out from the heel of a cock. Columell. viii. 2. 8.

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  Calcar/1.1