Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Catella

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

CATELLA (ἁλυσίδιον). A diminutive of CATENA; but generally used to indicate the smaller and finer sort of chains made by jewellers in gold or silver, and used for trinkets, or any of the various purposes to which similar articles are applied in our own days. (Hor. Ep. i. 17. 55. Liv. xxxix. 31. Cato, R. R. 135.) The example (Catella/1.1) here introduced, from a Pompeian original, exhibits a small bronze chain of a pattern very commonly found; but the excavations made at different times in that city and other parts of Italy have produced a great variety of other designs, affording specimens of all the patterns now made, as well as some others, which cannot be imitated by modern workmen.

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  Catella/1.1