Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Cathedra

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

CATHED'RA (καθέδρα). A chair with a back to it, but without arms, such as was used more especially by females (Hor. Sat. i. 10. 91. Mart. Ep. iii. 63.); hence when assigned to males, it frequently implies a notion that they were of idle, luxurious, or effeminate habits. (Juv. Sat. ix. 52. The illustration (Cathedra/1.1) represents Leda's chair, from a Pompeian painting.

2. Cathedra supina. A chair with a long deep seat (hence cathedra longa. Juv. Sat. ix. 52.), and reclining back (whence supina. Plin. H. N. xvi. 68.), such as we might call an easy or lounging chair. The example (Cathedra/2.1) is from a Greek fictile vase, and represents one of the masters who taught the young men their exercises in the gymnasium (παιδοτρίβης). A marble in the Capitol at Rome shows the empress Agrippina sitting in one of a similar character.

3. Cathedra strata. A chair covered with a cushion, as seen in the first engraving. Juv. l. c.

4. The chair in which philosophers, rhetoricians, &c., sat to deliver their lectures; a professor's chair (Juv. Sat. vii. 203. Mart. Ep. 1. 77.), of which the last illustration probably affords the type.

5. A sedan chair (Juv. Sat. i. 65.); for SELLA, which see.

6. More recently, the chair in which the bishops of the early Christian Church sat during divine service (Sidon. in conc. post Epist. 9. 1. 7.); from which the principal church of a diocese was called the "cathedral;" i. e. in which the bishop's chair is placed.

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  Cathedra/1.1
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  Cathedra/2.1