Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Compeditus

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

COMPEDI'TUS. Having fetters or shackles upon the feet; but the word more especially designates a slave who always wore, and worked in, fetters (Seneca, Tranq. c. 10. Plaut. Capt. v. i. 23. Cato, R. R. 56. Compare Ovid. Pont. i. 6. 31.), like the galley-slaves of modern Italy, whose chains are made precisely like those worn by the figure in the illustration (Compeditus/1.1), from an engraved gem, which represents Saturn in fetters; an adjunct frequently given by the Romans to the statues of this deity, but from which they were removed during his festival in the month of September (Stat. Sylv. i. 6. 4.), when a temporary liberty was also allowed to the slaves in allusion to the happy condition which mankind were supposed to have enjoyed under his reign.

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  Compeditus/1.1