Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Contus

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

CONTUS (κοντός). A long and strong pole, shod with iron, employed for punting; i. e. for pushing on a boat against the stream, instead of rowing, like our punt-pole; as shown in the annexed engraving (Contus/1.1), from the very ancient mosaic pavement in the temple of Preneste (now Palestrina). Virg. Aen. vi. 302. Eurip. Alcest. 262.

2. A pole of similar character, employed on board ship (Virg. Aen. v. 208.) for various purposes; to keep the vessel off the rocks or shore (Hom. Od. ix. 487.); for taking soundings (Festus. s. Percunctatio. Donat. ad Terent. Hec. i. 2. 2.); and similar uses. Every trireme was furnished with three such poles, of different sizes (Böck. Urk. p. 125.); and in the illustration at p. 91. (s. BUCINATOR), one of the sailors is observed to stand at the head of the vessel, which is just about to enter the port, with a contus in his hands.

3. A cavalry pike of very great weight and length (Non. s. v. p. 555. Arrian. Tact. p. 15., where it is distinguished by juxta-position from the lance, λόγχη, lancea), and resembling the Macedonian sarissa, except that it was not quite so long. (Veg. Mil. iii. 24.) It was the national weapon of the Sarmatians (Tac. Ann. vi. 35. Stat. Achill. ii. 418. Sil. Ital. xv. 684.); though occasionally adopted by the Greeks, and some of the Roman cavalry (Arrian. p. 16.); and was likewise employed by sportsmen in hunting wild beasts. (Grat. Cyneg. 117.) The length and strength of the weapon in the illustration (Contus/3.1), which represents Alexander at the battle of Issus, from the great mosaic of Pompeii, favours the belief that we have in it a genuine specimen of the contus. It may be remarked that only one half of its entire length is presented to the view, as the portion behind the hand, which is placed at the centre of gravity, has perished, from the mutilation of the original; and, likewise, that it is erroneously instanced as an example of the sarissa, an arm which belonged to the infantry, and was still more ponderous.

• 
  Contus/1.1
• 
  Contus/3.1