Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Focus

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

FOCUS (ἑστία, ἐσχάρα). A fire-place; the hearth of a house. (Cic. Sen. 16. Hor. Od. i. 9. 5. Tibull. i. 1. 6.) Amongst the Romans, the hearth was consecrated to the Lares, and held as a sacred spot in the house; consequently, it was situated in the public hall, or atrium, where the altar of the household gods also stood (see ARA, 5.): hence the frequent juxtaposition of the words pro aris et focis in solemn adjurations. It consisted of a square platform of stone or bricks, raised a few inches only from the ground, as is manifested by numerous instances still visible at Pompeii; upon this the fire was kindled with logs of wood resting upon andirons (varae), but in most cases without any flue or chimney to carry off the smoke.

2. Same as FOCULUS, 1. The hollow part at the top of an altar, for burnt-offerings, in which the fire was kindled; thence, the altar itself. Ov. A. A. i. 637. Tibull. i. 8. 70.

3. Focus turicremis. A brazier or fire-pan, made of metal and furnished with handles for the convenience of transport from place to place, and placed upon solemn occasions before the altar or statue of a divinity, to serve the purpose of a censer for burning pastiles of frankincense. (Ov. Her. ii. 18. Marini, Fr. Arv. p. 311.) The illustration (Focus/1.1), from an ancient Roman fresco, exhibits a female with a dish of pastiles in her left hand, and the focus turicremis burning on the ground beside her, into which she drops them one by one.

4. A sort of hot plate, invented by the luxurious Romans for the purpose of having their soups and ragouts thoroughly hot when brought to table. It was made of metal, and contained a fire of kindled charcoal, as well as the dish or vessel with the viands ready cooked, all of which were thus carried up at once from the kitchen to the dining-room, which Seneca expresses by saying the kitchen accompanies the meal — culina coenam prosequitur. (Senec. Ep. 78.) The illustration (Focus/4.1) represents an utensil of this kind, from an original in bronze found at Pompeii, with a section of the inside, and a drawing of the pan which contained the viands, placed between them. The charcoal was inserted and replenished through the small door at the bottom; the smoke escaped through two apertures at the sides, each ornamented by a lion's head; the handles at the top served to carry it; and the pan was let in at the top, where it was supported over the fire by the rim round its surface.

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  Focus/1.1
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  Focus/4.1