Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Harpago

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. 

HAR'PAGO and HAR'PAGA (ἁρπάγη). A particular kind of hook constructed for grappling and drawing things up, or down, or towards the person using it, which was consequently applied in various ways; as a flesh-hook (κρεάγρα), for taking eatables out of the pot (Schol. Aristoph. Eq. 772); a drag for bringing things up from the bottom of the water, a bucket, for instance, from a well (Ulp. Dig. 37. 7. 12. § 21.); and as a grappling-iron in naval warfare, for seizing the rigging of an enemy's vessel, so as to bring it up to close quarters (Liv. xxx. 10.), and similar purposes. The example (Harpago/1.1), which is copied from a bronze original in the British museum, corresponds exactly with the words of the Scholiasts on Aristophanes (l. c.), where it is described as an instrument made with a number of iron prongs, bending inwards like the fingers of the human hand, so as to catch in different ways. A wooden handle was added of various lengths, as best suited the purpose for which it was employed.

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  Harpago/1.1