Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lepesta

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. 

LEPES'TA, LEPIS'TA, or LEPAS'TA (λεπαστή). A large vessel employed in early times as an acratophoron, to hold the wine before it was mixed with water for drinking at table (Varro, de Vit. Pop. Rom. ap. Non. s. Sinum, p. 547.), and at a lectisternium amongst the Sabine population. (Id. L. L. v. 123.) It was originally made of earthenware, subsequently of bronze, or the precious metals (Varro, ap. Non. s. Lepista, p. 547. Naevius ap. Mar. Victorin. p. 2587. [sic]); and appears to have possessed a form resembling what is generally conveyed by our term pan, the name being taken from the shell of the limpet (λεπάς), after which we may assume that it was modelled.