Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lithostrotum

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

LITHOSTRO'TUM (λιθόστρωτον). Literally, paved with stones; whence the pavement of a Roman road, which was laid with polygonal blocks of volcanic formation (silex); or of any flat open square, like an area, or a forum, which were paved with broad square flags; or the floor of a building, like that of the Pantheon at Rome, which is formed with slabs of porphyry and jaune antique; were all lithostrata in a generic sense. But the word is mostly applied, in the passages which remain, to the various kinds of ornamental pavements which go by the common name of mosaic with us; more especially to those which were composed of small pieces of stone or marbles of natural colours, as contradistinguished from those which were made of glass or composition, artificially stained to imitate different tints. Varro, R. R. iii. 1. 10. Plin. H. N. xxxvi. 60. Capitol. Gord. 32. and the various names enumerated in the Classed Index.