Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Patera

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. 

PAT'ERA (φιάλη). A shallow circular vessel, like our saucer, employed for containing liquids, not solids, that is, as a drinking, not an eating utensil (Becker, Quaest. Plaut. p. 50.); but more especially used to receive the wine with which a libation was made, by pouring it from the patera over the head of the victim, or on to the altar (wood-cut s. SPONDAULES). The common qualities were made of earthenware, the more costly of bronze, silver, and also gold, highly and elaborately ornamented; sometimes with a handle, but more usually plain. The illustration (Patera/1.1) affords a specimen of both kinds, from originals in bronze discovered at Pompeii; and represented in front and profile, in order to show the circumference and depth of the vessel. Varro, L. L. v. 122. Macrob. Sat. v. 21. Virg. Aen. i. 739. Ov. Met. ix. 160.

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  Patera/1.1