Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Periscelis

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. 

PERIS'CELIS (περισκελίς). An anklet, made of choice materials and workmanship, worn more particularly by the Greek women and courtezans round the ankle in the same manner as a bracelet is round the wrist. (Hor. Ep. i. 17. 56. Pet. Sat. 67. 4 and 5.) In the numerous instances where ornaments of this description are represented in the Pompeian paintings, they are always introduced upon figures with bare feet and legs, dancing girls and such characters, or the goddesses and heroines draped in the poetical or heroic style, like the annexed example (Periscelis/1.1) representing Ariadne; consequently, in the passage of Petronius (l. c.), where they are worn by the wife of Trimalchio, and seen peeping from under her tunic above the tops of her shoes, it is expressly intended to ridicule the ostentation, vulgarity, and absurdity of the wealthy parvenu and his silly helpmate, who loads her person with finery, without regarding its fitness, or perceiving the ridiculous figure she makes of herself.

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  Periscelis/1.1