Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Portisculus

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. 

PORTI'SCULUS. A truncheon or hammer, with which the officer (pausarius) who gave out the chaunt (celeusma) to the rowers on board ship, beat the time to keep them in stroke (Ennius and Laber. ap. Non. s. v. p. 151. Cato ap. Fest. s. v. Plaut. As. iii. 1. 14.). In the illustration (Portisculus/1.1), from the Vatican Virgil, it is seen in the right hand of the figure sitting in the stern of the vessel.

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  Portisculus/1.1