Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Tripus

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. 

TRIP'US (τρίπους). Generally, any thing supported on three feet or legs; whence the following characteristic senses: —

1. A cauldron or vessel for boiling eatables of any description, which stood upon three legs over the fire, as exhibited by the annexed illustration (Tripus/1.1) from a picture representing a scene in the market-place of Herculaneum. Isidor. Orig. xx. 8. 5. Hom. Il. xxiii. 702. τρίπους ἐμπυριβήτης.

2. A common three-legged stool, such as poor people used to sit upon. Isidor. Orig. xx. 11. 12. Sulp. Sev. Dial. 11.

3. The tripod, or stool of the Pythian priestess, upon which she sat to deliver her responses at Delphi (Cic. Virg. Ov.); of which the annexed figure (Tripus/3.1) is given in the plates of Müller's Handbuch der Archäologie der Kunst, as an accurately detailed representation; and a fictile vase of Sir W. Hamilton's collection exhibits a tripod of very similar character, with Apollo sitting upon it.

4. An article made of bronze, marble, or precious metals, in imitation of the sacred tripod, either for ornament or use; often dedicated as an offering in the temples or given as an honorary prize and reward of valour (Virg. Aen. v. 110.); or used as an altar for sacrifice, like the annexed example (Tripus/4.1) from the arch erected by the Roman goldsmiths in honour of Septimius Severus.

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  Tripus/1.1
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  Tripus/3.1
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  Tripus/4.1