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 p282  Chrysendeta

Article by Philip Smith, B.A., of the University of London
on p282 of

William Smith, D.C.L., LL.D.:
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875.

CHRYSE′NDETA, costly chased dishes used by the Romans at their entertainments. They are mentioned several times by Martial (II.43.11, VI.94, XIV.97), and from the epithet flava which he applies to them, as well as from the etymology of the name, they appear to have been of silver, with golden ornaments. Cicero (Verr. IV.21‑23) mentions vessels of this kind. He calls their golden ornaments in general sigilla, but again distinguishes them as crustae and emblemata (c. 23); the former were probably embossed figures or chasings fixed on to the silver, so that they could be removed and transferred to other vessels, and the latter inlaid or wrought into it (comp. c. 24: Illa, ex patellis et turibulis quae vellerat, ita scite in aureis poculis illigabat, ita apte in scyphis aureis includebat, &c.). The embossed work appears to be referred to by Paullus (cymbia argenteis crustis illigata, Dig. 34 tit. 2 s. 33),º and the inlaid ornaments by Seneca (argentum, in quod solidi auri caelatura descenderit, Ep. V). [Comp. Caelatura.]


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Page updated: 28 Sep 12