AC´ATUS
AC´ATUS dim. ACAT´IUM (
ἄκατος, ἀκάτιον). 1. A kind of boat or small
vessel [
NAVIS]. 2. In the rigging
of a ship,
ἀκάτια were certain sails,
perhaps stay-sails, of which nothing definite is known (cf. Liddell and
Scott, s. v.). The statement in Julius Pollux and Hesychius that the
main-mast was so called is extremely doubtful; in the only classical text
where the word occurs,
τὰ ἀκάτια are
contrasted with
τὰ μέψαλα ἱστία (
Xen. Hell. 6.2.27); and Rich, s.v. rightly
observes that the only certain thing is that the acatium was especially
adapted for fast sailing with light winds. 3. A drinking-vessel, so named
from its shape, somewhat like
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Acatia, boat-shaped Cups.
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our modern sauce-boat. The above figures are from the collection
in the Louvre (ap. Daremberg and Saglio). The
ἀκάτια are expressly distinguished from larger cups (Epicrat.
ap. Ath. xi. p. 782 f., fr. 9, Meineke); but there was also a
μεγάλη ἄκατος used in libations (Antiph. ap.
Ath. xv. p. 692 f., fr. 5, Meineke).
[
W.W]