GUTTUS
GUTTUS (
λήκυθος), a vessel with a
narrow mouth or neck, from which liquids were poured in drops; hence its
name.
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Gutti. (British Museum.)
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“
Qui vinum dabant ut minutatim funderent, a guttis guttum appellarunt” (Varr.
L.
L. 5.124 M.). Varro goes on to say that for pouring out wine at the
banquet it had been superseded by the
epichysis
and
cyathus; but retained its place in
sacrificial libations, especially of the domestic sort (Hor.
Sat. 1.6, 118, with Orelli's note;
Plin. Nat. 16.185). The guttus was of the
plainest shape and materials; it differed from the
CAPIS (also used in sacrifices),
EPICHYSIS and
URCEUS in being without. a
handle; and was, usually of coarse pottery, as in the specimens here figured
from the British Museum, though one of beech-wood is mentioned (
faginus, Plin.
l.c.). It was
in common use as an oil-cruet, whether at table (
Gel.
17.8.5), or at the bath (
Juv. 3.263,
11.158; cf.
BALNEAE p. 279
a, where
a guttus and a strigil are engraved together). Oil was also kept in. large
horns (Hor.
Sat. 2.2, 61;
Mart. 14.52); in the latter passage the lemma has, perhaps
improperly,
guttus corneus. (Marquardt,
Privatl. 630.)
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