CRUME´NA
CRUME´NA (
βαλλάντιον or
βαλάντιον), a purse. It was a leathern bag.
slung round the neck (Plaut.
Asin. 3.3, 67;
Truc. 3.1, 7); and usually hung down behind, which
exposed it to the attacks of the “cut-purse” (
βαλλαντιοτόμος,
sector zonarius, Plaut.
Trin. 4.2, 20). Hence we find a master walking behind the
slave who carries his purse, that he may keep an eye upon it (Id.
Pseud. 1.2, 37). Crumenae were of different shapes. A
bronze lamp engraved in Rich and in D. and S. shows a flat bag not unlike a
postman's, closed with a flap: we also find mention of
συσπαστὰ βαλλάντια, round pouches with strings to draw
(Plat.
Symp. 190 E; Ath. xi. p. 783 f; cf.
ARYBALLOS).
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W.W]
