I.v. infra), ae, f. Sabin. fas-ena; from Sanscr. root bhas-, to shine, gleam, Corss. Ausspr. 1, 102.
I. Prop., sand (syn.: “sabulum, glarea, suburra): harenae tria genera,” Plin. 36, 23, 54, § 175: “magnus congestus harenae,” Lucr. 6, 724; 726: “litoris incurvi bibulam pavit aequor harenam,” the thirsty sand of the curved shore, id. 2, 376; so, “bibula harena,” Verg. G. 1, 114 (Rib. and Forbig., but Conington arena): “sicca,” id. ib. 1, 389: “sterilis,” id. ib. 1, 70: “mollis,” Ov. M. 2, 577: “opaci omnis harena Tagi, i. e. the gold it was believed to contain,” Juv. 3, 55 (cf. Plin. 4, 21, 35, § 115): “nivis more incidens,” Sen. Q. N. 2, 30, 2.—Poet.: “harena nigra, = limus,” slime, mud, Verg. G. 4, 292.—Plur. (postAug.; its use is said by Gell. 19, 8, 3, to have been ridiculed by Cæsar as a verbi vitium): “arenae carae, of the golden sands of Pactolus,” Ov. M. 11, 88 Merk.: “quem (delphina) postquam bibulis inlisit fluctus harenis,” id. H. 18, 201: “summae cauda verruntur arenae,” id. M. 10, 701 Merk.; so id. ib. 2, 456; 865; 11, 231; 499; 15, 268; 279; Stat. S. 4, 3, 23 Queck; Col. 1 praef. 24; “but harenae,” Ov. Am. 2, 11, 47; Verg. G. 2, 106; 3, 350; Hor. C. 3, 4, 31 K. and H.: “arenarum inculta vastitas,” Sen. Q. N. 1 prol. 8; “of the bottom of the sea: furit aestus harenis,” Verg. A. 1, 107: “aestu miscentur harenae,” id. ib. 3, 557.—Prov.
(β).
Ex incomprehensibili pravitate arenae funis effici non potest, Col. 10 praef. § 4.—
(γ).
Arena sine calce, said by Caligula of Seneca, because his sentences seem like independent maxims, without connection, Suet. Cal. 53.—
II. Meton.
A. In gen., sand, sands, a sandy place: “ut cum urbis vendiderit, tum arenam aliquam emat,” Cic. Agr. 2, 27, 71 B. and K.—
B. Esp.
1. A sandy desert, waste (mostly post-Aug.): “cum super Libycas victor penderet arenas,” Ov. M. 4, 617; Luc. 2, 417: “nigras inter harenas,” Prop. 4 (5), 6, 83. “Memnonis effigies, disjectas inter et vix pervias arenas,” Tac. A. 2, 61.—
2. The shore of the sea, the beach, coast, strand: “cum mare permotum ventis ruit intus harenam,” Lucr. 6, 726: litoream arenam sulcare, Ov. M. 15, 725: “doque leves saltus udaeque inmittor arenae,” id. ib. 3, 599: “multaque perpessae (carinae) Phrygia potiuntur arena,” id. ib. 12, 38: “sub noctem potitur classis arena,” id. ib. 13, 729.—So sing., Verg. A. 1, 540; 5, 34; 6, 316; 11, 626 al.—
3. The place of combat in the amphitheatre (strewn with sand), the arena: “in amphitheatri arena,” Suet. Ner. 53; id. Tit. 8: “missus in arenam aper,” id. Tib. 72; id. Aug. 43: “comminus ursos figebat Numidas Albana nudus harena venator,” Juv. 4, 100; 2, 144; 8, 206: “juvenes in arenam luxuria projecit,” Sen. Ep. 99, 13.—
4. Transf.
(α).
A combat in the amphitheatre: “in harenam se dare,” Dig. 11, 4, 5 fin.: “operas arenae promittere,” Tac. A. 14, 14: “in opera scaenae arenaeque edenda,” Suet. Tib. 35: “scaenae arenaeque devotus,” id. Cal. 30.—
(β).
The combatants in the arena: cum et juris idem (i. e. testandi libertas) contingat harenae, the gladiators have the right, etc., Juv. 6, 217.—
5. Harena urens, volcanic fire, lava: “Aetna ingentem vim arenae urentis effudit,” Sen. Q. N. 2, 30, 1.—
III. Trop., the place of combat, scene or theatre of any contest (war, a single battle, a dispute, etc.): “civilis belli arena,” Flor. 4, 2, 18; 4, 7, 6; cf. id. 3, 21, 1; Luc. 6, 63: “in harena mea, hoc est apud centumviros,” Plin. Ep. 6, 12, 2.
