Creta
(sc.
terra). Chalk or clay; so called from its abundance in the island
of Crete (Creta), and so in Greek
Κρητικὴ γῆ. The creta
proper was simply chalk;
creta Eretria was a species of earth found near
Eretria in Euboea and used in medicine as an astringent;
creta Sarda was
fuller's earth, used in cleaning garments (see
Fullo);
creta Cimolia was a better kind of the same; and
creta
Selinusia (from Selinus in Sicily) furnished women with one of their numerous
face-powders. (See
Cerussa;
Fucus.) Of some species of creta, vessels were made, on which see
Fictilé. From the whiteness of chalk, it was
spoken of tropically as denoting luck, contrasted with
carbo (
Pers. v. 108 with the commentators). The feet of slaves exposed for
sale were chalked (
Juv.i. 111), possibly to aid in tracking them
if they escaped; hence
gypsati pedes in Tibull. ii. 3, 60. The word
cretati is sometimes applied to candidates for office, from the white robes
they wore=
candidati. See
Ambitus.
