Tapēté
(
τάπης, τάπις). Tapestry; a carpet. Tapestry was known to
the Greeks as early as Homer's time, being used for coverlets and pillows, and was also
spread, in later ages, upon thrones, chairs, couches, etc. Carpets were made especially at
Babylon, Tyre, Sardes, Carthage, and Alexandria. The most expensive kinds (
μαλλωτοί) were like our baize or drugget, and had sometimes a nap on
both sides (
ἀμφίταποι) or on only one side (
ἑτερόμαλλοι). They were beautifully dyed and often worked in figures
of hunting scenes, etc. The Roman
toral (q. v.) was a sort of
tapestry.