AMBUBAIAE
AMBUBAIAE female musicians from Syria, who gained their living
by performing in public, at Rome, especially in the circus. Their name is
derived from the Syrian word
abub or anbub, a flute.
Their moral condition was that which females of their class generally fall
into. The bayadères of India will perhaps give the best idea of
what they were. (Hor.
Sat. 1.2. 1, with
Heindorf's note; Mayor on
Juvenal, 3.62;
Suet. Nero 27;
Priapeia, 26; Petron. 74.13.)
[
P.S]
