CAN´THARUS
CAN´THARUS (
κάνθαρος）
is the name of a kind of boat--of what shape we do not know (
Aristoph. Peace 143, and ap.
Ath. 473d)--and also of a drinking vessel; called
either from resemblance to an inverted beetle (
κάνθαρος), as Ussing supposes (p. 135), or more probably
from the name of the inventor (Pherecr. ap.
Ath.
474d; Poll. 6.96). From the cup came the name of Cantharus, the
follower of Dionysus, to whom it was sacred (
Plin. Nat. 33.150; Macrob. 5.21). Hence Dionysus is frequently
represented on ancient vases holding a cantharus in his hand. It had feet
(
Ath. 488f), handles (
cantharus ansa,
Verg. Ecl. 6.17), which were what we may
call vertical, stretching from the rim down to near the foot, the curve
often extending far higher than the rim. These vertical handles are what
mainly distinguish the
cantharus from the
CALIX which latter had horizontal
handles. It differed from
CARCHESIUM in not having the centre narrower than the rim, and in
being as a rule a much less splendid article. As regards depth, it varied
considerably; but in size it was generally large (Eubul. ap.
Ath. 474c), also called
ἁδρός (473 d, 474 a), but sometimes medium-sized (
modicis cantharis, Hor.
Od.
1.20,
2).. It was usually made of
earthenware (
Ath. 473f), but also of metal (
Hor. Ep. 1.5,
23). We hear of them even of gold (Menand. ap.
Ath. 474c; cf.
Plin. Nat.
33.53), silver (Orelli, 6071), and gilt (6140). Like all the other
kinds of drinking cups among the ancients,
canthari were often highly adorned.
 |
|
Dionysus, holding a cantharus. (Millin, Peintures
Antiques, pl. 53.)
|
Subjoined are two representations of
canthari,
taken from Dennis (
Etruria, i. p. cxvii.). The
 |
|
Cantharus. (Dennis.)
|
usual form is shown in the first cut; the second is a late
variety, with the handles differently arranged.
 |
|
Cantharus. (Dennis.)
|
In the Digest,
30,
41,
11 (reading
siphones,
Olelli,
Inscr. 2504), it appears that the name
cantharus was given to basins for catching water
from fountains (
Plin. Nat. 36.184). A
splendid one in the Museum at Naples is reproduced by Saglio
(
Dict. p. 894). One appears outside a Christian church in a
mosaic in San Vitale at Ravenna (
Rév. Arch. 1850).
[p. 1.357]
For works bearing on Greek drinking vessels, see
CALIX
[
L.C.P]
