CAPIS
CAPIS an earthen vessel used in sacrifices. Other forms are
capedo (
Cic.
Parad. 1.2, 11),
capeduncula (id.
N. D. 3.17, 43), and
capula (Varr.
L. L. 5.121,
“capis et minores capulae a capiendo, quod ansatae ut prehendi
possint, id est capi” ). We thus see that it was fitted with a
handle, but its shape is variously described. According to Varro (ap. Non.
p. 547, 15), it was a small pitcher (
urceolus);
according to Festus (P. Diac. p. 48 M.), a cup (
poculum). It is joined with the
lituus among the sacred implements of the augurs (
Liv. 10.7), and the two are often represented on
coins and medals struck in honour of persons belonging to the more
distinguished priesthoods. One of these coins is figured under
AUGUR another under
URCEUS Another shape occurs on
coins given by Daremberg and Saglio; but in these the vessel is more
probably the
SIMPULUM which
was also used in sacrifices, and which is figured under
SECESPITA and
SIMPULUM The presence of the
lituus makes the pitcher shape the most
probable. The conservatism of Roman religion required the retention of the
primitive plainness of material as well as of the antique shape; in the time
of Cicero (
ll. cc.) costly vessels were only
beginning to be used in sacrifices. Pliny dates a great increase in the
luxury of
capides et pocula from Pompey's third
triumph, B.C. 61: and after this time the
capis
was no longer reserved for sacred purposes, but passed into ordinary use.
(
Plin. Nat. 37. § § 18,
20; cf. Petron. 52; Marquardt,
Privatl. 684.)
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