A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

BULLA,

a Boss, or Ring, or Medal, which the Romans wore upon their Breast, and was used as an Ornament for such as rode in Triumph. The Children of the Nobility wore it with their Garment, called Praetexta, bordered with Purple, and never went without it, till they put off that Garment, as Persius tells us.

Cum primum pavido custos mihi purpura cossit. Bullaque succinctis L••ribus donata pependit. Sat. V. v. 30.

Pliny discovers to us the Original of this Ornament thus. He says, that the Son of Tarquinius Priscus, the Fifth King of Rome, when he was but Fourteen Years of Age, shewed an extraordinary Courage in the War against the Sabines, and slew one of his Enemies Captains with his own Hand. His Father commended this Action before all the People, and as a Reward of it, gave him a Robe edged with Purple, and ador∣ned with this Bulla, or Ring, which he hung upon his Breast, and came down as far as his Stomach, as the Popish Bishops Crosses do. In these Bulla they had Preser∣vatives against Enchantments, and Witch∣craft. In after times it became a Custom to give this Ornament to Noblemens Chil∣dren, animate them by this Badge of Vertue to behave themselves valiantly in War, and at the same time to preserve them from the Contempt of Men.

These Bulla were made in different Shapes, as we may observe, but chiefly those that were worn against Enchantments, for they often resembled the Privy Parts of Beasts, and Men.