Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1 186 VENABULTUM. VENATIO.
they rose so as to pass through holes cut in the thing of the kind is in the year B. c. 251, when
cornice. The holes for the masts are also seen in L. Metellus exhibited in the Circus 142 elethe Roman theatres at Orange and other places. phants, which he had brought from Sicily after
Velum, and much more commonly its derivative his victory over the Carthaginians, and which were
velamen, denoted the veil worn by women. (Pru- killed in the Circus according to Verrius, though
dent. c. Spyain. ii. 147.) That worn by a bride other writers do not speak of their slaughter.
was specifically calledflammeumz7ls [MATRIMONIUM, (Plin. II. N. viii. 6.) But this can scarcely be
p. 743, a]: another special term was RICA. Greek regarded as an instance of a venatio, as it was unwomen, when they went abroad, often covered derstood in later times, since the elephants are
their heads with the shawl [PEPLUM], thus mak- said to have been only killed because the Romans
ing it serve the purpose of a veil. But they also did not know what to do with them, and not for
used a proper head-dress, called tcaXhrrpa (Apol- the amusement of the people. There was, howlod. ii. 6. ~ 6; Aelian, V. H. vii. 9), which besides ever, a venatio in the later sense of the word in
serving to veil their countenances, whenever they B. C. 186, iin the games celebrated by M. Fulvius
desired it, was graceful and ornamental, and was in fulfilment of the vow which he had made in the
therefore attributed to Venus (Paus. iii. 15. ~ 8; Aetolian war; in these games lions and panthers
Brunck, Anal. ii. 459) and Pandora (Hes. Tbleog. were exhibited. (Liv. xxxix. 22.) It is mentioned
573). The veil of Ilione, the eldest daughter of as a proof of the growing magnificence of the age
Priam, was one of the seven objects preserved at that in the Ludi Circenses, exhibited by the curule
Romne as pledges of the permanency of its power. aediles P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica and P. Lentulus
(Serv. in Virg. Aen. vii. 188.) B. C. 168, there were 63 African panthers and 40
Velmn also meant a sail (Zovio,, NAVIS, p. bears and elephants. (Liv. xliv. 18.) From about
790, a; Xai-pos, Callim. Epig. v. 4; Eurip. Hec. this time combats with wild beasts probably formed
109). Sail-cloth was commonly linen, and was a regular part of the Ludi Circenses, and mane of
obtained in great quantities from Egypt; but it the curule aediles made great efforts to obtain rare
was also woven at other places, such as Tarquinii aTd curious animals, and put in requisition the serin Etruria. (Liv. xxviii. 45.) But cotton sail- vices of their friends. (Compare Caelius's letter to
cloth (carbasa) was also used, as it is still in the Cicero, ad Farn. viii. 9.) Elephants are said to
Mediterranean. The separate pieces (lintea) were have first fought in the Circus in the curule aediletaken as they came from the loom, and were sewed ship of Claudius Pulcherh B. a. 99, and twenty
together. This is shown in ancient paintings of years afterwards, in the curule aedileship of the
ships, in which the seams are represented as dis- two Luculli, they fought against bulls. (Piin. H. N.
tinct and regular. [J. Y.] viii. 7.) A hundred lions were exhibited by Sulla
VENA'BULUM, a hunting-spear. This may in his praetorship, which were destroyed by javelinhave been distinguished from the spears used in men sent by king Bocchus for the purpose. This
warfare by being barbed; at least it is -often so was the first tinme that lions were allowed to be
formed in ancient works of art representing the loose in the Circus; they were previously always
story of Meleager (Bartoli, As-lish 84) and other tied up. (Senec. do Brev. Vit. 13.) The games,
hunting scenes. It was seldom, if ever, thrown, however, in the curule aedileship of Scaurus B. C.
but held so as to slant downwards and to receive 58 surpassed anything the Romans had ever seen;
the attacks of the wild boars and other beasts -of among other novelties he first exhibited an hippochace. (Virg. Aen. iv. 131, ix. 553; Varr. L.L. potamos and five crocodiles in a temporary canal
viii. 53, ed. MUller; Apul. Met. viii. pp. 78, 83, or trench (eursipus, Plin. H. N. viii. 40). At the
ed. Aldi; Plin. Ep. i. 6.) [J. Y.] venatio given by Pompey in his second consulship
VENALICIA/RII. [SERVrrS, P. 1040, a.] B. C. 55, upon the dedication of the temple of
VENA'TIO, hunting, was the name given Venus Victrix, and at which Cicero was present
among the Romans to an exhibition of wild beasts, (Cic. ad Famrs. vii. I), there was an immense numwhich fought with one another and with men. ber of animals slaughtered, among which we find
These exhibitions originally formed part of the mention of 600 lions, and 18 or 20 elephants: the
games of the Circus. Julius Caesar first built a latter fought with Gaetulians, who hurled darts
wooden amphitheatre for the exhibition of wild against them, and they attempted to break through
beasts, which is called by Dion Cassius (xliii. 22) the railings (clathri) by which they were separated,IEaTpOV Ki2/l'YEt-05v, and the same name is given from the spectators. (Senec. I. c.; Plin. viii. 7. 20.)
to the amphitheatre built by Statilius Taurus (Id. To guard against this danger Julius Caesar surIi. 23), and also to the celebrated one of Titus (Id. rounded the arena of the amphitheatre with
lxvi. 24); but even after the erection of the latter trenches (eurispi).
we frequently read of Venationes in the Circus. In the games exhibited by J. Caesar in his third
(Sport. Hadr. 19; Vopisc. Pr-ob. 19.) The per- consulship, B. c. 45, the venatio Ilasted for five
sons who fought with the beasts were either con- days and was conducted with extraordinaty splendemned criminals or captives, or individuals who dour. Camelopards or giraffes were then for the
did so for the sake of pay and were trained for the first time seen in Italy. (Dion Cass. xliii, 23;
purpose. [BESTIARII.] Suet. Jul. 39; Plin. H-I. N. viii. 7; Appian, B. C.
The Romans were as passionately fond of this ii. 102; Vell. Pat. ii. 56.) Julius Caesar also inentertainment as of the exhibitions of gladiators, troduced bull-fights, in which Thessalian horsemen
and during the latter days of the republic and pursued the bulls round the circus, and when the
under the empire an immense variety of animals latter were tired out, seized them by the horns and
was collected from all parts of the Roman world for killed them. This seems to have been a favourite
the gratification of the people, and many thousands spectacle; it was repeated by Claudius and Nero.
were frequently slain at one time. WVe do not (Plin. H. N. viii. 70; Suet. Claud. 21; Dion Cass.
know on what occasion a venatio was first exhibited lxi. 9.) In the games celebrated by Augustus,
at Rome.; but the first mention we find of any B. c. 29, the hippopotamos and the rhinoceros were