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

PUGIO. PULVINAR. 97
with regular pugilists they were generally much copied from Beger (Th/es. Brand. vol. iii. pp. 398,
mittilated and broken. (Plat. Gog. p. 516; 419): the third represents a dagger about a foot
Protag. p. 342; Martial, vii. 32. 5.) Hence in long, which was found in an Egyptian tomb, and
works of art the ears of the pancratiasts always is preserved in the Museum at Leyden. The
appear beaten flat, and although swollen in some middle figure is entirely of metal. The handles
parts, are yet smaller than ears usually are. In of the two others were fitted to receive a plate of
order to protect the ears from severe blows, little wood on each side. The lowermost has also two
covers, called a/qywLriles, were invented. (Pollux, bosses of ivory or horn, and shows the remains of
ii. 82; Etymol. Mag. s. v.) But these ear-covers a thin plate of gilt metal, with which the wood
which, according to the Etymologist, were made was covered.
of brass, were undoubtedly never used in the
great public games, but only in the gymnasia and'
palaestrae, or at most in the public contests of -,
boxing for boys; they are never seen in any
ancient work of art.
The game of boxing, like all the other gymnastic and athletic games, was regulated by certain __
rules. Thus pugilists were not allowed to takle i
hold of one another, or to use their feet for the
purpose of making one another fall, as was the
case in the pancratium. (Plut. Synp:; ii. 4; Lucian, Anzach. 3.) Cases of death either during the
fight itself or soon after, appear to have occurred
rather frequently (Schol. ad Pind. O. v. 34), but
if a fighter wilfully killed his antagonist, he was
severely punished. (Paus. viii. 40. ~ 3, vi. 9. In the heroic ages the Greeks sometimes wore
~ 3.) If both the combatants were tired without a dagger suspended by the sword on the left side
wishing to give up the fight, they might pause of the body [GLADIUS], and used it on all oca while to recover their strength; and in some casions instead of a knife. (Hom. 1. iii. 271;
cases they are described as resting on their knees. Athen. vi. p. 232, c.) The custom is continued to
(Apollon. Rhod. ii. 86; Stat. TDib. vi. 796.) If the present day among the Arnauts, who are dethe fight lasted too long, recourse was had to a scended from the ancient Greeks. (Dodwell,
plan called cXl4ca(, that is, both parties agreed not Tosr, vol. i. p. 133.) The Romans (see woodto move, but to stand still and receive the blows cuts, pp. 2, 554), wore the dagger as the Persians
without using any means of defence, except a cer- did [ACINACES] on the right side, and consetain position of the hands. (Eustath. ad II. xxiii. quently drew it with the thumb at the upper part
p. 1324; Paus. viii. 40. ~ 3.) The contest did of the hilt, the position most effective for stabbing.
not end until one of the combatants was compelled The terms ptegio and EYXELtptLOY denote both its
by fatigue, wounds or despair, to declare him- emallness and the manner of grasping it in the
self conquered (array7opese'l, Paus. vi. 10. ~ 1), hand (7ri4, pugnus). In the same way we must
which was generally done by lifting up one hand. understand "the two swords " (duos gladios, Gell.
(Plut. Lyczrg. 19.) ix. 13) worn by the Gallic chieftain, slain bThe Ionians, especially those of Samos, were at Manlius Torquatus; and the monuments of the
all times more distinguished pugilists than the middle ages prove that the custom long continued
Dorians, and at Sparta boxing is said to have in our own and in adjoining countries. (See Stobeen forbidden by the laws of Lycurgus. (Paus. thard, Mson. EJfigiesof Gt. Britain.) Among some
vi. 2. ~ 4; Plut. Lyceurg. 19.) But the ancients of the northern nations of Europe, a dirk was congenlerally considered boxing as a useful training stantly worn on the side, and was in readiness to
for military purposes, and a part of education no be drawn on every occasion. (Ovid. Trist. v. 8.
less important than-any other gymnastic exercise. 19, 20.) The Chalybes employed the same weapon,
(Lucian, Ansacl. 3; Plut. Cat. Maj. 20.) Even in stabbing their enemies in the neck. (Xen. Asnab.
a medical point of view, boxing was recom- iv. 7. ~ 16.) For the Greek horsemen the dagger
mended as a remedy against giddiness and chronic was considered preferable to the long sword as a
headaches. (Aretaeus, De Morb. disut. curc. i. 2.) weapon of offence. (Xen. de Be Equest. xii.
In Italy boxing appears likewise to have been 11.) [J. Y.]
practised from early times, especially among the PULLA'RIUS. [AuonR, p. 176,a.]
Etruscans. (Liv. i. 35; Dionys. vii. 72) It PU'LPITUM [THEATRUM.]
continued as a popular game during the whole PULVI'NAR. A representation of the mode
period of the republic as well as of the empire. of using cushions or pillows (psulvini), to recline
(Suet. Aug. 45; Cic. De Leg. ii. 15, 18; Tacit. upon at entertainments, is given in the wood-cut
Annal. xvi. 21; Suet. Ccals. 18.) See Krause, under SyvmsosIuM. The most luxurious of such
Die Gyizsnastik und Agon. d. EUelleizen, pp. 497- cushions were stuffed with swan's-down. (Mart.
534. [L. S.] xiv. 161.) An ancient Egyptian cushion is prePUGILLA'RES. [TABULAE.] served in the British Museum. In reference to
PU'GIO (acdXalpa, dias. taXalfpmov; 4yXetpi- this practice, tile Romans were in the habit of
atov), a dagger; a two-edged knife, commonly of placing the statues of the gods upon pillows at the
bronze, with the handle in many cases variously lectisternia. [EPUsIONES; LECTISTERNIUM.] The
ornamented or enriched, sometimes made of the couches provided for this purpose in the temples
hard black woodof the Syrian terebinth. (Theophr. were called pulvinaria. (Hor. C6asrm. i. 37. 3;
/-. P. v. 3. ~ 2.) The accompanying woodcut shows Ovi'l. lMet. xiv. 827; Cic. in Cat. iii. 10, HLarusp.
three ancient daggers. The two upper figures are 5, Dolz, 53, lT/sc. iv. 2; Val. Max. iii. 7. ~ 1;