arcus

non semper tendit arcum Apollo
Apollo does not always stretch his bow

arcus , ūs, m.: a bow, 5.500, et al.; the rainbow, 5.88.

arcus, ūs, m. (the orthography, arquus (cf. arquatus), is freq. in MSS., like quum for cum, quur for cur, etc.; cf. Freund ad Cic. Mil. p. 31 sq. Thus Charis. p. 92 P. upon Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51, reads arcuis; Prisc. p. 712 P. arci; and Non. p. 425, 5, upon Lucr. 6, 526, arqui; but the distinction which the latter gram. points out (arcus suspensus fornix appellatur; arquus non nisi qui in caelo apparet, quam Irim poëtae dixerunt) does not seem to be well founded.—Abl. plur. never found; acc. to the gram., Don. p. 1751, Diom. p. 285, Prisc. p. 779, Rhem. Palaem. p. 1371 P. al., it was arcubus; so Vulg. 2 Esdr. 4, 13; cf. Rudd. I. p. 104, n. 48.—Gen. sing. arqui, Lucr. 6, 526 Lachm., and Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51 B. and K.—Dat. arcu, Sil. 4, 18.—Nom. plur. ARCVVS, Corp. Inscr. V. 85; Inscr. Henz. 5313: arci, Varr. ap. Non. p. 77, 12.—Acc. ARCOS, Corp. Inscr. II. 3420.—Fem., Enn. ap. Prisc. p. 712 P.; cf. id. 658 P.; and Serv. ad Verg. 6, 610, says that Catull. and others used it as fem.; v. Neue, Formenl. I. p. 679) [cf. Sanscr. arālas = bent, the bent arm, aratnis = Gr. ὠλένη; Lat. ulna; Germ. Elbogen; Engl. elbow. Curt.], prop., something bent; hence,

• I A bow (syn. cornu).
• • A For shooting: intendit crinitus Apollo Arcum auratum, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2 (Luc.), 28, 89 (Trag. v. 54 Müll.): arcus intentus in aliquem, Cic. Sest. 7: haec cernens arcum intendebat Apollo Desuper, Verg. A. 8, 704; 9, 665; so Vulg. Psa. 10, 3; 36, 14: arcum tendere, ib. 3 Reg. 22, 34; ib. 4 Reg. 9, 24: adductus, Verg. A. 5, 507: remissus, Hor. C. 3, 27, 67: arcum dirigere in aliquem, Pers. 3, 60: quom arcum et pharetram mi et sagittas sumpsero, Plaut. Trin. 3, 2, 98 (724); so, arcum suscitare, Vulg. Hab. 3, 9 et saep. —
  • B The rainbow (fully: pluvius arcus, v. infra, II.), Enn. ap. Prisc. p. 712 P. (Ann. v. 393 Vahl.): Tum color in nigris existit nubibus arqui, * Lucr. 6, 526 Lachm.: arcus ipse ex nubibus efficitur quodam modo coloratis, Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51: ceu nubibus arcus Mille jacit varios adverso sole colores, Verg. A. 5, 88 Rib.; so Ov. M. 6, 63; 11, 632; 14, 838: pluvius describitur arcus, Hor. A. P. 18; Liv. 30, 2; 41, 21; Plin. 18, 35, 80, § 353; Sen. Q. N. 1, 5 and 6: arcum meum ponam in nubibus, Vulg. Gen. 9, 13 sqq. (in Vulg. Apoc. 4, 3; 10, 1, iris, q. v.) al.—
  • C A bow or arch in building, a vault, arch, triumphal arch, etc.: efficiens humilem lapidum compagibus arcum, Ov. M. 3, 30; 3, 160; Juv. 3, 11; Suet. Ner. 25: marmoreus arcus, id. Claud. 1; so id. ib. 11; id. Dom. 13; cf. Plin. Pan. 59, 2 Schwarz.—
• II Transf.
• • A Poet. or in post-Aug. prose, any thing arched or curved like a bow; of the breaking of waves: niger arcus aquarum, Ov. M. 11, 568.—Of the windings of a serpent: immensos saltu sinuatur in arcus, Ov. M. 3, 42.—Of a curve in flight: dea se paribus per caelum sustulit alis Ingentemque fugā secuit sub nubibus arcum, Verg. A. 5, 658.—Of the curving or bendings of a bay: sinus curvos falcatus in arcus, Ov. M. 11, 229 (cf.: inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos, Verg. A. 1, 161).— Of a harbor: Portus ab Euroo fluctu curvatus in arcum, Verg. A. 3, 533.—Of boughs of trees, Verg. G. 2, 26 et saep.—Of the back of a chair, Tac. A. 15, 57.—
  • B The mathematical arc, Sen. Q. N. 1, 10; Col. 5, 2, 9.—Hence, of the five parallel circles of the globe which bound the zones (or perhaps rather, the zones themselves): via quinque per arcus, Ov. M. 2, 129.

arcus, altlat. arquus, ūs, m. (vgl. angels. earh, got. arhwazna, Pfeil), I) der Bogen, a) zum Abschießen der Pfeile, curvi arcus, Ov.: arcus Haemonii, der Schütze als Gestirn, Ov.: Teucri sagittae et arcus, Ampel.: Euboea consimilis arcui, Hyg.: portus curvatus in arcum, Verg.: hic pontus ad formam Scythici arcus incurvus, Mela: speciem efficit arcus Scythici, Sall. fr.: arcum intendere, Cic., od. adducere, Verg. – b) der Regenbogen, Plaut., Cic. u.a.: arcus bibit aquam, zieht Wasser an sich, Plaut. Curc. 129: vollst. arcus caelestis, Plin., pluvius, Hor., imbrifer, Tibull., hibernus, Val. Flacc. – c) als Bauwerk, der Bogen, der Schwibbogen, Vitr. 5, 10, 2 u.a. Ov. met. 3, 30 u. 160. Lucan. 4, 15 (v. einem Brückenbogen). Frontin. aqu. 15 extr. Corp. inscr. Lat. 6, 1252: ad arcum veterem (beim alten Tore) habitare, Petr. 44, 6. – bes. Triumphbogen, Siegesbogen, Ehrenbogen, circi maximi, Suet. Ner. 25, 2: Fabianus, Sen. const. 1, 3: marmoreus cum tropaeis, Suet. Claud. 1, 3 u. 11, 3: arcus veteres, Iuven. 3, 11: arcus, tropaea, statuas deprecari, Plin. pan. 59, 2: fine anni arcus propter aedem Saturni ob recepta signa cum Varo amissa ductu Germanici dicatur, Tac. ann. 2, 41. – II) übtr.: 1) jede bogenförmige Krümmung, Bogenwölbung, v. den Windungen der Schlange, der Krümmung des Meerbusens, Ov.: v. der Krümmung des Hafens, Verg.: v. den brandenden Wellen, Ov.: v. der Lehne des Stuhls, Tac.: v. den Ranken des Weinstocks, Plin.: v. den zur Erde gebogenen Zweigen, die einwachsen sollen, Verg. u. Col. – 2) insbes., als mathemat. t. t., der Kreisbogen, Sen. u. Col.: quinque arcus, die fünf Parallelkreise der Erdkugel, die die Zonen begrenzen, Ov. – ➳ Alter Genet. sing. arqui, Lucr. 5, 526. Cic. de nat. deor. 3, 51 M. – alter Nom. plur. arci, Varr. bei Non. 77, 12: u. Abl. plur. arquis, Tert. ad nat. 2, 15 ed. Oehler. – Abl. plur. arcubus, Manil. 3, 213. Capit. Maxim. et Balb. 16, 5. Treb. Poll. Claud. 3, 7. Veget. mil. 1, 14; 2, 15; 4, 29. Serv. Verg. Aen. 9, 622 u. 11, 6. Sidon. ep. 1, 5. Vulg. Nehem. 4, 13; vgl. Diom. 308, 2. Vel. Long. (VII) 68, 3 K. – arcus als fem., Enn. ann. 393.

arcus [CL] 1 bow. b (dist. acc. make). c stone-bow. d crossbow. e (w. pravus) ‘deceitful bow’ (cf.Psalm. lxxvii [lxxviii] 57). sagittarum spicula de ‥ feretrae latibulis depromens, ‥ pando strepente ~u et nervo stridente ad destinatum ‥ dirigit locum Aldh. VirgP 2 p. 230; ~us, boga Ælf. Gl.; 1209 inventus fuit in chimino magno in foresta cum ~u sine corda SelPlForest 6; 1236 per serjantiam unius arci, v sagittarum et j buzenn’ Fees 601 (cf. ib. 586: per servicium j ~us de auburno); a1250 ad ‥ aditum [del Odd] de Ald Ravenserre via patebat arenosa ‥ latitudinem quantum ~us jacere potest vix habens Meaux II 30; 1264 in cordellis emptis ad archos KR Ac 3/3 r. 2; 1298 pro ‥ quarellis pennandis et ~is emendandis (KR Ac 7/1 r. 6) Doc. Scot. 322; hircina ‥ herba aspera est, qua solent polliri pectines et archus Alph. 82; distat ab insula Man per tres sagittaciones ~us W. Worc. Itin. 152.  b non autem ~u utuntur corneo, non alburneo, non taxeo solum ex ulmellis silvestribus ~us formant Gir. IK I 4; unde et ~us taxei dicuntur Neckam NR II 70; s1191 tot ~us Turkenses Itin. Ric. IV 19; 1235 ij ~us Turkes’ cum ij cordis de corio Chanc. Misc. 3/4; 1315 tenens unum ~um qui vocatur Turkeys de taxu de Ispania facto [sic] de j corda tento in manum suam sinistram de longitudine j ulne regis et dim. et de grossitudine in girum v pollicum hominis CoramR 220 r. 105d.; Turci quorum ~us sunt de cornu curvi S. Sim. Itin. 53; 1306 xxix ~us manuales de omello KR Ac 486/20; 1315 pro factura d quarellorum ad ~um de pilo Cl 132 m. 19; 1359 cccc ~us depictos et cc ~us albos (Cl) Foed. ed. 1825 III 454; 1390 pro vj ~ubus latis Ac. H. Derby 34; 1391 lx ~us pro bosco, ‥ iiij duodenas sagittarum pro bosco (Cl) Foed. VII 699.  c 13‥ nullus infra civitatem ‥ portet ~um de petra [OF: arc a perre], viz. stonebowe MGL I 251 (cf. ib. 278).  d 1224 recepisse ‥ ij ~us ad balistam de cornu ad j pedem et j alium ~um ad j pedem crudum Pat 453; 1328 c ~us balistos ad pedem et xx ~us balistos ad troll’ (Cl 147) Foed. IV 367; 1416 j ~um vocatum arblast Reg. Cant. II 103; 1513 cum ‥ ~ubus planis et cruciferis Reg. Butley 29; 1532 sagittacionem in quodam ~u cruciato KR Mem 311 Rec. P. r. 8.  e 1167 mentiuntur Romanam ecclesiam nobis conversam esse in ~um pravum (J. Sal. Ep. 204) Ep. Becket 305; s1187 tantam unitatis constantiam converterent in ~um pravum Gerv. Cant. I 354; s1189 Constantinopolitanus imperator versus in ~um pravum non est adhuc ad cor reversus Flor. Hist. II 103; in ~um ‥ pravum conversus, duo ‥ agere attemptavit Ockham Err. Papae 958. 2 rainbow. 10‥ yris vel ~us, renboga WW; arcus celestis imitatur gemma colores Neckam DS VI 303; quod Aristotiles dicit ~um varium apud ortum et occasum solis parve esse mensure Gros. 77; Gilb. VI 257 v. 2 (v. 1 arcuare 2c); usus armorum erat post diluvium, cum tunc primo apparuit ~us celestis, id est iris, diversi coloris Bad. Aur. 144. 3 (cf. arculus): a saddle-bow; b ox-bow; c handle of bucket. a 1226 homines de Bedeford’ tulerunt ad scaccarium duo paria ~uum ad sellam de redditu Lamberti Sellarii LTR Mem 9 r. 1 (1)d.; colliget unam summam virgarum ‥ ; et habebit †arcem que est ultra cellam unde summa ligatur, pariter et alterum baculum qui est ex altera parte equi portantis summam in occulo dicte ~is Cust. Bleadon 203; 13‥ de ~ubus sellarum [OF: arzons de seles] equestrium MGL II 50 (cf. ib. 80).  b 9‥ boia, ~us vel geoc WW; debet ire in wodelonde ‥ propter juga boum et ~us Cust. Bleadon 203; 1261 inveniet funes et ~us ad carucas domini Ac. Man. Wint. (Chilbolton) ; 1267 in meremio ad ij carucas scapellando cum ~ubus et hart’ ad easdem MinAc 824/6 r. 1d.; 1270 in ‥ xiij jugis, xviij ~ubus et meremio ad duas novas carucas Ac. Stratton 32; 1293 in ~ubus boum (Ac. Cliffe) DCCant. (cf. ib.: in oxseboghes); 1295 de ~ubus ad juga boum Pipe 141 r. 28d.; 1341 in ij ~ubus bovinis emptis, j d. MinAc 1120/11 r. 8; 1454 xxx ~us boum Ac. Durh. 150.  c c1400 in iiij ~ubus emptis pro iiij warepaill’, ij d. MinAc Essex (Foulness) r. 1. 4 arch or vault (in building). b (of bridge or tunnel). c (w. ref. to burial). d (triumphal) arch. e arched recess. f (w. ref. to church of St. Mary le Bow). g (w. ref. to Court of Arches, originally held at St. Mary le Bow). ~us, forbigels Ælf. Gl.; 9‥ camera, ~us, fornax, bigels, boga, incleofa WW; ambitus ipsius edis dupplici lapidum ~u ex utroque latere hinc et inde fortiter solidata operis compage clauditur V. Ed. Conf. 49; infra ~us supra introitum cancelli positos Mir. J. Bev. A 298; 1192 de duabus domibus sub archa CurR RC I cvi; 1237 archiam in aula nostra ibidem reparari facias Cal. Liberate VI 2436; 1238 quod archeam subtus privatam cameram regis ‥ barris ferreis barrari faciat Cl 99; 1249 levabunt novum gablum ‥ cum una archa vel duabus ‥ in eodem loco Cart. Osney I 363; 1275 prostrabit totum murum inter ecclesiam ‥ et cancellum usque ad ~um lapideum SelPlMan 150; 1387 super reparacione ‥ turrium, archiarum, murorum et contramurorum infra castellum KR Ac 183/12 f. 30d.; hec archus, a vowt WW; in aliis duobus panellis ‥ sunt due arche W. Worc. Itin. 401.  b c1170 Roberto de Ponte Archarum FormA 48; s1209 hoc anno fuit fundatio arche pontis Londonie Ann. Berm. 451; 1221 pons ille jam peractus est preter unam ~am SelPlCrown 114; 1233 fieri faciat archias in introitu et exitu bovarum castri Dovr’ Liberate 10 m. 9; 1307 pro emendacione j arche pontis borealis Rec. Leic. I 262; 1340 in reparacione archie stagni Ac. Durh. 538; c1430 preter communem semitam ‥ inter ~as domibus contiguas adjacentes et terras dicte fosse adjacent Amund. I app. 429; 1448 pro reparacione ‥ arche lacus de Linlithgow ExchScot 304.  c s1113 postea ‥ in secretario ‥ ecclesie, Acca quidem ad dextrum cornu altaris et Alchmundus ad sinistrum, decentius in duobus ~ubus positi sunt Ric. Hex. Hist. Hex. 4; 1415 lego ‥ corpus meum ad sepeliendum in archa nove capelle ecclesie Reg. Cant. II 70; 1420 lego ‥ corpus meum sacre sepulture ‥ in primo archu dicti claustri Ib. 230.  d ~us triumphales tunc proficiunt illustribus viris ‥ cum ‥ quorum sint impressa docet inscriptio J. Sal. Pol. 385B; s1415 apparuit ‥ quasi castrum ‥ circa eam [crucem de Cheepe] ‥ habens ex utraque parte ~us testudinatos ‥ sub quibus ‥ populus velut per duas januas equitabat Elmh. Hen. V 65.  e 1189 licet vicinus habeat in ‥ muro ‥ ~us sive almeria, ‥ nihil amplius potest in predicto muro exigere (Assisa Domorum) MGL I 326 (cf. ib. 322: si ~us habere voluerint, facient ex utraque parte).  f tectum ecclesie S. Marie que ‘ad ~us’ dicitur W. Malm. GR IV 324; c1140 scolas S. Marie de Archa E. Ch. S. Paul. 217; s1271 campanile lapideum B. Marie de ~ubus in foro Londoniarum cecidit Ann. Lond. 81; 1377 custodibus operis ecclesie B. Marie de ~ubus IMisc 213/6 r. 4.  g 1267 decanus de ~ubus Cl 309; 1289 quod ‥ procuretis dictam causam alicui discreto committi extra ~us (DCCant) HMC Var. I 253; 1323 auditoribus causarum curie vestre et consistorii vestri de ~ubus Londoniensis Lit. Cant. I 98; 1335 cuidam apparatori de ~ubus Comp. Swith. 239; 1338 bedellus de ~ubus capit per annum ‥ vj s. viij d. Hosp. in Eng. 209; s1452 transferri facit ‥ solucionem questionis ad doctiores jurisperitos totius curie de ~ubus Reg. Whet. I 19; officialis almae curiae Cantuariensis de ~ubus est judex competens ad cognoscendum de causis ecclesiasticis quibuscunque ‥ necnon in causis appellationum ‥ a quibuscunque episcopis ‥ Praxis 3. 5 something bow-shaped or arched, curve. b arc (geom.). geminos intersecet arcus [eyebrows] / lactea forma vie Vinsauf PN 564; nunc brachia curvat in arcum / infurcata manus lateri Ib. 657.  b nec minor et medie qui nocti ascribitur arcus / dimidiumque diem metiri dicitur arcu Hanv. VIII 372; Gros. 20 (v. ascensio 2a); isti circuli [quos describit sol] dierum naturalium appellantur: ~us autem qui sunt supra orizontem sunt ~us dierum artificialium; ~us vero qui sunt sub orizonte sunt ~us noctium Sacrob. Sph. 102; communiter sumpta altitudo rei super horizontem dicitur ~us circuli altitudinis interceptus inter rem elevatam et inter horizontem Bacon Maj. II 176; 1326 linea GI est corda recta ~us anguli AEF Wallingf. Rect. II Pref..

arcŭs (9) ou arquŭs, ūs, m. , ¶ 1 arc : Cic. Nat. 1, 101 ¶ 2 arc-en-ciel : Cic. Nat. 3, 51 ¶ 3 voûte, arc de triomphe : Tac. Ann. 2, 41 ¶ 4 toute espèce dʼobjet courbé en forme dʼarc : Virg. G. 2, 26 ; En. 3, 533 ; Tac. Ann. 15, 57 || arc de cercle : Sen. Nat. 1, 10, 1 ; Col. Rust. 5, 2, 9.

➳ gén. arch. arqui Lucr. 5, 526 ; Cic. Nat. 3, 51 ; nom. pl. arci Varr. d. Non. 77, 12 || fém. Enn. Ann. 409.

arcus , us. m.
弓。天虹。棬。

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*arcus, i. m.
天虹。

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arcus ūs (gen.ī, once, C.), m

• ARC-, a bow: intentus in me: adductus, V.: arcum tendere, H.: tela Direxit arcu, H.: pluvius, the rainbow, H.: arcus sereno caelo intentus, L.: nubibus arcus iacit colores, V.—Poet.: niger aquarum, O.: inmensos saltu sinuatur in arcūs, O.: sinus curvos falcatus in arcūs, bays, O.: Efficiens humilem lapidum compagibus arcum, an arch, O.: via quinque per arcūs, circles of the earth, O.: ad arcum sellae, Ta.

ARCUS

ARCUS(βιός, τόξον), the bow used for shooting arrows, is one of the most ancient weapons, but its use in warfare was early abandoned by the Greeks in general, and it became a characteristic of Asia rather than of Europe. Thus, in the description given by Herodotus (Hdt. 7.61-80) of the various nations composing the army of Xerxes, we observe that nearly all the troops used the bow, and in Greek art also the bow generally serves to distinguish barbarian races, although of course it still was retained as in ancient times in representations of certain deities, such as Apollo, Artemis, and Heracles. The Scythians and Parthians were the most celebrated archers in the East, and among the Greeks the Cretans, who frequently served as a separate corps in the Greek armies, and subsequently also among the auxiliary troops of the Romans. (Comp. Xen. Anab. 1.2, § 9; Liv. 42.35.) The use of the bow in the chase continued, nor was archery as an exercise abandoned (Plat. Legg. 1. p. 625; 6.794, 795; 7.813, 814; 8.384, 434), although it failed to gain the same encouragement in the games as other exercises testing the strength and skill of the upper part of the body, such as throwing the quoit and the spear. A contest of archers, however, is described in Hom. Il. 23.850-84. In later times an ἀγὼν τοξικός was held at Ceos and at Sestos.

Pandarus' bow (Hom. Il. 4.105-26) may be taken as an ordinary Greek bow of heroic proportions. It was composed of the horns of a wild goat, sixteen palms in length, joined by a straight, stock (πῆχυς) in the centre, with a golden tip (κορώνη) at the end of one horn, on which, when the bow was strung, was fastened that end of the string (νευρή, ϝεῦρα βόεια, Il. 4.122, nervus) which was not permanently attached. In order to make the bow more flexible, it was sometimes rubbed with oil before a fire (Od. 21.175-80). Such a bow is represented in the upper figure in the accompanying woodcut, from a fictile vase. In Hom. Il.. 4.115-126, the action of shooting is described, and this account is illustrated by the following outline of a statue belonging to the group of the Aeginetan Marbles. The bow placed in the hands of this statue was probably of bronze, but it has been lost. In Od. 21.405-23 we have a similar description, but there Odysseus shoots sitting. In later times flexible wood was sometimes used in place of horn, and in that case the bow, when unbent, had a circular form, whence it is described with the epithets sinuatus (Ov. Met. 8.381) and sinuosus (id. Am. 1.1, 23); it was sometimes straight with curved ends. For a string a strip of leather was sometimes used in place of the sinew of the ox, or even horse-hair (Verg. A. 10.622; Ov. ex Ponto, 1.2, 21), which no doubt was braided, as in a representation figured in Mon. inod. dell' Inst. Arch. 1851, pi. xxviii.

The lower figure in the cut above, also from a fictile vase, is probably Homer's τόξον παλίντονον (Il. 8.266, 10.459, 15.433; Od. 21.11 and 59; Hdt. 7.69: the last passage shows that παλίντονος cannot be taken as a mere literary epithet, but describes a distinct variety of bow). When strung, it was bent backwards against the curve, which must have given it unusual force.

The Scythian bow was distinct from the ordinary Greek forms of the bow, and was curved into two unequal sinus. The accompanying cut is taken from a golden ornament on a sword sheath found in the Crimea, now in St. Petersburg (see Plate 5 in Commission Archéologique pour l'année 1865). Strabo (2.22) compares the outline of the Black Sea to a Scythian bow, the southern coast resembling the string, and the other coasts recalling the two curves of the bow, one of which projects further than the other. Again, the Scythian bow is compared to a serpent (Lycophr. 917), and to the letter Σ, which in many of its ancient forms consists of two unequal curves.

In the Roman army archers (sagittarii) do not appear to have been employed before the Punic Wars, and afterwards only as auxiliaries, being especially drawn from Crete and the Balearic Islands. [SAGITTA] The Asiatic cataphracti [CATAPHRACTI] were often armed with the bow.

When not used, the bow was put into a case (τοξοθήκη, γωρυτός, corytus), which was made of leather, and sometimes ornamented (φαεινός, Hom. Od. 21.54). The bow-case is very conspicuous in the sculptured bas-reliefs of Persepolis. It frequently held the arrows as well as the bow, and on this account is often used by the Roman poets as equivalent to the pharetra or quiver. (Verg. A. 10.169; Ov. Tr. 5.7, 15; Sil. 7.443.) Though its use was comparatively rare among the Greeks and Romans, we find it exhibited in a bas-relief in the Museo Pio-Clementino (vol. iv. tav. 43), which is copied in the annexed cut.

[J.Y] [J.H.F] ARCUS (also fornix, Verg. A. 6.631; Cic. Ver. 1.7, 19, et alibi; καμάρα), an arch. It is possible to give an arched form to the covering of any opening by placing horizontal courses of stones projecting over one another, from both sides of the opening, till they meet at top, and then cutting the ends of the projecting stones to a regular curve, as shown below. This form is found in the most ancient architecture of nearly all nations, but it does not constitute a true arch. A true arch is formed of a series of wedge-like stones, or of bricks, supporting each other, and all bound firmly together by their mutual pressure.

It would seem that the arch, as thus defined, and as used by the Romans, was not known to the Greeks in the early periods of their history, otherwise a language so copious as theirs, and of such ready application, would not have wanted a name properly Greek by which to distinguish it. But the constructive principle by which an arch is made to hold together, and to afford a solid resistance against the pressure upon its circumference, was known to them even previously to the Trojan war, and its use is exemplified in two of the earliest buildings now remaining--the chamber built at Orchomenus, by Minyas, king of Boeotia, described by Pausanias (Paus. 9.38), and the treasury of Atreus at Mycenae (Paus. 2.16). Both these works are constructed under ground, and each of them consists of a circular chamber formed by regular courses of stones laid horizontally over each other, each course projecting towards the interior, and beyond the one below it, till they meet in an apex over the centre, which was capped by a large stone, and thus resembled the inside of a dome. Each of the horizontal courses of stones formed a perfect circle, or two semicircular arches joined together, as the subjoined plan of one of these courses will render evident.

It will be observed that the innermost end of each stone is bevelled off into the shape of a wedge, the apex of which, if continued, would meet in the centre of the circle, as is done in forming an arch; while the outer ends against the earth are left rough, and their interstices filled up with small irregular-shaped stones, the immense size of the principal stones rendering it unnecessary to continue the sectional cutting throughout their whole length. Schliemann points out that the stones, contrary to the general belief, are not immediately covered with earth, but with enormous masses of stone, which, by their ponderous weight, keep all the stones of the circular layers of masonry in their position. Thus the principle of this construction is, as Colonel Leake justly remarks, that of an archshaped wall resisting a great superincumbent weight, and deriving its strength and coherence, from the weight itself (Schliemann, Mycenae, p. 43; Leake, Morea, 2. p. 377). Thus it seems that the Greeks did understand the constructive principle upon which arches are formed, even in the earliest times; although it did not occur to them to divide the circle by a diameter, and set the half of it upright to bear a superincumbent weight. But they made use of a contrivance, even before the Trojan war, by which they were enabled to gain all the advantages of our archway in making corridors, or hollow galleries, and which in appearance resembled the pointed arch, such as is now termed Gothic. This was effected by cutting away the superincumbent stones in the manner already described, at an angle of 45° with the horizon. The mode of construction and appearance of such arches are represented in the annexed drawing of the walls of Tiryns, copied from Sir William Gell's Argolis. The gate of Signia (Segni) in Latium exhibits a similar example.

The principle of the true arch was known to the Egyptians, but it is remarkable that they did not make use of it in their most massive works (Wilkinson, 2. p. 299, ed. of 1878). The Assyrians also used it in subterranean buildings (Layard, Nineveh, 1. p. 167; 2. p. 260). There are also a few specimens of the true arch in ancient Greece. At Oeniadae, in Acarnania, is a postern of a perfect arch in the polygonal walls of the city (Leake, Northern Greece, 3. p. 560 seq.); and at Xerokampo, in the neighbourhood of Sparta, is a bridge on the true archprinciple (Mure, Tour in Greece, 2. p. 248), though the latter, in the opinion of many archaeologists, is of Roman construction (Dennis, Etruria, 2. p. 250 seq.). But these are rare instances; and the Etruscans are the first people who used the true arch extensively. Two circumstances may have favoured this--the ease with which tufa is split into wedges, and the necessity of constructing extensive tunnels to drain the valleys of the Tiber and the Arno, and the marshes of the coast. Hence the use of the arch passed into the architecture of buildings. The Romans probably borrowed it from the Etruscans. Thus the Cloaca Maxima, long held to be the oldest instance of the arch at Rome, and attributed to the Tarquinii [CLOACA], closely resembles the canal of the Marta (Dennis, Etruria, 1. p. 430 seq.). But whatever date be assigned to the Cloaca Maxima in its arched form, the general use of the arch even in subterranean buildings is far later. Thus the specus of the Aqua Appia (B.C. 313) is gabled, not arched (Burn, Rome and the Campagna, p. xxv.). The key-stone of the arch is mentioned by Seneca. ( Democritus invenisse dicitur fornicem, ut lapidum curvatura paulatim inclinatorum medio saxo alligaretur, Fp. 90. med.) The use of the arch constitutes one leading distinction between Greek and Roman architecture, for by its application the Romans were enabled to execute works of far bolder construction than those of the Greeks,--to erect aqueducts and permanent bridges, spanning broad and rapid rivers, and to make a comparatively fragile material, such as brick, more extensively useful than the finest marbles in the hands of the Greeks.

But in many Roman edifices we find the use of the arched form without the principle of the arch (Middleton, Ancient Rome in 1885, p. 366), as the facing of brick or stone covers a concrete arch cast in one solid mass, and therefore without lateral thrust. [CAEMENTUM] This is especially apparent in the thermae of Caracalla, and in the relieving arches in the walls of the Pantheon and other buildings, which are of no structural importance, but simply shallow indentations in a wall which was really one solid slab of concrete (Middleton, ib. p. 33).

[A.R] [J.H.F] [W.S]

Arcus

(βιός, τόξον). The bow used for shooting arrows. Two kinds of bow were known to antiquity. One consisted of the two horns of the antelope, or an arm of wood similarly shaped, joined by a bridge which served both as a hold for the hand and as a rest for the arrow. The string, made of plaited horse-hair or twisted ox-gut, was fastened to each end (fig. 1). The other, called the Scythian or Parthian bow, was made of a piece of flexible wood, the ends of which were tipped with metal, and bent slightly upwards to hold the string (fig. 2). The arrow (Gr. ὀϊστός, or τόξευμα; Lat. sagitta) was made of a stem of reed or light wood, one end furnished with a three-cornered point, sometimes simple and sometimes barbed, the other end with feathers. A notch in the shaft served to place it on the string. The arrows (and sometimes the bow) were kept in a quiver (φαρέτρη, pharetra) made of leather, wood, or metal, fitted with a suspender, and sometimes open, sometimes having a lid. The quiver was worn either on the back, according to the Greek manner, or in Oriental fashion, on the left hip. The Cretans had the reputation of being the best archers among the Greeks. They generally served among the light-armed auxiliaries as a special corps. Mounted bowmen were employed by the ancient Athenians (see Hippeis); but it was not until after the Punic Wars that archers formed a regular part of the Roman army. They were then furnished by the allies, or raised by recruiting, and were mostly taken from Crete and the Balearic Islands. See Arma.

Arcus

(fornix, καμάρα). An arch suspended over the head of an aperture, or carried from one side of a wall to another, and serving as the roof or ceiling to the space below. An arch is formed of a series of wedge-like stones or of bricks, supporting each other, and all bound firmly together by the pressure of the centre one upon them, which latter is therefore distinguished by the name of keystone.

It would seem, at first sight, that the arch, as thus defined, and as used by the Romans, was not known to the Greeks in the early periods of their history, otherwise a language so copious as theirs, and of such ready application, would not have wanted a name properly Greek by which to distinguish it. The use of both arches and vaults appears, however, to have been known to them even before the Trojan War, and its use is exemplified in two of the earliest buildings now remaining—the chamber built at Orchomenus by Minyas, king of Boeotia (Pausan. ix. 38), and the treasury of Atreus at Mycenae (Pausan. ii. 16). Both of these works are constructed underground, and each of them consists of a circular chamber formed by regular courses of stones laid horizontally over each other, each course projecting towards the interior, and beyond the one below it, till they meet in an apex over the centre, and thus resemble the inside of a dome. Each of the horizontal courses of stones formed a perfect circle, or two semicircular arches joined together, as the subjoined plan will render evident. See Schliemann, Mycenae, p. 43; Leake, Morea, ii. 377; and the articles Architectura; Mycenae.

The principle of the construction is that of an arch-shaped mass resisting a great superincumbent weight, and deriving its strength and coherence from the weight itself. Thus it seems that the Greeks did understand the constructive principle on which the arch is formed. They made use of a contrivance, even before the Trojan War, by which they were enabled to gain all the advantages of our archway in making corridors, or hollow galleries, and which in appearance resembled the pointed arch, such as is now termed Gothic. This was effected by cutting away the superincumbent stones in the manner already described, at an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizon. The mode of construction and appearance of such arches are represented in the annexed drawing of the walls of Tiryns from Sir William Gell's Argolis.

The principle of the true arch was known to the Egyptians, but it is remarkable that they did not make use of it in their most massive works (Wilkinson, ii. 299, ed. of 1878). The Assyrians used it in subterranean buildings (Layard, Nineveh, i. 167; ii. 260). There are also a few specimens of the true arch in ancient Greece. At Oeniadae, in Acarnania, is a postern of a perfect arch in the polygonal walls of the city (Leake, Northern Greece, iii. 560 seq.); and at Xerokampo, in the neighbourhood of Sparta, is a bridge on the true arch-principle (Mure, Tour in Greece, ii. 248), though the latter, in the opinion of many archaeologists, is of Roman construction (Dennis, Etruria, ii. 250 seq.). But these are rare instances; and the Etruscans are the first people who employed the true arch extensively. Hence the use of the arch passed into the architecture of buildings. The Romans probably borrowed it from the Etruscans. Thus the Cloaca Maxima, long held to be the oldest instance of the arch at Rome, and attributed to the Tarquinii (see Cloaca), closely resembles the canal of the Marta (Dennis, Etruria, i. 430 seq.) See pp. 373 and 628.