capistrum

• A halter, a muzzle of leather for animals, Gr. φορβεία, Varr. R. R. 2, 6, 4; Ov. M. 10, 125; Verg. G. 3, 188; 3, 399.—
• • B Trop.: maritale capistrum, the matrimonial halter, Juv. 6, 43. —
• II Transf., of plants,
• • A A band for fastening up vines, Col. 4, 20, 3.—
  • B A band for the wine-press, Cato R. R. 12.

• CAP-, a halter: mollia, V.: frenare ora capistris, O.—Fig.: maritale, Iu.

CAPISTRUM(φορβειά, κημός, φιμός) is derived from capic, and means a halter for animals, just like our own in shape, made apparently of leather (Marquardt, Privatalt. 718). It was used especially in the manger (Xen. Eq. 5, 1; Calp. Ecl. 1.41): hence φορβειά, derived from (φέρβω. It may be questioned if φορβειὰ was not originally of the nature of a nose-bag, like χειλωτήρ (see Stephanus, Thesaurus), with the provender at the bottom of it. We also find capistra used for leading or guiding animals when quite tame (Ovid. Met. 10.125; Heroid. 2.80; Mart. 1.104, 7); hence the satirical application to the married state in Juven. 6.43. The term φορβειὰ was further applied to the band of leather which flute-players put over their mouths and about their heads, like a halter, to keep them from blowing too hard and so to enable them to get a softer tone and to hold out longer (Soph. Fr. 753; Arist. Vesp. 582). It is also called κημός (Phot.), στομίς (Poll. 10.56): cf. ἐπιστομίζειν, Plut. 2.713 D. The Latin capistrum is not used in this sense. Guhl and Koner say that in representations of theatrical players where the long double clarionet required a great effort of breath, in order to avoid any side-loss of breath, this mouth-band is frequently found; but never on the vase-pictures of female flute-players at banquets, nor ever where a single clarionet is played. The (φορβειὰ sometimes had no second strap going over the head, but simply the one strap tied over the mouth and round the back of the head. On the next page is an illustration taken from Baumeister's Denkmäler des klassischen Altertums(art. Flöten).

This leads on to the meaning of muzzle, which also belongs to capistrum, which was used to prevent animals eating or biting (Cato, Agr. 54; Plin. Nat.18.177); in Verg. G. 3.399the capistra for kids have iron spikes to prevent them sucking. In ecclesiastical Latin camus is used for a muzzle; but where that word occurs in Plautus (Cas. 2.6, 37), it rather means a log put on the neck of a refractory slave. The Greeks called it κῆμος (Xen. Eq. 5, 3), or more generally (φιμός, which may be regarded as put round (Lucian, Vit. Auct. 22) the neck (Ar. Nub. 592). Often (φιμοῦν is found in the N. T. in the sense of to put, to silence: e. g. Matt. 22.34. As might be expected, the capistra appear to have been generally soft, whether halters (Ov. Met. 10.125) or muzzles. These latter appear to have sometimes been of platted osiers (fiscellae, Plin. Nat.18.177), or of perforated leather (Saglio, Dict. 1.897). Sometimes they were of bronze. There are two such in the British Museum, one of which is figured above. Such muzzles, with short pipes (αὐλωτοὶ φιμοί Aesch. Fr. 343) instead of mere perforations, were occasionally used on warhorses, so that their snorting should give a whistling sound (Aesch. Theb. 463), and we need not suppose with Eustath. (on Il. 1157, 39) and Hesych. that bells were attached to them.

In the general sense of holder or supporter we find capistrum used as a band for fastening up vines (Colum. 4.20, 3), and by Cato (Cat. Agr. 12) as a strap for the winepress.

(φορβειά, κημός, φιμός). A word derived from capio, and denoting first of all a halter for animals, and apparently made of leather. It was used in holding the head of a quadruped which required any healing operation, in retaining animals at the stall, and in fastening them to the yoke. In representations of Bacchanalian processions, the tigers or panthers are attached to the yoke by capistra made of vine-branches.

In ploughing fields which were planted with vines or other trees, the halter had a small basket attached to it, enclosing the mouth, so as to prevent the ox from cropping the tender shoots (fiscellis capistrari). Also, when goatherds wished to obtain milk for making cheese, they fastened a muzzle or capistrum, armed with iron points, about the mouth of the kid, to prevent it from sucking.

Bands of similar materials were used to tie vines to the poles (pali) or transverse rails (iuga) of a trellis.

The term φορβειά was also applied to a contrivance used by pipers (αὐληταί) and trumpeters to compress their mouths and cheeks, and thus to aid them in blowing. This was said to be the invention of Marsyas.