clavus

clāvus, ī, m.: a nail, a peg; a helm, 5.177.

clāvus, i, m. [root klu-, v. claudo; prop. that which shuts or fastens].

• A nail, usually of metal.
• • A Lit.: offerumentas habebis pluris Quam ulla navis longa clavos, Plaut. Rud. 3, 4, 48 (753): (leges) ad parietem fixae clavis ferreis, id. Trin. 4, 3, 32 (1039); so, clavi ferrei, Cato R. R. 18 fin.; Caes. B. G. 3, 13; Vitr. 7, 3 al.—Sometimes of hard wood: clavis corneis occludere, Cato R. R. 18 fin.: cornus... lignum utile, si quid cuneandum sit in ligno clavisve figendum ceu ferreis, Plin. 16, 40, 76, § 206: clavis religare tigna, Caes. B. C. 2, 10: clavos per modica intervalla figentes, Liv. 28, 20, 4.— Acc. to a Tuscan usage the ancient Romans designated the number of the year by nails, which the highest magistrate annually, at the Ides of September, drove into the wall of Jupiter's temple: clavo ab dictatore fixo, Liv. 7, 3, 3 sqq.; 8, 18, 12 sq.; 9, 28, 6: clavus annalis, Paul. ex Fest. p. 56, 10 Müll.; cf. O. Müll. Etrusk. 2, p. 329 sq., and Dict. of Antiq. p. 263. Also, in a later age, country people seem to have kept an account of the years in this way, Petr. 135, 8, 9.—Prov.: clavo clavum eicere, to drive out one nail by another (Gr. ἥλῳ τὸν ἧλον, παττάλῳ τὸν πάτταλον, sc. δεῖ ἐξελαύνειν): novo quidam amore veterem amorem tamquam clavo clavum eiciendum putant, Cic. Tusc. 4, 35, 75: aliquid trabali clavo figere, to fasten with a large nail, to clinch a matter, id. Verr. 2, 5, 21, § 53; Arn. 2, p. 51.—
  • • 2 As a symbol of immovable firmness: Necessitas Clavos trabales Gestans, Hor. C. 1, 35, 18: si figit adamantinos Necessitas Clavos, id. ib. 3, 24, 7; cf. O. Müll. as above cit., p. 331.—Hence,
  • B Trop.: ex hoc die clavum anni movebis, i. e. reckon the beginning of the year, Cic. Att. 5, 15, 1: fixus animus clavo Cupidinis, Plaut. As. 1, 3, 4 (156).—Prov.: beneficium trabali clavo figere (v. trabalis), Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 21, § 53 Zumpt; cf. Arn. 2, p. 51.—
• II Meton. of objects of like form.
• • A (Lit. the handle of the rudder, the tiller; hence, pars pro toto.) The rudder, helm, in gen. (only sing.): ut clavum rectum teneam, Enn. ap. Isid. Orig. 19, 2, 12 (Ann. v. 472 Vahl.): clavum ad litora torquere, Verg. A. 5, 177 Serv.; 10, 218.—
  • • • b Trop.: clavum tanti imperii tenere et gubernacula rei publicae tractare, Cic. Sest. 9, 20: abicere, to leave off the care of a thing, Arn. 3, 106: dum clavum rectum teneam, if I keep a steady helm, am not negligent (as in Gr. ὀρθὰν τὰν ναῦν), Quint. 2, 17, 24 Spald.; cf. the passage of Enn. supra. —
  • B In medic. lang., a painful tumor or excrescence, a wart, a corn; on the feet, Cels. 5, 28, 14. clavis in pedibus mederi, Plin. 20, 17, 71, § 184; 22, 23, 49, § 101 sq.; 26, 11, 66, § 106; 28, 16, 62, § 222; on the eye, Cels. 6, 7, 12; in the nose, Plin. 24, 14, 77, § 126; upon the neck of cattle, Col. 6, 14, 6; in sheep, id. 7, 5, 11.—Also a disease of the olive-tree, Plin. 17, 24, 37, § 223.—
  • C A kind of abortion of bees, Plin. 11, 16, 16, § 50.—
  • D A purple stripe on the tunica, which, for senators, was broad (latus, cf. laticlavius); for the equites, narrow (angustus; cf. angusticlavius). In the time of the emperors, however, the sons of the senators and equites also, who were preparing for civil office, wore the latus clavus, Liv. 9, 7, 9; Varr. L. L. 9, § 79 Müll.; Ov. Tr. 4, 10, 29 Jahn; cf. Hor. S. 1, 5, 36; 1, 6, 28; Quint. 11, 3, 138; Vell. 2, 88, 2; Suet. Aug. 94: tunicam ita consuere, ut altera plagula sit angustis clavis, altera latis, Varr L. L. 9, § 47 Müll.—Hence the phrase: latum clavum ab Caesare impetravi, i. e. I have become senator, Plin. Ep. 2, 9, 2; cf.: clavum alicui tribuere, Suet. Claud. 24: impetrare, id. Vesp. 4: adimere, id. Tib. 35: adipisci, id. Vesp. 2.—Rarely a purple stripe on bed or table cloths, Amm.16, 8, 8.—
  • • 2 Poet., a tunic, in gen., either wide or narrow striped: mutare in horas, Hor. S. 2, 7, 10: sumere depositum, id. ib. 1, 6, 25.

clāvus, ī, arch. Akk. om, m., der Nagel, I) eig.: a) übh.: ferreus, Caes.: trabalis, Balkennagel, Hor. (dah. sprichw., trabali clavo figere beneficium, recht befestigen, Cic. Verr. 5, 53): minutus, Isid.: clavorum cacumina, Val. Max.: alqd configere clavis, Caes.: clavum adigere in arborem od. arbori, Plin.: religare alqd laminis clavisque, Caes.: figere leges ad parietem clavis ferreis, Plaut.: in digito (Fußzehe) clavus (Schuhnagel) militis haeret, Iuven. – als Bild der Festigkeit Attribut der Necessitas, Hor. carm. 1, 35, 18. – Nach einem tuskischen Gebrauche bezeichneten die ältern Römer mit Nägeln, die der höchste Magistrat jährlich an den Idus des September an der Wand der Jupiterszelle einschlug, die Zahl der Jahre, dah. clavum figere, Liv. 7, 3. § 5 sqq. u.a. Auch scheinen die Landleute noch in späterer Zeit auf diese Art die Jahre gezählt zu haben, Petr. 135, 8 u. 9: dah. bildl., ex hoc die clavum anni movebis, den Anfang des Jahres rechnen, Cic. ad Att. 5, 15, 1. – b) insbes. = ἐπίβολος, der Pflock im Ring an der Kette, Plaut. Men. 86: der Nagel in der Achse vor dem Rade, damit dieses nicht abfalle, clavos in rotas non coniecit, Hyg. fab. 84. – II) übtr.: a) der nagelförmige Griff am Steuer; dah. meton. das Steuerruder, Verg.: clavum rectum tenere, das Steuer gerade führen, Enn. ann. 472: bildl., clavum imperii tenere, Cic. – b) (wie ἧλος) eine nagelförmige Erhöhung od. Geschwulst an Füßen, Händen usw. = »Warze, Leichdorn, Hühnerauge«, Cels. u. Plin.: im Auge, Cels.: ein Fehler od. eine Krankheit an Ölbäumen, Plin. – c) eine Fehlgeburt der Bienen, Plin. 11, 50. – d) (wie, nach Salmasius zu den Scriptt. hist. Aug. vol. 2. p. 850 sqq., bei den Griechen ἧλος ein Zierat auf Gewändern) ein eingewebter od. aufgenähter purpurner od. goldener Streif (Saum) an der tunica der römischen Männer (vgl. patagium), bei den Senatoren u. bei den Kriegstribunen der ersten vier Legionen (s. Orelli Hor. sat. 1, 6, 28) breit ( latus), bei den Rittern schmal ( angustus; vgl. Hula in Pauly-Wissowa Realenzykl. IV, 6 f.), tunicae clavi, Varr. fr.: latum clavum induere, das Senatorengewand anlegen, Plin. ep.: Sexto latum clavum a Caesare impetrare, die Senatorenwürde auswirken, Plin. ep.: u. so iuveni latum clavum adversus patris voluntatem impetrare, Suet.: angusto clavo contentus, mit dem Ritterstande, Vell.: cretus paupere clavo, Stat. – Doch trugen zu den Zeiten der Kaiser auch Söhne altpatrizischer Familien überhaupt, die sich zu Staatsämtern vorbereiteten, den breiten Purpurstreif, Ov. u. Suet. (vgl. Bremi Suet. Ner. 26): sowie auch Präkonen, Plin.: und endlich wurde er auch an Servietten, Tischtüchern usw. angebracht, Mart. – meton., latus clavus = breit gestreifte Tunika, Suet. Caes. 45, 3: u. bl. clavus = breit od. schmal gestreifte Tunika, Hor. sat. 1, 6, 25; 2, 7, 10.

1 clavus v. chlamys

2 clavus v. 2 clavis

3 clavus [CL], ~is, ~a 1 nail; b (prov); c (dist. acc. sort; cf.Building in Eng. 304–17). d rivet. e (w. ligneus) trenail. f tent-peg (cf.Jud. iv 21). g peg of mus. instrument (fig.). h s. dub. 9‥ nægl oððe sprota WW; reddebat civitas de Glowcestre ‥ c virgas ferreas ductiles ad ~os navium regis DB I 162; s1075 Godredus ‥ Scotos ita perdomuit ut nullus qui fabricaret navem vel scapham ausus esset plus quam tres ~os inserere Chr. Man 52; in duriori ligno, cui infigendus est ~us, ‥ non totus ~us statim intromittitur Bald. Cant. Tract. 3. 419B; ~um Domini R. Niger II 138 (v. corona 4a); s1188 apparuit crux quedam ‥ mire magnitudinis ‥ et ‥ in ea ‥ Jesus Christus ~is confixus G. Hen. II II 47; NLA II 194 (v. confixio); ibit cum equo suo ‥ ad ferra et ~os atque expensam abbatis Chr. Battle 18; ferri ~is [gl.: cloues] bene sint firmati Neckam Ut. 99; 1287 pro ‥ ~is stampneis ad emendacionem mutarum KR Ac 351/24 m. 4; 1322 in j basketto et iiij corbellis cum canevacio empt’ pro ‥ ~is imponendis et cooperiendis Sacr. Ely II 27 (cf. (v. clavarium)); 1329 in x lib. stanni pro ~is ad reparacionem ipsius camere dealbandis ExchScot 125; 1335 in bordis et ~ibus emptis ‥ pro reparacione topcastel et forcastel KR Ac 19/14 m. 6d.; 1438 in ij ~ibus plumbi ‥ pro guteriis ‥ cooperiendis Comp. Swith. 444.  b merito retundere / †clavi [? l. clavo] debes clavum / et equa confundere / pravitate pravum Gir. Symb. II 44. 26 (27).  c GlC C 480 (v. caligaris); 1164 (v. coronare 5a); 1208 in xxj miliariis ~orum ad lattas ‥, in cl ~is plancheret Pipe Wint. 35; 1221 in ~is xjm de prig’ et minutorum ~orum ‥, item mmm et dim. ~orum grossorum Ac. Build. Hen. III 40; 1222 pro m ~is laterez ‥, pro ~is plancheriz, ‥ pro ~is bordelez Ib. 132; 1234 pro xvj milibus ~orum curtorum cum rivetis Pipe 78 r. 16d.; 1254 de ‥ xxx milibus ferrorum et lx milibus ~orum de wauz[? welts] Liberate 30 m. 5; 1271 in ~is borderell’ et florell’ Pipe Wint. 11M59/B1/35 r. 2; 1286 de ij miliaribus omnimodorum ~orum venalium exceptis ~is ad carettas et ad cumulum domus Pat 105 m. 14; 1295 in dc ~is qui dicuntur grosse custure ad galeam ‥ cum rivectis KR Ac 571/3 r. 2; 1296 j c[entena] ~orum stotorum [Cal. IPM 242: †stecorum] ‥ et valent ij d. IPM 77/3 r. 22; c1300 in vm et dim. ~orum de majori custura KR Ac 501/23 r. 1 (cf. ib.: in mccc ~orum de majori spyking’ ‥; in mc et dim. ~orum de minori spik’ ‥; in iiijm ~orum de dorneil ‥; in vmvc ~orum de tyngelneil ‥; in ccc et dim. ~orum de semneil)); 1307 pro v millar’ ~orum spiking’ ‥; item pro m ~orum ad plumbum ‥; item pro mmm ~orum broddes pro lathis ‥; pro iij millar’ ~orum celure Ib. 501/22 r. 3 (1).  d compedum ‥ concatenatio ferrea ~is ferreis fabrili erat malleo ‥ preclusa; qui ~i, aforis utraque parte nodo grossiori capitati, nunquam ‥ extrahi possent nisi prius ignibus liquefacti malleo violenti repelli ‥ potuissent R. Cold. Cuthb. 46.  e cum ‥ destine parietis ~um ligneum ‥ corriperet R. Cold. Cuthb. 68; 1234 pro mm ~orum ligneorum Pipe 78 r. 16d.; 1296 in stipendiis unius tenentis ‥ operantis circa ~es ligneas Ac. Galley Newcastle 168; c1400 in iiij poleis xvij trendell’ cum ~is ligneis Sea Terms II 12.  f †clus, teltreo GlC C 492; 9‥ †claus, lignum tentorii vel †telde, ‥ teltre, ‥ tæbere WW.  g poterit ipse nunc ad cithare nostre ingenioli mei plectro torquendos superiores ~os ad modulandas chordas ‥ augere vires H. Bos. LM 1341C.  h 1260 percussit eum cum uno materaz habenti [sic] †clavem ferreum in pectore et in dorso (ICrim 2/4) CalIMisc I 2104. 2 (med.) tumour, wart, sty; b (fig.; cf.Num. xxxiii). c local headache. de genere istorum [apostematum flegmaticorum] sunt verruce dependentes et ~i molles Gad. 25. 1.  b adulator ‥ quasi ~um figit in oculo illius cum quo sermonem conserit J. Sal. Pol. 481c.  c si figatur [dolor capitis] in aliqua parte circa medietatem, dicitur ~us vel monopagia Gad. 69v. 1; ~us est dolor capitis ad modum ~i infixi SB 16. 3 tiller; b (fig.). c (?) handle of oar. ~us, helma Ælf. Sup.; cogitur et rursum nauclerus mittere clavum Frith. 1047; sicut rector ~o navem ‥ regit Ep. J. Sal. 83 (67); seipso usus ~o, remige et velo. idem navis et rector ejus Map NC II 19.  b 1266 dedit [Dominus] vobis remigi ~um in carina laboris Ep. Ottobon. 99.  c remus ‥ ~um [gl.: clou, gouvernayl] habeat et podium Neckam Ut. 115. 4 border, stripe. †~ia, borda GlC C 449; 747 illa ornamenta vestium ‥ latissimis ~is vermium marginibus clavata adventum Antichristi ‥ praecurrunt Bonif. Ep. 78 p. 170; ~us vel purpura, purpuren hrægel Ælf. Gl.. 5 a ‘clef’, pin on weigh-beam. b ‘nail’, ‘clove’, weight of wool (usu. 6–8 lb.). c weight of other products. a s1256 consuetudo est quando pecunia ‥ ponderatur, quod statera debet trahere inclinando versus pecuniam, excepto auro et argento, quod semper ponderatur per medium ~um, neque trahens ad pondam neque ad aurum sive ad argentum Leg. Ant. Lond. 25; s1269 ita quod emptor habuit ad quemlibet centinarium iiij libras pro tractu, ponderato per medium †~ium [MS: ~um] Ib. 118.  b 1211 in [velleribus] missis apud Suwerk’ ‥ dccxxiij, que fecerunt iiij pondera vij ~es, unde iij pondera erant crisp[e lane], j pondus vij ~es gross[e] Crawley 199; 1289 pro tribus ~is lane ‥; pro xvj saccis lane [et] xxvj ~ibus EEC 245; 1290 mercatores ‥ conqueruntur quod per decepcionem tronagii decipiuntur de catallis suis, ‥ quandoque per tres ~os vel quatuor, ‥ unde ~us ponderat vj lib. et dim. RParl I 47b; 1298 summonire fecit lanarios ‥ ad tronam de Lenne pro lanis ‥ ponderandis, que quidem trona continet in se iiij pisas et iiij ~os MGL II 107; c1340 quod ‥ solvant pro singulis xx s. de eadem quintadecima ‥ x petras sive ~os [lane] quamlibet viz. petram sive ~um de xiij lib. (Commissio Regis) Rec. Leic. II 53; 1342 cum ‥ assignaverimus ‥ cccxxxiiij saccos et dim. et iiij ~os lane de lanis nostris de com. Essex’ pro anno presenti levandis (Pat) Foed. V 327; 1345 de ij ~is lane fracte venditis Comp. Swith. 147.  c 1307 vj casei ponderantes iiij ~os et ij libras Doc. Bec 156; 1345 de j ~o casei hiemalis vendito Comp. Swith. 147 (cf. ib. 149: in iiij ~is rubei coloris emptis pro bidentibus signandis); 1356 de j cl[avo] butiri de exitu Crawley 277. 6 clove (often paid as rent). Cf. caryophyllum. 1253 faciendo annuatim ‥ debitum servicium capitalibus dominis, viz. pro bovata ‥ tres clouhas gariofili Reg. Ant. Linc. II 110; a1260 unam ~em gariofili AncD A 3685; 1257 j ~um gariofili CalCh I 478; 1261 j ~um de gylofre FormA 60; 1279 tenet ‥ ij acras terre propter unum ~em gylofry Hund. II 512; 1303 [per servicium reddendi] j ~am galiofiri Cal. IPM IV p. 114; cariophillon, quod aliqui ~um vel ~os vocant propter similitudinem quam habet cum ~is, Angli vocant clowes Turner Herb. A iii v.

clāvus, (10) ī, m. , ¶ 1 clou : clavis religare Cæs. C. 2, 10, 2, attacher (fixer) avec des clous ; trabali clavo figere aliquid Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 53, fixer qqch. avec un clou à poutres [= fixer solidement] ; clavo clavus ejicitur Cic. Tusc. 4, 75, un clou chasse lʼautre || ex hoc die clavum anni movebis Cic. Att. 5, 15, 1, cʼest à partir de ce jour que tu compteras lʼannée (de mon gouvernement de province); [ancien usage de compter les années au moyen dʼun clou que lʼon plantait chaque année, le 13 septembre, dans le mur du temple de Jupiter : figere clavum Liv. 7, 3, 4, planter le clou] ¶ 2 barre, gouvernail : Virg. En. 5, 177 ; clavum imperii tenere Cic. Sest. 20, tenir le timon du pouvoir ; clavum rectum tenere Quint. 2, 17, 24, tenir droit le gouvernail = faire son devoir ¶ 3 bande de pourpre cousue à la tunique, large [laticlave] pour les sénateurs, étroite [angusticlave] pour les chevaliers, dʼoù latum clavum impetrare Plin. Min. Ep. 2, 9, 2, obtenir la dignité (les droits) de sénateur || clavum mutare in horas Hor. S. 2, 7, 10, dʼheure en heure changer de tunique [tantôt lʼangusticlave, tantôt le laticlave] ¶ 4 [médec.] tumeur, induration (verrue, poireau, cor) : Cels. Med. 5, 28, 14 ; Plin. 20, 184, etc. || maladie de lʼolivier : Plin. 17, 223 ¶ 5 sorte dʼavortement des abeilles : Plin. 11, 50.

clavus , i. m.
釘子。手上魚釘。— capitatus 有頭之釘 — trabalis 大釘。 — navis 舵。Pangere clavum 釘一釘。Viduus clavus 無舵公之舟。Clavum imperii tenere 握國權。 Beneficium trabali clavo figere 受恩銘感于心。 Latus clavus 總官顶戴。Angustus clavus 搢紳顶戴。Clavi pedum 趼子。胝。Clavi arborum 樹上魚釘。

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clāvus ī, m

• CLAV-, a nail: clavi ferrei, Cs.: clavos figentes, L.: clavo ab dictatore fixo, L.: ex hoc die clavum anni movebis, i. e. reckon the beginning of the year: tamquam clavo clavum eiciendum: beneficium trabali clavo figere, with a spike, i. e. to clinch: Necessitas Clavos trabalīs Gestans, H.— A rudder, helm: clavum ad litora torquere, V.— Fig.: clavum tanti imperi. — A purple stripe(on the tunic, broad for senators, narrow for the equites): lati clavi, L.: latus clavus (absurdly assumed by the praefect of a village), H.—Poet., a striped tunic: mutare, H.

CLAVUS

CLAVUS(ἧλος, γόμφος), a nail. In Homer ἧλος is not a nail to fix or fasten, but a stud or projecting head used as an ornament (Il. 1.246, 11.29, 633; Athen. 11. p. 488 b), but subsequently it has the sense of a nail to fasten with, and is identical with the Latin clavus (Pind. P. 4.125; Plat. Phaedr. 83 B; Xen. Cyneg. 9, 12). Blümner (see below) points out that γόμφος originally signified a peg or bolt, usually made of wood and used in shipbuilding, and that it only subsequently became synonymous with ἧλος and clavus (cf. Lucian, Gall. 24, 25; Pollux, 1.84). But in Aeschylus (Sep. 542) γόμφος signifies a nail, and Polybius (Plb. 13.7.9) speaks of iron nails under the name of γόμφοι.

In early times, before soldering was known, nails were used to join together plates of metal. In the treasury of Atreus at Mycenae, the stones, of which the dome is constructed, are perforated by regular series of bronze nails, which doubtless held together the bronze plates with which the interior was once decorated. Two of these bronze nails are represented in the annexed cut they are of two-thirds the real size.

Hence we read in the poets of brazen chambers (Hom. Od. 7.84-87; Her. Carm. 3.16; Schliemann, Mycenae, p. 44).

Many ancient nails of various sizes and shapes are found in our museums. They are, as might be expected, generally of iron (Pind. Xen. ll. cc.; Cat. Agr. 18, 9; Plaut. Trin. 4.3, 32; Caes. B. G. 3.13; Vitr. 7.3, 1; Plin. Nat.28.63, 34.143,), sometimes of bronze (Theophr. Char. 5; Plin. Nat.16.51), of hard wood, especially the cornus (Xen. Cyneg. 9, 12; Cat. Agr. 18, 9; Plin. Nat.16.206; Plut. Mar. 25), of copper ( clavus cuprinus, Pallad. Ian. 15, 18), and even of silver (Plut. Alex. 40). In the ruins of the second city at Hissarlik Schliemann found some very large copper nails with hammerlike heads, which had been cast together with the nail.

The clavi muscarii of Vitruvius (Vitr. 7.3.11) were probably small nails like our tacks. Large nails for fastening beams were called clavi trabales (Cic. Ver. 5.2. 1, 53; Hor. Carm. 1.35, 18; Arnob. 2.13), or tabulares (Petron. 75).

The shoes of soldiers were studded with nails, hence called clavi caligarii or caligares (see references under CALIGAp. 346). The men received a donative, called clavarium (Tac. Hist. 3.50), ostensibly for supplying them with these nails, though the donative was probably more than was necessary for this purpose. There was a similar donative under the name of calcearium (Suet. Vesp. 8).

The heads of nails were of various shapes and sizes. Some were highly ornamented, like the bronze nails on the doors of the Pantheon at Rome, which were called bullae, and some of which are figured under BULLAp. 318. The annexed cut, representing a Roman nail, is highly ornamented: two of its faces are given, but the pattern varies on each of the four.

The ornamented head of this nail shows that it was never intended to be driven by the hammer: it may have been used for the hair in the manner shown in the cut under ACUS

It remains to speak of the symbolical use of the clavus, or nail. Clavum figere was a proverbial expression, signifying what was unalterably fixed by Fate ( ut hoc beneficium, quemadmodum dicitur, clavo trabali diceret, Cic. Ver. 5.2. 1, 53; quod semel destinavi clavo trabulari fixum est, Petron. 75). Hence the goddess

Necessitas is armed with a nail (Hor. Carm. 1.35, 17, 18; 3.24, 5, 6), wherewith to fix the decrees of Fate, and is so represented in works of art.

In like manner, in an Etruscan mirror found at Perugia, the winged goddess Athrpa or Atropus is represented as about to drive a nail with a hammer, to indicate the predetermined death of Meleager and Atalanta.

At Volsinii, in Etruria, a nail was driven every year in the temple of Nortia, the Fortune of Etruscan mythology, in order to keep a reckoning of the years (Cincius, ap. Liv. 7.3). This custom was introduced into Rome from Etruria, probably by the Tarquins, when they founded the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. An ancient law enacted that a nail should be driven each year by the chief magistrate on the Ides of September into the side of the cella of Jupiter on the Capitol. As the Romans thus kept a reckoning of their years, when letters were yet scarcely in use, this nail was called Clavus Annalis. (Liv. l. c.; Fest. p. 56, M.; cf. Cic. Att. 5.1. 5) This practice fell into disuse, but was afterwards revived, not for the purpose of marking the year, but from a superstitious feeling that any great calamity, such as a pestilence, would be averted, if this ceremony was performed by the supreme magistrate. Hence we read of a dictator being appointed, more than once, for the sole purpose of driving in the nail (clavi fiendi causa,. Liv. l. c. 7.3, 8.18, 9.28). Several superstitions were connected with fixing a nail. Thus Pliny (Plin. Nat.28.63) recommends, as a remedy against epilepsy, driving a nail into the spot where the head of the patient was struck when he fell for the first time. (Blumner, Gewerbe u. Künste bei Griech. u. Römern, ii. pp. 230, 307; Daremberg and Saglio, s. v. Clavus; Dennis, Etruria, 2. p. 25.)

[W.S]

Clavus

(ἦλος, γόμφος). A nail. In the subterranean chamber at Mycenae (q.v.), supposed to be the treasury of Atreus, a view of which is given in Sir W. Gell's Itinerary of Greece (plate vi.), the stones of which the cylindrical dome is constructed are perforated by regular series of bronze nails, running in perpendicular rows, and at equal distances, from the top to the bottom of the vault. It is supposed that they served to attach thin plates of the same metal to the masonry, as a coating for the interior of the chamber; and hence it is that these subterranean works, which served for prisons as well as treasuries, like the one in which Danaé is said to have been confined, were called by the poets “brazen chambers.” Two of these nails are represented in the annexed illustration, of two thirds the real size; they consist of 88 parts of copper to 12 of tin.

Nails of this description were termed trabales and tabulares by the Romans, because they were used, in building, to join the larger beams (trabes) together. Hence Horace arms Necessitas with a nail of the same kind, or of adamant, wherewith to rivet, as it were, irrevocably the decrees of Fortune. Thus, too, Atropos is represented in the following illustration, taken from a cup found at Perugia, upon which the story of Meleager and Atalanta is embodied, with a hammer in her right hand, driving a nail which she holds against the wall with her left.

The next cut represents a nail of Roman workmanship, which is highly ornamented and very curious. Two of its faces are given, but the pattern varies on each of the four.

It is difficult to say to what use this nail was applied. The ornamented head shows that it was never intended to be driven by the hammer; nor would any part but the mere point, which alone is plain and round, have been inserted into any extraneous material. It might possibly have been used for the hair, in the manner represented in the illustration under Acus.

Bronze nails were used in ship-building, and to ornament doors, as exhibited in those of the Pantheon at Rome; in which case the head of the nail was called bulla, and richly ornamented. See bulla.

The soles of the shoes worn by the Roman soldier were also studded with nails, thence called clavi caligarii. (See caliga.) These do not appear to have been hobnails for the purpose of making the sole durable, but sharp-pointed ones, in order to give the wearer a firmer footing on the ground. The men received a donative for the purpose of providing themselves with these necessaries, which was thence called claviarum.