diptycha

diptycha, ōrum, n., = δίπτυχα.

• A writing-tablet of two leaves (late Lat.), Cod. Theod. 15, 9, 1; Symm. Ep. 2, 80 al.—
• II The double shell of the oyster, Ambros. Hexaem. 5, 8.

diptycha, ~ia [LL diptychum < δίπτυχον, diptychium] , diptych, double-leaved (writing) tablet; b (recording names of martyrs). scribe mihi unum exemplar in una scedula ‥ sive in una dyptica Ælf. Bata 4. 26; hec dipticha, ‥ i. tabula manualis, que et pugillaris dicitur Osb. Glouc. Deriv. 158; quanta nobilis materiei jactura erat, si ‥ putrescat speciosissima arbor ista [sc. pirus], ex qua diptice tot possent excidi quod totius Anglie sive Gallie studiis scolasticis quivissent sufficere Ad. Eyns. Hug. V 18 p. 209; vos, o beatuli diptice geruli, / sursum me rapite de ceno seculi Walt. Wimb. Palpo 197; handtabye, pugillaris, diptica PP; hec diptica, a smale tabyle WW.  b eos qui injuste condemnati sunt revocaverunt post mortem et in sacris diptichiis scripserunt Bart. Exon. Pen. 19.

diptўcha, ōrum, n. , pl. (δίπτυχα), tablettes doubles qui se pliaient : Schol. Juv. 9, 36 || diptyques [tablettes où les consuls, les questeurs, etc., sous lʼempire, faisaient mettre leur nom et leur portrait, pour donner à leurs amis et au peuple, le jour de leur entrée en charge] : Symm. Ep. 2, 80 ; Cod. Th. 15, 9, 8.

DIPTYCHA

DI´PTYCHA(δίπτυχα, from πτύσσω, to fold), two writing tablets (tabulae or tabellae, also called pugillares), fastened together at the back by means of wires, which answered the purposes of hinges, so that they opened and shut. The insides of such tablets were covered with wax for the purposes of writing, and with a raised margin round each to prevent the wax of one tablet rubbing against the wax of the other. The outside was made of different materials, such as wood, ivory, or parchment. [For authorities, see TABULAESimilar tablets were used by the Greeks. Herodotus (Hdt. 7.239) speaks of a δέλτιον δίπτυχον, made of wood and covered with wax; and even in Homer (Hom. Il. 6.169) we read of a πίναξ πτυκτός.

The Diptycha Consularia, frequently mentioned in the later times of the empire, were made of ivory, and were presented by the consuls to the emperor and their friends on the day on which they entered upon their office. Other magistrates, such as the quaestors, also distributed diptycha on the same occasion (Symmach. Ep. 2.81), but from the time of Theodosius this privilege was confined to the Consules ordinarii. (Claudian, de Cons. Stilich. 3.346, Symmach. Ep. 5.56, 7.76, 9.119; Cod. Theod. 15.8, 1.) These diptycha contained the portraits and names of the consuls, with other representations in bas-relief. Several of these diptycha are still extant--61 in all, according to Marquardt; the oldest bearing the date of 406 A.D., and the latest of 541. The specimen on the preceding page, figured by Labarte, represents one tablet, the other being nearly the same. On it Clementinus, consul A.D. 513, is represented seated on a curule chair, between the figures of Rome and Constantinople, holding the map of the Circus, and giving with it the sign for the beginning of the games. Above him are his signet, name, and title, surmounted by a cross and portraits of the Emperor Anastasius and the Empress Ariadne. Under him are two boys, emptying bags of presents, namely, coins, diptychs, and palm-branches. (There are several works on the Consular Diptychs, a list of which is given in Becker-Göll, Gallus, 2. p. 462; Marquardt, Privatl. d. Römer, p. 546.)

[W.S]

Diptycha

(δίπτυχα). Two writing-tablets fastened at the back by wires upon which, as upon hinges, they opened and shut. They were also known as pugillares. When three or more tablets are joined they are called triptycha or polyptycha. For further details see writing and writing materials.

The Diptycha Consularia, frequently mentioned in the later times of the Empire, were made of ivory, and were presented by the consuls to the emperor and to their friends on the day on which they entered upon their office. Other magistrates, such as the quaestors, also distributed diptycha on the same occasion (Symmach. Ep. ii. 81). These diptycha contained the portraits and names of the consuls, with other representations in bas-relief. Several of these diptycha are still extant—sixty-one in all, according to Marquardt—the earliest bearing the date of A.D. 406 and the latest of 541.