fax

cum ardentibus facibus ad Tiberim decurrerunt
with blazing torches they ran down toward the Tiber

fax , facis, f.: a torch; firebrand, 1.150; fire, 4.626; of a meteor, fiery train, 2.694.

fax, făcis (also in the nom. sing. ‡ faces, acc. to Paul. ex Fest. p. 87, 9 Müll.; gen. plur.: facum, acc. to Charis. p. 113 P., but without example), f. [root bhā, to shine; cf. favilla], a torch, firebrand, flambeau, link, orig. of pine or other resinous wood.

• I Lit. (syn.: taeda, funale, cerĕus, candela, lucerna, laterna): alii faces atque aridam materiem de muro in aggerem eminus jaciebant, * Caes. B. G. 7, 24, 4; Liv. 22, 16, 7: ambulare cum facibus, Hor. S. 1, 4, 52: malleolos et faces ad inflammandam urbem comparare, Cic. Cat. 1, 13, 32; cf.: ego faces jam accensas ad hujus urbis incendium exstinxi, id. Pis. 2, 5: servi in tecta nostra cum facibus immissi, id. Att. 14, 10, 1; cf.: faces incendere, id. Phil. 2, 36, 91: si te in Capitolium faces ferre vellet, id. Lael. 11, 37: ardentem facem praeferre, id. Verr. 2, 4, 34, § 74: castris inicere, Tac. H. 4, 60; subdere urbi, Curt. 5, 7, 4: faces ferro inspicare, Verg. G. 1, 292; cf.: facis incidere, Plin. 18, 26, 63, § 233: dilapsam in cineres facem, Hor. C. 4, 13, 28.—At weddings, the torch carried before the bride on the way to her home, usually made of white-thorn (Spina alba) or pine, the nuptial torch: spina, nuptiarum facibus auspicatissima, Masur. ap. Plin. 16, 18, 30, § 75; Fest. s. v. patrimi, p. 245; s. v. rapi, p. 289 Müll.; Varr. ap. Non. 112, 27; id. ap. Serv. Verg. E. 8, 29; Plaut. Cas. 1, 30 (118); Cat. 61, 98 sq.; Verg. E. 8, 29; Ov. M. 10, 6; Stat. Th. 2, 259 al.; hence, nuptiales, Cic. Clu. 6, 15; Liv. 30, 13, 12: maritae, Ov. H. 11, 101: legitimae, Luc. 2, 356.—Cf. Anthon's Dict. of Antiq. p. 434, and v. infra. Torches were also carried in funeral processions, Verg. A. 11, 142; Prop. 3, 13 (4, 12), 17; Ov. F. 2, 561; id. H. 21, 172; Sen. Tranq. 11; id. Vit. Beat. fin.; id. Ep. 222; and in the Eleusinian mysteries, Juv. 15, 140.—An attribute of Cupid, Tib. 2, 1, 82; Prop. 3, 16 (4, 15), 16; Ov. M. 1, 461; 10, 312 al.; of the Furies, Verg. A. 7, 337; Ov. M. 4, 482; 508; 6, 430; Quint. 9, 3, 47 al.—
• • B Transf.
  • • 1 On account of the use of torches at weddings (poet.), a wedding, marriage: face nuptiali digna, Hor. C. 3, 11, 33; cf.: te face sollemni junget sibi, Ov. M. 7, 49.—And referring at the same time to the funeral torch: viximus insignes inter utramque facem, i. e. between marriage and death, Prop. 4 (5), 11, 46.—
    • 2 The light of the heavenly bodies (poet.): dum roseā face sol inferret lumina caelo, Lucr. 5, 976; cf.: Phoebi fax, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 11, 18: canentes Rite crescentem face Noctilucam, Hor. C. 4, 6, 38: aeterna fax, i. e. the sun, Sen. Thyest. 835.—
    • 3 A fiery meteor, fire-ball, shooting-star, comet: noctivagaeque faces caeli flammaeque volantes, Lucr. 5, 1191; cf.: nocturnasque faces caeli, sublime volantes, id. 2, 206: emicant et faces non nisi cum decidunt visae, etc., Plin. 2, 26, 25, § 96: tum facibus visis caelestibus, tum stellis iis, quas Graeci cometas, nostri cincinnatas vocant, Cic. N. D. 2, 5, 14; id. Cat. 3, 8, 18; Liv. 41, 21, 13; 29, 14, 3; Verg. A. 2, 694; Ov. M. 15, 787; Luc. 1, 528; Petr. 122; Sen. Oet. 232.—
    • • b Of lightning: facem flammantem dirigere, Val. Fl. 1, 569; id. 4, 671. —
    • 4 Of the eyes: oculi, geminae, sidera nostra, faces, Prop. 2, 3, 14: has ego credo faces, haec virginis ora Dianae, Val. Fl. 5, 380; cf.: tranquillaeque faces oculis et plurima vultu materinest, Stat. Ach. 1, 164.—
    • 5 Prima fax (noctis), early torchlight, immediately after dark (post-class.); cf.: luminibus accensis, Auct. B. Afr. 89: tempus diei occiduum, mox suprema tempestas, hoc est diei novissimum tempus: deinde vespera: ab hoc tempore prima fax dicitur, deinde concubia, etc., Macr. S, 1, 3 fin.; Gell. 3, 2, 11; 18, 1 fin.; Ap. Met. 2, 10, 20.
• II Trop.
• • A That which illuminates, makes conspicuous (poet.): incipit parentum nobilitas facem praeferre pudendis, Juv. 8, 139; cf. Sall. J. 80.—
  • B That which inflames or incites, incitement, stimulus, cause of ruin, destruction (freq. and class.): cum corporis facibus inflammari soleamus ad omnes fere cupiditates eoque magis incendi, quod, etc., Cic. Tusc. 1, 19, 44: me torret face mutua Calais, flame of love, Hor. C. 3, 9, 13; cf.: iraï fax, Lucr. 3, 303: dicendi faces, flames, fires of eloquence, Cic. de Or. 2, 51, 205; cf.: alicui quasi quasdam verborum faces admovere, id. ib. 3, 1, 4: alicui acriores ad studia dicendi faces subdere, Quint. 1, 2, 25 Spald.: hortator studii causaque faxque mei, guide, leader, Ov. P. 1, 7, 28; and: incitator et fax omnium, Prud. στεφ. 10, 67: subicere faces invidiae alicujus, Cic. Mil. 35, 98; cf.: flagrantibus jam militum animis velut faces addere, Tac. H. 1, 24: acerrimam bello facem praetulit, id. ib. 2, 86: (rogationes promulgavit) duas faces novantibus res ad plebem in optimates accendendam, Liv. 32, 38, 9: inde faces ardent, a dote, Juv. 6, 139: adolescentulo ad libidinem facem praeferre, i. e. to be a leader or guide, Cic. Cat. 1, 6, 13: Antonius omnium Clodi incendiorum fax, instigator, id. Phil. 2, 19, 48; cf.: fax accusationis et origo, Plin. Ep. 4, 9, 3: fax hujus belli (Hannibal), Liv. 21, 10, 11; Vell. 2, 25, 3: dolorum cum admoventur faces, Cic. Off. 2, 10, 37; cf. id. Tusc. 2, 25, 61: (dolor) ardentes faces intentat, id. ib. 5, 27, 76: quae (Agrippinae) Gaium et Domitium Neronem principes genuere totidem facis generis humani, destroyers, Plin. 7, 8, 6, § 45.—Absol.: cum his furiis et facibus, cum his exitiosis prodigiis (i e. Gabinio et Pisone), Cic. Har. Resp. 2, 4.

fax, facis, f. (φά-ος, Licht), die Fackel (gew. ein Span von Kienholz od. anderem harzigen Holze od. ein mit einer Fettigkeit bestrichener Pfriemenkrautstengel), I) eig. u. bildl.: A) eig.: faces undique ex agris collectae, Liv.: faces incīdere, Fackeln schneiden, Plin.: ardentium facium iactatio, Lact.: zum Leuchten od. Vorleuchten bei Nacht, Varro r. r. u.a.: collucentibus facibus, Curt.: zum Vorleuchten bei Hochzeiten, dah. faces nuptiales, Cic.: maritae, Ov.: legitimae, Lucan. – bei Leichenbegängnissen, zum Vorleuchten, Verg., Sen. u.a., od. zum Anbrennen des Scheiterhaufens, Verg. u.a.: dah. fax funebris, Apul.: fax utraque (Hochzeits- u. Leichenfackel), Prop. – zum Brandstiften, faces incendere, Cic.: servi in tecta nostra cum facibus immissi, Cic.: ardentes faces in tecta iacĕre, Liv.: eius omnium incendiorum fax, Brandfackel (bildl., v. Antonius), Cic. Phil. 2, 48. – als Attribut des Kupido u. der Furien, Ov., Verg. u.a. – meton., prima fax (noctis) = die Zeit des Lichtanbrennens, der Beginn der Nacht (s. Macr. sat. 1, 3, 15), cum iam prima fax noctis coepisset, man anfing, Lichter anzubrennen, Gell.: post primam facem, Gell.: primā face, Apul. – B) bildl.: 1) im allg.: faces dicendi, flammende Beredsamkeit, Cic.: alci ad libidinem facem praeferre, jmdm. zur Wollust die Fackel vortragen = verleiten (das Bild vom Vorleuchten des Sklaven, wenn der Herr zur Geliebten ging), Cic.: facem bello praeferre, des Krieges Fackel entzünden, Tac.: facem quandam nascenti incendio subdere, Sulp. Sev.: affectibus nostris faces subdere, unsere Leidenschaften entzünden, Sen.: faces subdere studiis, Sen. rhet., ad studia dicendi, bei jmd. feurigen Eifer für die Beredsamkeit erregen, Quint.: dolor ardentes faces intentat, sucht mit brennender Glut heim, Cic.: cum quasi faces ei doloris admoverentur, wenn der Schm. ihn mit Flammengewalt ergriff, wie Feuer brannte, Cic.: dolorum cum admoventur faces, wenn der Schm., der wie Feuer brennt, naht, Cic. (vgl. Meißner Cic. Tusc. 2, 61). – 2) insbes.: = a) die Ursache, Anreizung zum Bösen, v. Pers. = der Anstifter, Urheber, corporis faces, Anreizungen unserer sinnlichen Natur, Cic.: subicere faces invidiae alcis, Cic.: Sertorius belli f., Vell.: f. accusationis, Plin. ep.: f. irae, Lucr. – bei Spät. auch im guten Sinne = stimulus, fax mentis honestae gloria, Sil. 6, 332. – b) das Verderben, die Geißel, fax et turbo sequentis saeculi, v. Antonius, Flor.: Gaius et Nero faces generis humani, Plin. – II) übtr.: 1) = das Licht des Mondes usw., crescentem face Noctilucam, Hor.: f. Phoebi, vom Sonnenlicht, Cic. poët. – 2) faces = feurige, schöne Augen, Prop. u.a. – 3) eine brennende Lufterscheinung, als Feuerkugel od. Komet, faces caelestes od. caeli, Cic., od. bl. faces, Verg. u. Plin. – ➳ Genet. Plur. facium, Apul. met. 11, 9.

fax [CL] 1 torch, light; b (w. ref. to heavenly body); c (fig.). GlC F 2 (v. facula); manibus ‥ faces cereas preferentes Gir. PI III 25 p. 292; caudas colligatas et in eis faces [ME: blasen] diaboli, quia flammam odii AncrR 94; quasi nesciens ignibus ardorem esse aut certe non senciens, sese inter ipsas flammivomas ingessit faces Mir. Hen. VI II 33; flatus qui facem ignitam accendit in flammam Fortescue NLN I 20.  b cometae ‥ portabant facem ignis contra Aquilonem Bede HE V 23 p. 349.  c [Anselmus] mediocritatem natalium in clarissimam famam face virtutum suarum extulit W. Malm. GP I 45; Reg. Whet. II 413 (v. eructatio 2). 2 incendiary torch, firebrand. b (fig.) strife. c (w. ref. to passions) flame, fire. d (of person) one who provokes (passion or sim.). sed fax et fomes et dempto pruna vigore / nequicquam ardentes sopito torre tepebant Aldh. VirgV 2329.  b fortius timenda eorum ‥ pax quam fax Gir. TH III 21; jam in faces publicaque incendia nulla arte extinguenda Ferr. Kinloss 6.  c face invidiae accusatus Byrht. V. Ecgwini 360; invidie ‥ fascibus accensi W. Malm. Glast. 1; mulieres seva libidinis face urebantur Ord. Vit. IV 4 p. 185; inardescere cepit amoris facibus in dictum Dei famulum Mir. Hen. VI II 56 p. 145.  d proditor Anglorum, fax livida, secta reorum Feudal Man. 147; salve, fax superne lucis / per quam servi summi ducis / illustrantur undique Mir. Hen. VI I prol. p. 2.

fax, (8) făcis, f. , ¶ 1 torche, flambeau : Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 74 ; prima fax noctis Gell. 3, 2, 11 ; Macr. Sat. 1, 9, 15, = le début de la nuit || torche, brandon : Cic. Cat. 1, 32 ; Cæs. G. 7, 24, 4 || torche, attribut de certaines divinités : Déméter, Apollon, Diane( Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 74 ), Cupidon, les Furies, etc. || flambeau nuptial, hymen : Hor. O. 3, 11, 33 || torche funèbre : [dʼoù] viximus insignes inter utramque facem Prop. 4, 11, 46, jʼai vécu sans reproche du jour de mon mariage au jour de ma mort || lumière, astre, flambeau : Phœbi [poet.] Cic. Div. 1, 18, le flambeau de Phébus || météore igné, étoile tombante, globe de feu, traînée de feu : Cic. Nat. 2, 14 ; Cat. 3, 18 ; Virg. En. 2, 694 ¶ 2 [fig.] : corporis faces Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, le brandon (les excitations) des sens ; dicendi faces Cic. de Or. 2, 205, les foudres de lʼéloquence [en parl. des yeux] flambeaux : Prop. 2, 3, 14 ; Val. Flacc. 5, 380 || faces generis humani Plin. 7, 45, fléaux du genre humain || Sertorius belli fax Vell. 2, 25, Sertorius, lʼinstigateur de la guerre.

fax , facis. f.
火把。火炬。— seditionis 亂首。— corporis 私慾。— phoebea 日。 Faces maritae vel nuptiales 婚筵之炬。Adhibere faces ei 招惹。催彼。

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fax facis, f

• 1 FAC-, a torch, firebrand, flambeau, link: faces de muro eminus iaciebant, Cs.: faces undique ex agris conlectae, L.: ambulare cum facibus, H.: faces iam accensas ad urbis incendium exstinxi: ardens: faces ferro inspicare, V.: dilapsa in cineres fax, H.: arcana, i. e. carried in the Eleusinian mysteries, Iu.—A nuptial-torch(carried in the wedding procession): novas incide faces, tibi ducitur uxor, V.: face nuptiali digna, i. e. of marriage, H.: nuptiales: maritae, O.—A funeral-torch(with which the pyre was kindled): Funereas rapuere faces, V.—As an attribute of Cupid, the torch of love, O., Tb., Pr.—As an attribute of the Furies, the torch of wrath: madefacta sanguine, O.—Of the heavenly bodies, a light, orb: Phoebi fax, C.poët.—A fiery meteor, fire-ball, shooling-star, comet: visae nocturno tempore faces: Stella facem ducens, i. e. a torch-like train, V.: stellae, a comet, L.: faces visae ardere sub astris, meteors, O.—Fig., a torch, light: facem praeferre pudendis, i. e. make deeds of shame conspicuous, Iu.: studii mei, guide, O.: adulescentulo ad libidinem facem praeferre.—A torch, fire, flame, incitement, stimulus, cause of ruin, destruction: corporis facibus inflammari ad cupiditates: me torret face mutuā Calais, flame of love, H.: dicendi faces, flaming eloquence: subicere faces invidiae alicuius: inde faces ardent (a dote), Iu.: Antonius incendiorum, instigator: belli, L.

FAX

FAX(φανός), a torch. The descriptions of poets and mythologists, and the works of ancient art, represent the torch as carried by Diana, Ceres, Bellona, Hymen, Phosphorus, by females in bacchanalian processions, and, in an inverted position, by Sleep and Death. In the above woodcut, the female figure in the middle is copied from a fictile vase. The winged figure on the left hand, asleep and leaning on a torch, is from a funeral monument at Rome: the word Somnus is inscribed beside it. The other winged figure, also with the torch inverted, is taken from an antique gem, and represents Cupid under the character of Λυσέρως, the deliverer from love (Serv. in Verg. A. 4.520) or Lethaeus Amor (Ovid, Rem. Am. 551). In ancient marbles the torch is sometimes more ornamented than in the examples now produced; but it appears to be formed of wooden staves or twigs, either bound by a rope drawn round them in a spiral form, as in the above middle figure, or surrounded by circular bands at equal distances, as in the two exterior figures. The inside of the torch may be supposed to have been filled with flax, tow, or other vegetable fibres, the whole being abundantly impregnated with pitch, rosin, wax, oil, and other inflammable substances. As the principal use of torches was to give light to those who went abroad after sunset, the portion of the Roman day immediately succeeding sunset was called fax or prima fax. (Gell. 3.2.11; Macrob. Sat. 1.3.8.) Torches, as now described, appear to have been more common among the Romans than the Greeks. The use of torches after sunset, and the practice of celebrating marriages at that time, probably led to the consideration of the torch as one of the necessary accompaniments and symbols of marriage. Among the Romans the fax nuptialis (Cic. Clu. 6.15), having been lighted at the parental hearth, was carried before the bride by a boy whose parents were alive. (Plaut. Cas. 1.30; Ov. Her. 11.101; Servius in Verg. Ecl. 8.29; Plin. H. E. 16.75; Festus, s. v. Patrimi.) The torch was also carried at funerals (fax sepulcralis, Ovid, Ov. Her. 2.120), both because these were often nocturnal ceremonies, and because it was used to set fire to the pile. Hence the expression of Propertius (Prop. 5.11, 46), Viximus insignes inter utramque facem. The torch-bearer turned away his face from the pile in setting it on fire. (Verg. A. 6.224)

[J.Y] [W.W]

Fax

(φανός). A torch. The descriptions of poets and mythologists, and the works of ancient art, represent the torch as carried by Diana, Ceres, Bellona, Hymen, Phosphorus, by women in bacchanalian processions, and, in an inverted position, by Sleep and Death. In ancient marbles the torch appears to be formed of wooden staves or twigs, either bound by a rope drawn round them in a spiral form, or surrounded by circular bands at equal distances. The inside of the torch may be supposed to have been filled with flax, tow, or other vegetable fibres, the whole being abundantly impregnated with pitch, rosin, wax, oil, and other inflammable substances. As the principal use of torches was to give light to those who went abroad after sunset, the portion of the Roman day immediately succeeding sunset was called fax or prima fax (Gell.iii. 2. 11; Macrob. Sat. i. 3. 8). The torch was one of the necessary accompaniments and symbols of marriage. See matrimonium.