pila Mattiaca

A ball of German pomade, employed by the ladies of Rome and young men of fashion to tinge the hair a light or fair colour. It was composed of goats' tallow and beechwood ashes made up into a ball, which received its distinguishing epithet from the town of Mattium (Wiesbaden) from whence it was imported (Mart.xiv. 27). See sapo; spuma.