Plate. Xi. Drillopota
Plate Xi
p. 26
Drillopota.
Terra Cotta. \"Height 11 5/25 inches".
Plate Xi.
This grotesque little figure was found at Civita. 1 It represents one of those unfortunate beings whose only purpose in life seems to be as a kind of plaything to their fellow-creatures. What have they done to deserve the worst share in the distribution of the common heritage, those sad abortions of a capricious mother? Unfathomable Providence! here too, undoubtedly, we should have cause to wonder at Thy will, if Thy motive were known; but it is not given to man to read Thy sacred pages; he knows that the truth exists, he feels it, but he knows it not.
As it was the custom only a short time ago in several courts of Europe, so in antiquity the wealthy had certain dwarfs in their service, whose business it was to amuse the company when dull. They had to dance on the table, and were shut up in gigantic pasties. They poured out wine for their masters, and followed them when they went out. They were called "moriones", from μωρὸ or "fatui", whence our word "fatuous" comes; and sometimes "insani", nugatores, &c.
p. 27
These buffoons were in the habit of shaving their heads to make themselves appear still more ridiculous. The present figure is entirely bald: near his left arm are the "tavol pugillares", tablets which the children used at school. He wears round his neck the golden ball ("bulla"), which distinguished the sons of the nobles and senators. The origin of this distinction dates from Tarquin the Elder, who awarded this mark of honour to his son for having conquered his opponent in single combat. 1 The "bulla" could be opened at pleasure, and was used to keep talismans in.
The tunic of this singular personage is raised, and reveals a phallus of enormous proportions. This agrees with the assertion of Theophrastus, that the "membrum" of dwarfs was out of all proportion with their body; that is to say, that the former was just as large as the latter was diminutive. 2
Καὶ Θεόφραστος ὡς νάννον αἰδοῖον ἔχοντα
μεγα, οἱ γὰρ νάννοι μέγα αἰδοῖον ἔχουσι· 3
Footnotes
26:1 A town of Naples, near Cassano, in the northern part of Calabria.
27:1 Pliny, xxiii. 1.
27:2 The drilled vessel behind this figure represents one of those drinking-cups called "drillopota", of which we shall speak when explaining another plate.
27:3 Suidas.--hesychius.
p. 26
Drillopota.
Terra Cotta. \"Height 11 5/25 inches".
Plate Xi.
This grotesque little figure was found at Civita. 1 It represents one of those unfortunate beings whose only purpose in life seems to be as a kind of plaything to their fellow-creatures. What have they done to deserve the worst share in the distribution of the common heritage, those sad abortions of a capricious mother? Unfathomable Providence! here too, undoubtedly, we should have cause to wonder at Thy will, if Thy motive were known; but it is not given to man to read Thy sacred pages; he knows that the truth exists, he feels it, but he knows it not.
As it was the custom only a short time ago in several courts of Europe, so in antiquity the wealthy had certain dwarfs in their service, whose business it was to amuse the company when dull. They had to dance on the table, and were shut up in gigantic pasties. They poured out wine for their masters, and followed them when they went out. They were called "moriones", from μωρὸ or "fatui", whence our word "fatuous" comes; and sometimes "insani", nugatores, &c.
p. 27
These buffoons were in the habit of shaving their heads to make themselves appear still more ridiculous. The present figure is entirely bald: near his left arm are the "tavol pugillares", tablets which the children used at school. He wears round his neck the golden ball ("bulla"), which distinguished the sons of the nobles and senators. The origin of this distinction dates from Tarquin the Elder, who awarded this mark of honour to his son for having conquered his opponent in single combat. 1 The "bulla" could be opened at pleasure, and was used to keep talismans in.
The tunic of this singular personage is raised, and reveals a phallus of enormous proportions. This agrees with the assertion of Theophrastus, that the "membrum" of dwarfs was out of all proportion with their body; that is to say, that the former was just as large as the latter was diminutive. 2
Καὶ Θεόφραστος ὡς νάννον αἰδοῖον ἔχοντα
μεγα, οἱ γὰρ νάννοι μέγα αἰδοῖον ἔχουσι· 3
Footnotes
26:1 A town of Naples, near Cassano, in the northern part of Calabria.
27:1 Pliny, xxiii. 1.
27:2 The drilled vessel behind this figure represents one of those drinking-cups called "drillopota", of which we shall speak when explaining another plate.
27:3 Suidas.--hesychius.
