The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

322 THE COTTON MANUFACTURE.
the Kalends of August, protected the forum from the rays of the sun, tliat the
persons engaged in lawsuits might stand with less injury to then- health. What
a change from the manners which prevailed under Cato the Censor, who thought
that the forum should even be strewed with caltrops I Of late sky-blue awnings,
spotted with stars, have been extended by means of strong ropes, even in the am-
phitheatre of the Emperor Nero. Red awnings are used to cover the atria of
houses, and they defend the moss from the sun. As for the rest, wliite linen has
always remained in favor. This plant was honored in the Trojan war. For
why should it. not perforin its part in battles as well as in shipwrecks ? Homer
testifies, that a few of his warriors fought in linen cuirasses. The tackle of his
ships was also of flax, according to some of his more learned interpreters, who ar-
gue that by the term spuria he meant sata, or things that are so^vn."
Lib. xix. chap. vi.
—
Pliny,
Lucretius apparently refers to the introduction by Lentulus
Spinther of the cotton awnings above mentioned (vi. lOS.), when
he is theorising on the cause of thunder, and compares the
clouds spread over the sky to the a^^^lings of calico, which
veiled the theatres and sheltered the spectators from the sun :
Carbasus ut quondam magnis intenta theatris
Dat crepitum, malos inter jactata trabeisque.
As flaps the cotton, spread above our heads
In the vast theatres from meist to beam.
TVe now find frequent mention of cotton by the poets of the
Augustan age and by many subsequent writers. As in the
case of silkj these authors introduce cotton, not only historically,
but for the purpose of embellishment ; and, considering Carba-
sus as a poetical term, they often b}^ a catachresis employ it
where they mean to speak of Imen. Also as was before oli-
served in regard to silk (Part I. chapter II.), it may likcAvise be
noticed here, that the wars against Mithridates and the Par-
thians may have contributed to make the Romans famihar
with the use of cotton, although their chief supply of it was
more probably through Egypt, than through Persia and Baby-
lonia.
Linen awnings first used in the theatre at the dedication of the temple
of Jupiter by Catulus 69 B. C.
Cotton awTiings first used in the theatre by Lentulus Spinther, July 6th, 63 B. C.
Linen used to cover the forum and Via Sacra at the gladiatorial show
by Julius CiEsar - - - - - - - - -46B. C-
Linen awnings extended over the forum by Marcellus, July 31st - 23 B. C