Figurative uses of animal names in Latin and their ... - mura di tutti

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phor less suggestive of their animal prototypes, are the
Frisian horses, cheveaux-de-frise, of the seventeenth cen-
tury, which were pieces of timber set with long iron spikes
and employed in defensive operations, especially against
cavalry charges.
:
CERVI ET CERVOLI, Deer: transf., Antler-like
Branches Set up in the Ground.
The cervi were sharpened branches of trees set up to obstruct
or impede the advance of a foe. Caesar used them
effectively at the siege of Alesia: Huic (vallo) loricam pinnasque
adiecit, grandibus cervis eminentibus ad commissu-
ras pluteorum atque aggeris, qui ascensum hostium tar-
darent."*
The cervi were also used to block the progress of an
enemy in the open
Quaque patet campus planis ingressibus hostis,
^®®
Cervorum ambustis imitantur cornua ramis, . . .
The cervoli, cheveaux-de-frise on a small scale, are recommended
by Hyginus for use in fortifications
Cervoli trunci ramosi. Ad hos decurritur, si soli natura
nimia teneritate cespes frangitur, neque lapide mobili nisi
confragosum vallum extrui potest, nee fossa fieri, ut non
ripae decidant. '''*'
The metaphor in this instance is unusually easy, since
the terms ramus and ramosus were regularly used for the
antlers of the deer. Pliny does not hesitate to call them
rami, 'branches'; (Natura) lusit animalium armis, sparsit
haec in ramos, ut cervorum.'^'^^
Phaedrus uses the figure very felicitously as he pictures
a stag admiring his branching antlers reflected in a spring
Ad fontem cervus, cum bibisset, restitit,
Et in liquore vidit effigiem suam.
Ibi dum ramosa mirans laudat cornua . .
Caes. Gall, vii, 72, 4.
"» Sil. X, 412-3-
"°Hyg. Mun. Castr. 51. Cf. also Frontin. Strat. i, 5, 2.
'"Plin. Nat. xi, 37, 45, (123). Cf. id. viii, 22, 50, (116).
'"Phaedr. i, 12, 3-5.
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