DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13855#0052
ASCIA. 44 ASEBEIAS GBAPHE.
into parts, which were named according to
the number of ounces they contained. They
were the deunx, dextans, dodrans, bes, sep-
tum, semis, quincunx, triens, quadrans or
teruncius, sextans, sescunx or sescuncia, and
uncia, consisting respectively of 11, 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 ounces. Of these
divisions the following were represented by
coins ; namely, the semis, quincunx, triens,
quadrans, sextans, and uncia. After the re-
duction in the weight of the as, coins were
struck of the value of 2, 3, 4, and even 10
asses, which were called respectively dussis or
dupondius, tressis, quadrussis, and decussis.
Other multiples of the as were denoted by
words of similar formation, up to centussis,
100 asses ; but most of them do not exist as
coins. In certain forms of expression, in
which acs is used for money without specify-
ing the denomination, we must understand the
as. Thus deni aeris, mills aeris, dccies aeris,
mean respectively 10, 1000, 1,000,000 asses.
The word as was used also for any whole
which was to be divided into equal parts ;
and those parts were called unciae. Thus
these words were applied not only to weight
and money, but to measures of length, sur-
face, and capacity, to inheritances, interest,
houses, farms, and many other things. Hence
the phrases liaeres ex asse, the heir to a whole
estate ; haeres ex dodrante, the heir to three-
fourths. The as was also called in ancient
times assarius (sc. minimus), and in Greek to
aaa-dpuw. According to Polybius, the assarius
was equal to half the obolus.
ASCIA (o-Kewapvov), an adze. The an-
nexed cut shows two varieties of the adze.
The instrument at the bottom wTas called
acisculus, and was chiefly used by masons.
AsL'iae, adzes. (From ancient monuments and a coin.)
ASCLEPIEIA (do-KArjTrieia), the name of
festivals which were probably celebrated in
all places where temples of Asclepius (Aescu-
lapius) existed. The most celebrated, how-
ever, was that of Epidaurus, which took place
every five years, and was solemnized with
contests of rhapsodists and musicians, and
with solemn processions and games.
ASCOLIASJ1US (ao-KwAtao-/j.o;, the leaping
upon the leathern bag, aer/cds) was one of the
many kinds of amusements in which the
Athenians indulged during the Anthesteria
and other festivals in honour of Dionysus.
Having sacrificed a he-goat to the god, they
made a bag out of the skin, smeared it with
oil, and then tried to dance upon it.
Ascoliasmus. (From an ancient gem.)
ASEBEIAS GRAPHE (ao-e^'a;ypa^i}), one
of the many forms prescribed by the Attic
laws for the impeachment of impiety. Any
citizen not incapacitated by disfranchisement
(aTifAi'al seems to have been a competent ac-
cuser ; and citizens, resident aliens, and
strangers, were equally liable to the accusa-
tion. Whether the causes were brought into
the areiopagus, or the common heliastic
court, seems to have been determined by the
form of action adopted by the prosecutor, or
the degree of competency to which the areio-
into parts, which were named according to
the number of ounces they contained. They
were the deunx, dextans, dodrans, bes, sep-
tum, semis, quincunx, triens, quadrans or
teruncius, sextans, sescunx or sescuncia, and
uncia, consisting respectively of 11, 10, 9, 8,
7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 ounces. Of these
divisions the following were represented by
coins ; namely, the semis, quincunx, triens,
quadrans, sextans, and uncia. After the re-
duction in the weight of the as, coins were
struck of the value of 2, 3, 4, and even 10
asses, which were called respectively dussis or
dupondius, tressis, quadrussis, and decussis.
Other multiples of the as were denoted by
words of similar formation, up to centussis,
100 asses ; but most of them do not exist as
coins. In certain forms of expression, in
which acs is used for money without specify-
ing the denomination, we must understand the
as. Thus deni aeris, mills aeris, dccies aeris,
mean respectively 10, 1000, 1,000,000 asses.
The word as was used also for any whole
which was to be divided into equal parts ;
and those parts were called unciae. Thus
these words were applied not only to weight
and money, but to measures of length, sur-
face, and capacity, to inheritances, interest,
houses, farms, and many other things. Hence
the phrases liaeres ex asse, the heir to a whole
estate ; haeres ex dodrante, the heir to three-
fourths. The as was also called in ancient
times assarius (sc. minimus), and in Greek to
aaa-dpuw. According to Polybius, the assarius
was equal to half the obolus.
ASCIA (o-Kewapvov), an adze. The an-
nexed cut shows two varieties of the adze.
The instrument at the bottom wTas called
acisculus, and was chiefly used by masons.
AsL'iae, adzes. (From ancient monuments and a coin.)
ASCLEPIEIA (do-KArjTrieia), the name of
festivals which were probably celebrated in
all places where temples of Asclepius (Aescu-
lapius) existed. The most celebrated, how-
ever, was that of Epidaurus, which took place
every five years, and was solemnized with
contests of rhapsodists and musicians, and
with solemn processions and games.
ASCOLIASJ1US (ao-KwAtao-/j.o;, the leaping
upon the leathern bag, aer/cds) was one of the
many kinds of amusements in which the
Athenians indulged during the Anthesteria
and other festivals in honour of Dionysus.
Having sacrificed a he-goat to the god, they
made a bag out of the skin, smeared it with
oil, and then tried to dance upon it.
Ascoliasmus. (From an ancient gem.)
ASEBEIAS GRAPHE (ao-e^'a;ypa^i}), one
of the many forms prescribed by the Attic
laws for the impeachment of impiety. Any
citizen not incapacitated by disfranchisement
(aTifAi'al seems to have been a competent ac-
cuser ; and citizens, resident aliens, and
strangers, were equally liable to the accusa-
tion. Whether the causes were brought into
the areiopagus, or the common heliastic
court, seems to have been determined by the
form of action adopted by the prosecutor, or
the degree of competency to which the areio-