BEAN. The ancients made use of beans in gathering the votes of the people, and for the election of magistrates. A white bean signified "absolution," and a black one "condemnation." Beans had a mysterious use in the lemuralia and parentalia, where the master of the family, after washing, was to throw black beans over his head, still repeat-
ing the words, "I redeem myself and family by these beans." Ovid gives a lively description in verse of the whole ceremony. Abstinence from beans was enjoined by Pythagoras, one of whose symbols is κναμὴν ἀπείρεδα, abstinere a fabis. The Egyptian priests held it a crime to look at beans, judging the very sight unclean; and among the Romans the flamen dialis was not permitted even to mention the name. The precept of Pythagoras has been variously interpreted. Some understand it of forbearing to meddle in trials and verdicts; others, resting on the equivocal of the word κναμὴν, which signifies equally a bean and a human testicle, explain it by abstinence from venery. Clemens Alexandrinus grounds the prohibition against beans on their alleged quality of rendering women barren; and this is confirmed by Theophrastus, who asserts that some other plants have the same property. Cicero suggests another reason for this abstinence, namely, that beans are great enemies to tranquillity of mind. Hence Amphiaraus is said to have abstained from beans, even before Pythagoras, that he might enjoy a clearer divination by dreams.