EMBLEM (ἐμβλημα, literally, that which is put in or on, something inlaid, from ἐμβαλλω, to cast in or insert), in its ordinary acceptation, denotes a figurative representation which, by the power of association, suggests to the mind some idea not made evident to the senses; or, in other words, a figure or picture which represents one thing to the eye and another to the understanding. It has been otherwise defined as a kind of painted enigma, or a figure
Embolism representing some obvious history instructing us in some moral truth. Such is the image of Scævola holding his hand in the flames, and inscribed with the words "Agere et pati fortiter Romanum est." The Greeks applied the term ἱμβολή to inlaid or mosaic work, and also to all kinds of raised ornaments on vases, &c. The Romans too used emblema in the same sense. Thus Cicero, reproaching Verres with his plunder of statues and other works of art from the Sicilians, calls the ornaments upon them emblemata. It may be farther observed, that the Latin authors frequently compare the figures and ornaments of discourse to these emblemata. Thus, an ancient Latin poet, praising an orator, says, that all his words were ranged like the pieces in mosaic:—
Quam lepidè λῆμα composita, ut tesserae omnes,
Arte pavimento, atque emblemate vermiculato.
The word emblem is now chiefly applied to a figure or representation intended to convey some moral or political instruction. Thus a balance is an emblem of justice; and in Scripture a white robe is an emblem of purity or righteousness. An emblem differs from a device in that the words of an emblem have a full and complete sense of themselves; while those of a device are significative only with reference to some particular person or thing. This difference will be more apparent by a comparison of the emblem above quoted with the device of a candle lighted, and the words Jucundo consumor. "I am wasted in doing good."
EMBOLISM (ἱμβολισμός, from ἱμβάλλειν to insert), intercalation; or the insertion of days, months, or years, in a cycle or period of time, in order to produce regularity. The Greeks made use of the lunar year of 354 days, and in order to adjust it to the solar year of 365 days they added a lunar month every second or third year, which additional month they called embolimaeus, i. e. the inserted one. See CALENDAR.