BULLÆ, in antiquity, a kind of ornaments much in use among the ancient Romans. Mr Whittaker * Manchester, is of opinion that they were originally formed of leather Vol. I. p. 79 among all ranks of people; and it is certain that they continued so to the last among the commonalty. He also imagines, that at first the bulla was intended as an amulet rather than an ornament; as a proof of which he tells us that the bullæ were frequently impressed with the figure of the sexual parts. It is universally asserted by the critics, that the bullæ were made hollow for the reception of an amulet; but this Mr Whittaker contradicts from the figure of a golden one lately found at Manchester, which had no aperture whereby an amulet could have been introduced.—Pliny refers the original of the bulla to the elder Tarquin, who gave one with the pretexta to his son, because at the age of 14 he had with his own hand killed an enemy; and in imitation of him it was afterwards assumed by other patricians. Others affirm that the bulla was given by that king to the sons of all the patricians who had borne civil offices. Lastly, others allege that Romulus first introduced the bulla, and gave it to Tullus Hostilius, the first child born of the rape of the Sabines.—As to the form of the bullæ, Mr Whittaker informs us that they were originally made in the shape of hearts; but they did not always retain the form of an heart, any more than they were always made of leather. As the wealth of the state and the riches of individuals increased, the young patrician distinguished himself by a bulla of gold, while the common people wore the amulet of their ancestors. The figure of an heart then became so generally round, some even having the impression of an heart upon them, that there are not many of the original form to be found in the cabinets of the curious. The form is naturally varied from a complete circle to that of a segment; and this was the shape of the abovementioned bulla found at Manchester. When the youth arrived at 15 years of age, they hung up their bullæ about the necks of their gods lares. We are further informed, that the bullæ were not only hung about the necks of young men, but of horses also. We may add, that bullæ were sometimes allowed to statues; whence the phrase statua bullata.

BULLÆ was also the denomination given to divers other metallic ornaments made after the same form; and in this sense bullæ seem to include all gold and silver ornaments of a roundish form, whether worn on the habits of men, the trappings of horses, or the like. Such were those decorations used by the ancients on their doors and belts. The bullæ of doors were a kind of large-headed nails fastened on the doors of the rich, and kept bright with great care. The doors of temples were sometimes adorned with golden bullæ. Mr Bandelot takes the bullæ worn by soldiers on their belts to be something more than mere ornaments. They seem to have been considered as preservations from dangers and diseases, and even means of acquiring glory, and other advantages. The like may perhaps be extended to the bullæ on doors, which were probably placed there as a security to them from being broken or violated.

BULLÆ also denoted a table hung up in the public courts, to distinguish which days were fasti, and which nefasti; answering in some measure to our calendar.