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PHARMACI

Volume 14 · 77 words · 1797 Edition

were two persons who were employed in the lubrication or purification of cities. Some say they were both men; but others maintain, that a man to represent the males, and a woman to represent the females, performed this office. They performed sacrifice, and wore figs about their necks called oxadels, those of the man were blackish, and those of the woman white. Figs were an emblem of fertility, which they doubtless prayed for on these solemn occasions.