Turibulum

Turibulum (θυμιατήριον), a censer. The Greeks and Romans, when they sacrificed, commonly took a little frankincense out of the ACERRA and let it fall upon the flaming altar. [ARA] But also they used a censer, by means of which they burnt the incense in greater profusion, and which was in fact a small movable foculus (Aelian, Ael. VH 12.51). It was not, as Rich represents it, like the swinging censer of more modern times, but in shape was like a candelabrum, of a design Oriental in origin, with a shallow brazier on the top: the material was usually bronze, but sometimes silver (Thuc. 6.46) and of costly workmanship (Hdt. 4.162; Cic. Ver. 4.21, 46). These turibula could be carried in processions (Liv. 29.14; cf. V. Max. 3.3, 1). The turibula represented above are in the British Museum. The turibulum was lifted by cords or ribbons attached, as is seen in fig. 1, which is of terracotta with the ancient cord attached, found at Fayoum: fig. 2 represents an Etruscan bronze turibulum.

(Blümner, Privatalterth. 168; Marquardt, Staatsverw. 3.167.)

[J.Y] [G.E.M]