180 
(H. NV. xxxutl. 52) tells of a Spanish dispensator (one of the 
slaves of the Emperor Claudius) who had a lanx of 500 Ibs. 
weight and eight more of upwards of 100 Ibs. each, to make 
a complete service (if such be the true meaning of “Comites 
ejus octo octengentarum et quinquagenta librarum),” and 
naively adds, “Queso quam multi eas conservi ejus inferrent 
aut quibus ccenantibus.” Tertullian, alluding to the passage 
calls such a dish “promulsis,’ meaning, I suppose, “promul- 
sidarium.” In the centre, on the upper surface, which is slight- 
ly dished to prevent the gravy flowing over, there is a circular 
compartment nearly nine inches in diameter, encircled with a 
very elaborate diapered pattern of peculiar type, produced ap- 
parently by means of the punch, chisel, and hammer: this com- 
partment, of which the beautiful design is somewhat indistinct 
in the present condition of the surface, is surrounded by a 
bordure, decorated with trailing or branched work, in the outer 
circle of which may be discerned, in ten spaces, at equal in- 
tervals, certain letters, which my learned friend, Mr A. Way 
(who has materially aided me in the present investigation), 
thinks form the words VTERE FELIX; but I fear that I can- 
not state more in support of this view than that there is cer- 
tainly a Vv and an x, with eight intersecting arcs between them, 
and that in several of the intersections the letter E may be 
distinguished. Some of the letters appear to be deeply incised, 
while others are embossed in slight relief, On the reverse of 
the lanx there is a central circle in relief, possibly thus fash- 
ioned to give more substantial support and prevent the risk 
of bending or falling out of shape that might occur in so 
large a flat plate of metal when a heavy joint of meat was 
carried upon it. Although but few examples of the lanx are 
to be found in collections of Roman utensils, they have occa- 
sionally occurred. A large plane lanx of silver was acquired 
for the British Museum in the Blacas collection, and in Lysons’ 
Reliquie Britannico-Romane, Vol. 1, we find one figured of 
2 
