An antique painting of a muse with a _capsula_ near her containing some
volumes, from which hang labels showing the titles of the works. The
same representation appears in another painting kept in a different
part of the palace. Signor Paderni observed to me, that these remains
would help the curious to form a more certain idea of the manner in
which the ancients affixed titles to their volumes, than they have
hitherto been able to obtain. The most complete description, that I can
recollect, of an ancient book, with its appurtenances and decorations,
is that of Martial addressed to one of his own.
_Faustini fugis in sinum? Sapisti.
Cedro nunc licet ambules perunctus,
Et frontis gemino decens honore
Pictis luxurieris umbilicis:
Et te purpura delicata velet,
Et cocco rubeat superbus index._ L. iii. ep. 2.
The _superbus index_ in the last verse, curiously illuminated with
scarlet, was undoubtedly the title of the book; but to what part of
it it was annexed has hitherto been difficult to ascertain: for as
(according to the paintings under consideration) it was inscribed on
a detached piece of paper or parchment, it must soon have been lost
from the book; especialty if the latter had suffered by damps, or any
other injuries similar to those, that have affected the volumes found
in Herculaneum, of which not only the title, but even the ends of the
umbilici, tho’ consisting of more solid materials, as horn, ivory,
_&c._ are intirely destroyed: so that no light could be had from the
original antiquities with relation to this point. The only means,
whereby the connoisseurs could form any conjectures in this case, must
have been, I presume, from the fashion of books among the ancients,
_viz._ their being long scrolls rolled round upon a stick with
ornaments at each end, as described in the epigram produced above.
This form required, that the books should be laid at their length upon
the shelves, where they were deposited with either their side, or one
of their ends, appearing outwardly. Now of these two positions the
latter, which exposed the extremity of the umbilicus to view, might be
thought (all circumstances duly considered) the most convenient. To
this part therefore it might with probability be conjectured, that the
index or title was fastened; but the paintings mentioned above plainly
demonstrate, that it actually was so.
Mons. Dacier says[45], that the titles of books were anciently
inscribed upon the leathern covers, wherein they were wrapt, and
which, by the means of thongs fastened to them, kept the volumes
close and compact together. If that learned gentleman had supported
this fact by proper evidences, then it must have been concluded, upon
the joint authority of such evidences, and of the antiquities under
consideration, that the practice of the ancients was, besides the
title on the sides of the volume, to affix another on a label at one
of its extremities. And indeed this additional notation (whatever we
determine concerning its usefulness, while the books lay on a shelf in
a library) must have been very necessary, when such books stood upright
in a _capsula_ (like those in the painting before us), where no part of
them, but one end alone, could possibly be seen.