PISTOR (ἀρτοποιός), a baker, from _pinsere_, to pound, since corn was
pounded in mortars before the invention of mills. At Rome bread was
originally made at home by the women of the house; and there were
no persons at Rome who made baking a trade, or any slaves specially
kept for this purpose in private houses, till B.C. 173. The name was
also given to pastry-cooks and confectioners, in which case they
were usually called _pistores dulciarii_ or _candidarii_. Bread was
often baked in moulds called _artoptae_, and the loaves thus baked
were termed ARTOPTICII. Bread was not generally made at home at
Athens, but was sold in the market-place, chiefly by women, called
ἀρτοπώλιδες. These women seem to have been what the fish-women of
London are at present; they excelled in abuse.