[Illustration: Sellae Curules. (The top figure from the Vatican
collection; the two bottom figures from the Museum at Naples.)]
SELLA, the general term for a seat or chair of any description.--(1)
SELLA CURULIS, the chair of state. _Curulis_ is derived by the
ancient writers from _currus_, but it more probably contains the
same root as _curia_. The sella curulis is said to have been used at
Rome from a very remote period as an emblem of kingly power, having
been imported, along with various other insignia of royalty, from
Etruria. Under the republic the right of sitting upon this chair
belonged to the consuls, praetors, curule aediles, and censors; to
the flamen dialis; to the dictator, and to those whom he deputed to
act under himself, as the _magister equitum_, since he might be said
to comprehend all magistracies within himself. After the downfall of
the constitution, it was assigned to the emperors also, or to their
statues in their absence; to the augustales, and perhaps, to the
praefectus urbi. It was displayed upon all great public occasions,
especially in the circus and theatre; and it was the seat of the
praetor when he administered justice. In the provinces it was
assumed by inferior magistrates, when they exercised proconsular or
propraetorian authority. We find it occasionally exhibited on the
medals of foreign monarchs likewise, as on those of Ariobarzanes
II. of Cappadocia, for it was the practice of the Romans to present
a curule chair, an ivory sceptre, a toga praetexta, and such-like
ornaments, as tokens of respect and confidence to those rulers whose
friendship they desired to cultivate. The sella curulis appears
from the first to have been ornamented with ivory; and at a later
period it was overlaid with gold. In shape it was extremely plain,
closely resembling a common folding camp-stool with crooked legs. The
sella curulis is frequently represented upon the denarii of Roman
families. In the following cut are represented two pair of bronze
legs, belonging to a sella curulis, and likewise a sella curulis
itself.--(2) SELLA GESTATORIA, or FERTORIA, a sedan used both in
town and country, and by men as well as by women. It is expressly
distinguished from the LECTICA, a portable bed or sofa, in which the
person carried lay in a recumbent position, while the _sella_ was
a portable chair, in which the occupant sat upright. It differed
from the _cathedra_ also, but in what the difference consisted,
it is not easy to determine. [CATHEDRA.] It appears not to have
been introduced until long after the lectica was common, since we
scarcely, if ever, find any allusion to it until the period of the
empire. The sella was sometimes entirely open, but more frequently
shut in. It was made sometimes of plain leather, and sometimes
ornamented with bone, ivory, silver, or gold, according to the
fortune of the proprietor. It was furnished with a pillow to support
the head and neck (_cervical_); the motion was so easy that one might
study without inconvenience, while at the same time it afforded a
healthful exercise.--(3) Chairs for ordinary domestic purposes have
been discovered in excavations, or are seen represented in ancient
frescoes, many displaying great taste.
[Illustration: Sellae, Chairs. (The right-hand figure from the
Vatican collection; the left-hand figure from a Painting at Pompeii.)]