ANACHRONISM, in Matters of Chronology, an Error in Computation of Time; whereby an Event is placed earlier than it really happened. See TIME, and CHRONOLOGY. Such is that of Virgil, who places Dido in Africa at the Time of Aeneas; though, in reality, she did not come there till 300 Years after the taking of Troy—An Error on the other side, whereby a Fact is placed later, and lower than it should be, is called a Parachronism. See PARACHRONISM. The Word is compounded of the Greek ἀνά (ana), backwards, higher, and χρόνος (chronos), Time.
ANACLETERIA, in Antiquity, Feasts celebrated in honor of Kings and Princes, when they took upon them the Administration of their State, and made a Solemn Declaration thereof to the People. The Word is formed of ἀνά (ana), and καλέω (kaleo), I call.
ANCYLE, or Ancile, in Antiquity, a little Buckler, which fell, as it is said, from Heaven, upon Numa Pompilius; at the same time that a Voice was heard, which declared that Rome should be Mistress of the World, while she preserved that Buckler. See BUCKLER.—The Ancyle was, as it were, the Palladium of Rome. See PALLADIUM.
Different Authors give different Etymologies of this Word.—Some derive it from the Greek ἄγκυλος, crooked: Varro derives it ab Ancisus as being cut or arched on the two Sides, like the Bucklers of the Thracians, called Pelta.
Plutarch thinks the Word may be derived from the Greek ἀγκών, Elbow, this Weapon being worn on the Elbow: But the Opinion of Varro is the most probable. Though there was but one Ancyle that fell from Heaven; yet were there twelve preserved: Numa, by the Advice, as it is said, of the Nymph Egeria, having ordered eleven others, perfectly like the first, to be made; that if any should attempt to steal it, as Ulysses did the Palladium, they might not be able to distinguish the true Ancyle from the false ones. These Ancylia were preserved in the Temple of Mars; and were committed to the Care of twelve Priests or Salii, instituted for that purpose. See SALII. They were carried every Year, in the Month of March, in procession around Rome; and the 30th Day of that Month, were again deposited in their Place. Ancyle, is also used in Anatomy, for the Contraction of the Ham.
Different Authors give different Etymologies of this Word.—Some derive it from the Greek ἄγκυλος, crooked: Varro derives it ab Ancisus as being cut or arched on the two Sides, like the Bucklers of the Thracians, called Pelta.
Plutarch thinks the Word may be derived from the Greek ἀγκών, Elbow, this Weapon being worn on the Elbow: But the Opinion of Varro is the most probable. Though there was but one Ancyle that fell from Heaven; yet were there twelve preserved: Numa, by the Advice, as it is said, of the Nymph Egeria, having ordered eleven others, perfectly like the first, to be made; that if any should attempt to steal it, as Ulysses did the Palladium, they might not be able to distinguish the true Ancyle from the false ones. These Ancylia were preserved in the Temple of Mars; and were committed to the Care of twelve Priests or Salii, instituted for that purpose. See SALII. They were carried every Year, in the Month of March, in procession around Rome; and the 30th Day of that Month, were again deposited in their Place. Ancyle, is also used in Anatomy, for the Contraction of the Ham.