columen

cŏlŭmen, ĭnis, n., and contr. cul-men, mis, n. [root cel- of excello; cf.: celsus, culmus, calamus, collis], lit., that which rises in height, is prominent, projects; hence the point, top, summit, ridge.

I.

Form columen, inis, n. (only this form is used by Plautus, v. Ritschl, prol. ad Plaut. p. 65).

A.

An elevated object, a pillar, column: ego vitam agam sub altis Phrygiae columinibus, the lofty buildings, or perh. the mountain-heights, Cat. 63, 71 Ellis ad loc.; and of a pillar of fire: Phoebi fax, tristis nunt a belli, quae magnum ad columen flammato ardore volabat, like an ascending column, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 11, 18.—

B.

The highest part or top of an object, e. g. of a wall; the coping; Fr. le chaperon, Cato, R. R. 15, 1; of a building, a ridge, a roof, a gable:

in turribus et columinibus villae,

Varr. R. R. 3, 7, 1:

aulae,

Sen. Herc. Fur. 1000; id. Thyest. 54 Gron.; so of the Capitol, Cic. poët. Div. 1, 12, 20, and of the culmination of heavenly bodies: oritur Canicula cum Cancro, in columen venit cum Geminis, Nigid. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 1, 218. —

2.

Trop., the top, crown, summit, first, chief, the height, etc.:

columen amicorum Antonii, Cotyla Varius,

Cic. Phil. 13, 12, 26:

pars haec vitae jam pridem pervenit ad columen,

Plin. 15, 15, 17, § 57; Col. 3, 4, 3:

audaciae,

the crown of impudence, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 211.—

G.

An elevated object that supports, sustains something; in archit., the top of a gable-end, a gable pillar, a prop, Vitr. 4, 2, 1; 4, 7, 5.—Esp. freq.,

2.

Trop., a support, prop, stay:

familiae,

Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 57; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 176:

senati, praesidium popli,

Plaut. Cas. 3, 2, 6; cf. id. Ep. 2, 2, 7:

rei publicae,

Cic. Sest. 8, 19; Curt. 9, 6, 8:

imperii Romani, Div 38, 51, 3: regni Ausonii,

Sil. 15, 385:

Asiae,

Sen. Troad. 6:

rerum mearum (Maecenas),

Hor. C. 2, 17, 4:

doctrinarum, artium (Varro et Nigidius),

Gell. 19, 14, 1; Col. 3, 4, 3.—

II.

culmen, ĭnis, n. (in Cic. only once; cf. the foll. B.; not in Cat., Lucr., or Hor.; in gen. first freq. since the Aug. per.).

* A.

Any thing high; poet., of the stalk of a bean, Ov. F. 4, 734.—

B.

The top, summit, e. g. of a building, a roof, gable, cupola, etc.:

columen in summo fastigio culminis,

Vitr. 4, 2, 1; Ov. M. 1, 295; 1, 289; Verg. E. 1, 69:

tecta domorum,

id. A. 2, 446; 2, 458; 4, 186:

culmina hominum, deorum,

i. e. of houses and temples, id. ib. 4, 671; Liv. 27, 4, 11; 42, 3, 7.—Of the dome of heaven, * Cic. Arat. 26. —Of mountain summits:

Alpium,

Caes. B. G. 3, 2:

Tarpeium,

Suet. Dom. 23.—Of the crown of the head of men, Liv. 1, 34, 9.—Of the top of the prow of a ship, Luc. 3, 709.—

2.

Trop., the summit, acme, height, point of culmination (perh. not ante-Aug.):

a summo culmine fortunae ad ultimum finem,

Liv. 45, 9, 7:

principium culmenque (columenque, Sillig) omnium rerum pretii margaritae tenent,

Plin. 9, 35, 54, § 106:

ruit alta a culmine Troja,

Verg. A. 2, 290 (Hom. Il. 13, 772: kat akrês); cf. id. ib. 2, 603:

de summo culmine lapsus,

Luc. 8, 8:

regale,

Claud. VI. Cons. Hon. 64. pastorale, id. B. Get. 355:

honoris,

App. Flor. 3.