Book 11
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There is a kind of drinking-cup also called ancyla, or curved; a kind especially useful for the play of the cottabus. Cratinus says— 'Tis death to drink of wine when water's mix'd: But she took equal shares, two choes full Of unmix'd wine, in a large ancyla: And calling on her dear Corinthian lover By name, threw in his honour a cottabus. And Bacchylides says— When she does throw to the youths a cottabus From her ancyla, stretching her white arm forth. And it is with reference to this ancyla that we understand the expression of Aeschylus— The cottabus of th' ancyla (ἀγκυλήτους κοττάβους). Spears are also called ἀγκύλητα, or curved; and also μεσάγκυλα, held by a string in the middle. There is also the expression ἀπʼ ἀγκύλης, which means, from the right hand. And the cup is called ἀγκύλη, from the fact that the right hand is curved, in throwing the cottabus from it. For it was a matter to which great attention was paid by the ancients—namely, that of throwing the cottabus dexterously and gracefully. And men in general prided themselves more on their dexterity in this than in throwing the javelin skilfully. And this got its name from the manner in which the hand was brandished in throwing the cottabus, when they threw it elegantly and dexterously into the cottabium. And they also built rooms especially designed for this sport.
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In Timachides there is also a kind of drinking-cup mentioned, called the æacis.
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There is another kind also, called the ἄκατος,or boat, being shaped like a boat. Epicrates says— Throw down th' acatia, (using here the diminutive form,) and take instead The larger goblets; and the old woman lead Straight to the cup; . . . the younger maiden . . . . . . . . . . . fill it; have your oar All ready, loose the cables, bend the sails. Among the Cyprians there is also a kind of cup called the aotus, as Pamphilus tells us: and Philetas says, this is a cup which has no ears (ὤτους).
