ciborium

• a drinking-cup (made like the large leaves of the Egyptian bean), Hor. C. 2, 7, 22.

• , κιβώριον, a drinking-cup, H.

CIBO´RIUM(κιβώριον) properly is the shell of the Egyptian bean plant (colocasia), the bean itself being called κύαμος. These shells, and indeed the leaves too (Plin. Nat.21.87), were made into drinking cups (Nic. ap. Athen. 72 a), and were no doubt of the same shape as the original shell, broad at the top and becoming narrow towards the bottom (Didym. ap. Athen. 11.477 e). From their shape they appear very similar to that kind of cup called ᾠοσκύφιον, if we may adopt the acute emendation of Ussing (De nominibus vasorsum Graecorum, p. 133) in Didymus (l. c.). They were smooth and large (Hor. Od. 2.7, 22), and often were wrought in a costly manner (Athen. 11.477 e). No certain specimen of one can be given. For the meaning of ciborium in ecclesiastical Latin, see Dict.of Christ.Antiq., art. ALTAR.

(κιβώριον). Properly the shell of the Egyptian bean-plant (colocasia), the bean itself being called κύαμος. These shells, and indeed the leaves, too, were made into drinking-cups, and were, no doubt, of the same shape as the original shell—broad at the top and becoming narrow towards the bottom. They were smooth and large (Homer Od. ii. 7, 22), and often were wrought in a costly manner (Athen. xi. 477 e). No certain specimen of one can be given. In ecclesiastical Latin, ciborium means the vessel used to hold the Host, or consecrated wafer, during mass.