HABE´NA
HABE´NA or--AE (mostly plural:
τὰ ἡνία, αἱ ἡνίαι) was, generally speaking, a leathern
thong, by means of which things were held, bound, drawn, or fastened. Hence
the word was in particular applied--1. To the reins by means of which horses
were guided and managed (
Verg. A. 10.576,
11.670,
765,
12.327). The habenae were, as
with us, fixed to the bit or bridle [
FRENUM]. 2. To the thong attached to a lance, by which it was
held and wielded (
Lucan 6.218); called also
flagellum (
Verg.
A. 7.731), and more usually
amentum
[
HASTA p. 935
b]. 3. To the thong which was formed into a sling,
by means of which stones were thrown (
Lucan
3.710; Valer. Flacc. 5.608). [
FUNDA] 4. To straps by which low shoes (
soleae) or sandals were fastened to the feet (Gellius,
13.21.4). 5. To the thong of a whip for
chastising young slaves (
Hor. Ep. 2.2,
15;
Ov. Ep.
9.81), or for whipping a top (
Verg. A.
7.380). The
habena was one of the milder
forms of corporal punishment (
Dig. 29, tit. 5, s.
33, “impuberes servi terreri tantum solent, et habena vel ferula
caedi;” Marquardt,
Privatl. 173).
[L.S] [W.W]
