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Aquaminarium

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(or Amula) is a vase of holy water, placed by the heathens at the entrance of their temples, that the worshippers might sprinkle themselves. Two of these vessels-the one of gold, the other of silver-were given by Crcesus to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi; and the' custom of sprinkling themselves was so necessary a part of their religious offices that their method of excommunication was to prohibit to offenders the approach and use of the holy-water pot. It is admitted by Roman Catholics that "hence was derived the custom of holy Church to provide purifying or holy water at the entrance of the churches." This vessel was called by the Greeks perirrhanterion (q.v.). in mythological astronomy (Gr. ῾Υδρόχοος ), is the constellation in which Ganymedes is thought to be seen, because it comes directly under the Eagle, the bird of Jupiter, that conveyed Ganymedes to this god, and also because he carries a vessel for water. According to others, he is Deucalion or Cecrops: the first, because of the flood which took place in his. time; the second, because in his day no wine, but water only, was used. The Waterman is represented as kneeling, upsetting an urn, from which flows a stream of water. He borders on the east on Capricorn, and on the west on the Fishes, and is made up, according to Flamsteed, of 108 stars.