Sămus

I. An island on the coast of Asia Minor opposite Ephesus, famed as the birthplace of Pythagoras, as also for its earth and the vessels made from it, the mod. Samo, Mel. 2, 7, 4; Verg. A. 1, 16; Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 2; 1, 11, 21; Ov. M. 8, 221; acc. Samum, Cic. Imp. Pomp. 12, 33; id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 8, § 25; Liv. 37, 10 fin. sq.; Suet. Aug. 17; Lact. 1, 15, 9; cf.: Threïciam Samon (i. e. Samothraciam), Verg. A. 7, 208; Ov. M. 15, 61; id. F. 6, 48; id. Tr. 1, 10, 20.—Hence, Sămĭus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Samos, Samian: terra, Liv. 37, 10 fin.: Juno, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 19, § 50: vir, Ov. M. 15, 60; also, senex, id. Tr. 3, 3, 62; and absol.: Sămĭus, i, m., i. e. Pythagoras, id. F. 3, 153: lapis, used for polishing gold, Plin. 36, 21, 40, § 152: terra, id. 35, 16, 53, § 191; 28, 12, 53, § 194 al.: testa, earthen-ware made of Samian (or other equally fine) clay, Lucil. ap. Non. 398, 33; Tib. 2, 3, 47: vas, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 2, 24; id. Capt. 2, 2, 41: catinus, Lucil. ap. Non. 398, 25: capedines, Cic. Rep. 6, 2, 2.—As substt.

1. Sămĭa, ae, f. (sc. placenta), a kind of cake, Tert. adv. Marc. 3, 5.—

2. In plur.: Sămĭa, ōrum, n., Samian ware, Auct. Her. 4, 51, 64; Plin. 35, 12, 46, § 160; Vulg. Isa. 45, 9.—Its brittleness was proverbial; hence, in a comical lusus verbb.: Pi. (Inveni Bacchidem) Samiam. Ch. Vide quaeso, ne quis tractet illam indiligens: Scis tu, ut confringi vas cito Samium solet, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 2, 22; cf. id. Men. 1, 2, 65.—Dim. adj.: Sămĭŏ-lus, a, um, Samian: poterium, Plaut. Stich. 5, 4, 12.—

3. Sămĭi, ōrum, m., the inhabitants of Samos, the Samians, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 20, § 52; Liv. 33, 20 fin.—

II. The island of Cephalenia, v. Same.