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Alysis (ἄλυσις, dim. ἀλύσιον, ἀλυσίδιον), chain.
Thucydides informs us that the Plataeans made use of “long iron chains” to suspend the beams which they let fall upon the battering-rams of their assailants. (See c Aries.) Under the Romans, prisoners were chained in the following manner: The soldier who was appointed to guard a particular captive had the chain fastened to the wrist of his left hand, the right remaining at liberty. The prisoner, on the contrary, had the chain fastened to the wrist of his right hand. Hence dextras insertare catenis means to submit to captivity: leviorem in sinistra catenam. The prisoner and the soldier who had the care of him (custos) were said to be tied to one another. Sometimes, for greater security, the prisoner was chained to two soldiers, one on each side of him. If he was found guiltless, they broke or cut asunder his chains. Instead of the common materials, iron or bronze, Antony, having got into his power Artavasdes, king of the Armenians, paid him the pretended compliment of having him bound with chains of gold ( Paterc. Vell.ii. 82).
Chains which were of superior value, either on account of the material or the workmanship, are commonly called catellae (ἀλύσια), the diminutive expressing their fineness and delicacy as well as their minuteness. The specimens of ancient chains which we have in bronze lamps, in scales, and in ornaments for the person, especially necklaces , show a great variety of elegant and ingenious patterns. Besides a plain circle or oval, the separate link is a bar with a circle at each end, or assumes other forms. The links are also found so closely entwined that the chain resembles plaited wire or thread, like the gold chains now manufactured at Venice.
These valuable chains were sometimes given as rewards to the soldiers; but they were commonly worn by ladies, either on the neck or around the waist; and were used to suspend pearls, or jewels set in gold, keys, lockets, and other trinkets.
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