History of Monsters. 77

strictly speaking, the papilla is that small swelling of the breasts which infants take into their mouths to suck milk. Furthermore, among the ancients, the breast was also called the *rumen*; for this reason, Pliny, writing about Romulus and Remus, stated: "A she-wolf was found offering her *rumen* to the infants." E. However, the *rumen*—or *frumen*—is properly the interior part of the neck corresponding to the protrusion of the throat. Thus, according to Servius, the term for crops (*fruges*) is derived from *frumen*; subsequently, the verb *rumino* (to ruminate) is formed from *rumen*, meaning to bring food back to the *rumen*—that is, to the throat.

According to Sipontinus, the shoulders (*humeri*) are named from the ground (*humus*), because like the earth they are suited for bearing burdens; they are also called *armi*, because the weapons (*arma*) one carries hang from them. From this are derived *armillae*, the bracelets that serve as ornaments for women's arms, since the ancients referred to the shoulders and arms together as *armos*. Beneath the shoulders are the armpits (*alae*), which in humans are covered with hair; the diminutive of this name is *axilla*. Furthermore, the human sides are bounded by the right and left ribs. The *ilia* (flanks), a word declined in both the second and third declensions, are located between the hips and the pubes; however, this placement refers more to the inner flanks, as the exterior ones extend more widely. The belly has the chest at its upper part and the pubes at the lower, and it terminates its boundaries on either side at the flanks. F. In its center, we observe the navel (*umbilicus*), named after the *umbo*, the central boss of a shield. Below the navel are the pubes and the *pecten*. If we look at the back part of the thorax, we first come upon the shoulder blades (*scapulae*), between which a small valley is observed that the Latins call the *interscapilium*. Next, the entire rear part of the thorax, resembling a ridge, is known as the *dorsum* (back) or *tergum*; at its end is the *culus* between the buttocks or haunches—essentially a sheath or *culeus*. It is also called the *anus* (as it is round), or the *podex* (derived from *pedendo*), because it is through this part that the belly's gases are emitted. Finally, the loins (*lumbi*) fall between this part and the waist.

Now, if we return to the shoulder blades and move gradually away from them, we find the part descending from the shoulder to the elbow, which some call the *armus*; for as was written just above, the ancients called the shoulders and arms together *armi*. However, the part from the elbow to the wrist is called the *lacertus* (forearm). G. This is why Hercules, because he displayed the greatest strength in this part, was called *lacertosus* ("muscular"). The bend of the arm is known as the *cubitum* (elbow).

Attached to the *lacertus* is the hand (*manus*)—the "hand" of the whole body, as it were—which is divided into five fingers (*digiti*). They are called such either because there are ten (*decem*) or because they are joined becomingly (*decenter*). First is the thumb (*pollex*), so named because it is powerful (*polleat*) with great strength; the Greeks call it ἀντίχειρ (*anticheir*) because it contends with the rest of the hand with equal vigor and acts as a substitute for another hand. Indeed, the ancient Greeks, noting this, called the thumb the *hallus* because it alone could leap upon the backs of all the other fingers—the name being derived from ἅλλομαι (*hallomai*), which means "to leap." Next is the "salutary" finger, or according to moderns, the "index" finger; this is either because we do not offer a greeting (*salutamus*) without pointing something out, or because this finger is pressed to the mouth for silence, which is considered a salutary precept. Others call this same finger the *medicus* (healer's finger), perhaps because surgeons use it most frequently to explore the depths of wounds or ulcers. Then there is the middle finger, which some call "infamous" or "impudent," both because it is used to express reproachful pursuit and because of its length, as if it requires the protection of the others. H. There are those who call this the *lichanos* (παρὰ τὸ λείχειν, from "licking"), because it is used and licked when testing the flavor of anything. The "annular" finger (ring finger) is also called the *pronubus* (the "bride-man"), since it is encircled by a ring during marriages, or it is called "medicinal" because an artery is believed to penetrate directly to it from the heart; for this reason, they say that in treating heart ailments, medicines should be applied to this finger. Finally, there is the little finger, called the "minimum" because of its smallness, or the "auricular" because people use it to clean their ears. Some call the fingers the Prince, the Merchant, the Fool, the Middle, the Student, and the Auricular Lover, because such persons would adorn these specific fingers with rings. Hence the verse: "Prince, Merchant, and Fool, Student and Lover."

Therefore, the hand extended like the frond of a palm tree is called the *palma* (palm); when closed, it is called the *pugnus* (fist); and the hollow of the hand is called the *vola*. From this comes the word *involare*, meaning to seize, hide, or steal. Finally, the nails (*ungues*) cover the tips of the fingers, from which some attempt to understand the character of men.