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Nail fixed in the Temple (of Jupiter)

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On September 13th a nail was annually driven into the wall of the temple of Jupiter. This was originally done to tally the year, but subsequently it lapsed into a religious ceremony for warding off calamities from the city. Originally the nail was driven in the wall by the prætor maximus, subsequently by one of the consuls, and lastly by the dictator. (See Livy, vii. 3.).

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Nag
Nag, Nagging
Nag’s Head Consecration
Naga
Naglfar
Nahushtan
Naiads
Nail
Nail (For want of a)
Nail-money
Nail fixed in the Temple (of Jupiter)
Nail in One’s Coffin
Nail One’s Colours to the Mast (To)
Nailed
Nails driven into Cottage Walls
Nails of the Cross
Nain Rouge
Naivete (pron. nah-eve-ty)
Naked Lady
Naked Truth
Nakeer