On an Etruscan crater, representing Heracles strangling the serpents, surrounded by the greater gods, a fan of plain feathers is held in the hand of one of the attendants. On a sarcophagus at Vulci, found in the winter of 1845-6, a female figure appears waving a large fan, ῥιπίς, identical in shape with fans used in India at the present day. In the Grotta del Sole e della Luna (tomb of the Sun and Moon) at Vulci, discovered in 1830, one of the ceilings has a singular fan-pattern, given in _Mon. Ined. Inst._, i. tav. xli., the counterpart of which is found in two tombs at Cervetri, whence we may conclude it was no uncommon decoration in Etruscan houses.[24] In the Museo Gregorio, Rome, are half-a-dozen handles of fans, with holes for threads or wire, to tie in feathers or leaves. [Illustration: The Rape of Helen. ‘Vernis Martin.’ Lady Lindsay.] ‘The fashion of the fan,’ says M. de Linas,[25] ‘was probably introduced into Italy in the sixth century B.C. We learn from Dionysius of Halicarnassus, that Aristodemus, tyrant of Cumæ, and ally of Porsenna, corrupted the youths of this town by making them effeminate buffoons, accompanied by followers who carried the flabellum and umbrella.’ The fan, although perhaps in less constant use by the Romans, was still an article of very general employment. In the _Eunuchus_ of Terence we are introduced to a pretty scene in which the fan plays an important part. Chaerea is relating to Antipho his good fortune with the fair Thais: CHAEREA. While I was revolving these things in my mind, the virgin meanwhile was called away to bathe; she goes, bathes, and returns, after which they laid her on a couch; I stand waiting to see if they had any orders for me. At last, one came up and said—‘Here, Dorus, take this fan, and, while we are bathing, fan her thus. When we have done you may bathe too, if you have a mind.’ I take it very demurely. ANTIPHO. I could have then wished to see that impudent face of thine, and the awkward figure so great a booby must make holding a fan. CHAEREA. Scarce had she done speaking, when in a moment they all hurried out of the room, and ran to the bath in a noisy manner, as is usual when masters are absent. Meantime, the virgin falls asleep. I steal a private glance thus, with the corner of my eye, through the fan; at the same time look round everywhere, to see if the coast was quite clear.... The Romans employed the fly-flap (_muscarium_) formed of peacocks’ feathers, which was often provided with a long handle, so that the fan could be waved by a servant (_flabellifer_), who protected his mistress from the insects during sleep. Plautus, _Trinummus_, II. i., refers to these _flabilliferae_, but in this instance the term is obviously applied to female fan-bearers. Propertius, II. xxiv. 11, speaks of _flabella_ of the tail feathers of the peacock. The peacock fly-flap is also referred to by Martial, xiv. 67: