saxum (in inscrr. also SAKSVM; from collat. form saxus; a vocative SAXE, Inscr. Orell. 2982), i, n. [root sak-; Sanscr. ska; cf. secare], any large, rough stone; a detached fragment of rock; a rock (in gen.; whereas rupes is a steep rock, crag, cliff).
I In gen., Lucr. 4, 266 sq.; cf. id. 1, 882: non est e saxo sculptus, Cic. Ac. 2 ( Luc. ), 31, 100: pars ludicre saxa Jactant, inter se licitantur, Enn. ap. Non. 134, 13 (Ann. v. 76 Vahl.): (Sisyphum) adverso nixantem trudere monte Saxum, etc., Lucr. 3, 1001: miser impendens magnum timet aëre saxum Tantalus, id. 3, 980: saxo cere comminuit brum, Enn. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 412 (Ann. v. 586 Vahl.); cf.: si glebis aut saxis aut fustibus aliquem de fundo praecipitem egeris, Cic. Caecin. 21,60: magni ponderis saxa, in muro collocare, Caes. B. G. 2, 29; cf. id. ib. 7, 22 fin. ; 7, 23; 7, 46: (Thyestes) summis saxis fixus asperis, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 107 (Trag. v. 413 Vahl.); cf.: aspicite religatum asperis Vinctumque saxis (Prometheum), Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 10, 23: speluncas saxis pendentibu' structas, Lucr. 6, 195; cf., of the cave of Cacus: jam primum saxis suspensam hanc aspice rupem, Verg. A. 8, 190: tot congesta manu praeruptis oppida saxis, id. G. 2, 156: inter saxa rupesque, Liv. 21, 40: saxa spargens tabo, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 1, 44, 107 (Trag. v. 414 Vahl.): vesco sale saxa peresa, Lucr. 1, 326: nec turbida ponti Aequora fligebant naves ad saxa, id. 5, 1001: si ad saxum quo capessit, Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 89 et saep.: lapis non saxum est, Plin. 36, 22, 49, § 169.—In apposition: in saxis silicibus uberiores aquae sunt, in limestone rocks , Vitr. 8, 1.—
2 Prov.
a Saxum volvere, i. e. to strive or endeavor in vain (alluding to the stone of Sisyphus): satis diu hoc jam saxum volvo, Ter. Eun. 1085.—
b Inter sacrum saxumque stare; v. sacrum, A. 2. b.—
II In partic.
A For Saxum Tarpejum (cf. Fest. p. 343 Müll. and v. Tarpejus, II.), the Tarpeian Rock : horribilis de saxo jactus, Lucr. 3, 1016; Plaut. Trin. 2, 1, 31; Cic. Att. 14, 16, 2; Hor. S. 1, 6, 39; Tac. A. 2, 32; 4, 29; Dig. 48, 19, 25; v. Tarpeius.—
B Saxum sacrum, the sacred rock on the Aventine , at which Remus consulted the auspices , Cic. Dom. 53, 136; called saxum alone, Ov. F. 5, 150.—
C A superior kind of Cimolian chalk (creta Cimolia), Plin. 35, 17, 57, § 196.—
D Saxa Rubra; v. ruber, II. B.—
III Transf.
1 Plur. : saxa, stony ground , rocky places : mitis in apricis coquitur vindemia saxis, Verg. G. 2, 522: Ligurum, Mart. 3, 82, 22.—
2 A stone wall : Romulus saxo lucum circumdedit alto, Ov. F. 3, 431.—
3 The strong foundation of a building : Capitolium quadrato saxo substructum, Liv. 6, 4, 12.