3. The palm is doubtless often found upon the tombs of faithful ones who were not martyrs; some of these bear dates earlier than those of the persecutions (Arin- ghi, ii, 639). It had become such a common ornament that moulds were made of it in baked clay (D'Agin- court, Terres cuiles, xxxiv, 5), which were used as an expeditious means of stamping the form of a palm upon the fresh lime of the locuU, a very useful expedient iu the extreme haste which, in times of persecution, was necessary in such clandestine burials.
Be this as it may, it was none the less certain that the palm was frequently used as a symbol of martyr- dom. There were jjalms upon the tomb of Caius, both a pope and a martyr. They were also on those of the martyrs Tiburtius, Valerians, Maximianus, found in the confession of Cecil (Aringhi, ii, 642J ; the titulus of the young martyr FILUMENA shows a palm among the instruments of torture (Perret, V, xlii, 3) ; there are sev- eral other examples found in Boldetti (p. 233). It seems difficult to mistake the indications of martyrdom on one sepulchral stone (Perret, V, xxxvii, 120), where the de- ceased is represented as standing with a palm in the left hand and a crown in the right, a cartouch in front bearing the inscription, (I)NOCENTIXA DVLCIS FI(LIA). A similar intention may be found in the palms which are traced upon the stucco enveloping vases of blood (Hottari, tab. cci sq.), and in those which decorate the disk of some lamps which were burned be- fore the tombs of martyrs (Bartoli, Aut. lucern. pt. iii, tab. xxii).
PALM-TREES, CITY OF
605
PAMELIUS
But while it is established that the palm is common to all Christian sepulchres, it follovvs that it is not a certain sign of martyrdom, at least when it is not joined to other symbols which are recognised as certain, such as inscriptions expressing a violent death, the instru- ments of martyrdom, or vases or cloths stained with blood. Papebroch and Mabillon were of the opinion that these two symbols should be taken together, so that the palm alone, without the vase of blood, was not a sufficient proof of martyrdom. Boldetti holds that they should be taken separately, as having the same value. Notwithstanding this declaration, Fabretti ex- cludes the palm, and affirms that, in the recognition of holy bodies, it is founded only upon the vase of blood. After this, Muratori (-1 ntiq. med. <bv. dissert. Ivii) shows that the palm alone is not sufficient proof of martyrdom. Lastly, Benedict XIV (/Je JSeaUf. et Can. IV, ii, 28), while he cites the degree, declares nevertheless " that in the practice of those who superintend the excavation of cemeteries, the only ground on which it rests is, not the palm, but the vase stained with blood." — Martigny, Diet, des Antiq. Chret. s. v. Palme.
Palm-trees, City oi*' (Deut. xxxiv, 3 ; Judg. i, IG ; iii, 13; 2 Chron. xxviii, 15). See Jkkicho; Palm-
TUEE.
Palmyra. See Tadmor.
Palombo, Baktoi.omeo, an Italian painter, was born at Kome about IGIO, and studied under Pietro da Cortona. Palombo is highly commended by Orlandi ; and Lanzi says he was one of Cortona's best scholars. There are only two pictures b)^ him at Rome — an altar- piece in the church of S. Giuseppe, and another of S. Maria Madulena f/e' Pagfji, now placed in the church of S. Martino a' Monti. These works are well designed, strong in coloring, excellent; in chiaroscuro, and the fig- ures are extremely graceful. He probably painted mucli for the collections. He was living in 1666, See Spooner, Biog. Hist, of the Fine Arts, ii, 647.
Palsy (Gr. TrapaXvffic, which, however, only occurs in the New Testament in the adjective form TrapuXvri- Koc, etc., one smitten tcith palst/) is properly a disorder which deprives the limbs of sensation or motion, or both ; and it is usually attended with imbecility of mind — nor is this to be wondered at, since its immediate cause is a compression on the brain. The palsy of the New Tes- tament is a disease of very wide import. Many infirmi- ties seem to have been comprehended under it. 1. The Ajioplexi/, a paralytic shock which affected the whole body. 2. The Hemiplegy, which affects and paralyzes only one side of the body. 3. The Paraplegy, which paralyzes all the parts of t;he system below the neck. 4. The Catalepsy is caused by a contraction of the muscles in the whole or part of the body (e. g. in the hands), and is very dangerous. The effects upon the parts seized are vcrj' violent and deadly. For instance, when a per- son is struck with it, if his hand happens to be extended, he is unable to draw it back. If the hand is not ex- tended when he is struck with the disease, he is unable to extend it. It appears diminished in size and dried up. Hence the Hebrews were in the habit of calling it a withered hand (1 Kings xiii,4, G ; Zech. xi, 17 ; Matt, xii, 10-13; John v, 3). 5. The Cramp. Tliis, in Ori- ental countries, is a fearful malady, and by no means unfrequent. It is caused by the chills of the night. The limbs, when seized with it, remain immovable; sometimes turned in, and sometimes out, in the same position as wheii they were first seized. The person afflicted resembles a man undergoing the torture, and experiences nearly the same exquisite sufferings (Matt, viii, 6 ; Luke vii, 2). Our Saviour is recorded to have miraculously cured several paralytics (Matt, iv, 24; viii, 13 ; ix,"2, 6 ; Mark ii, 3, 4 ; Luke v, 18 ; John v, 5). See Paualytic.