arx (noun F) : arx ab arcendo, quod is locus munitissimus rubis, a quo facillime possit hostis prohiberi, Varr. L. L. 5, § 151 Müll; cf. Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 20; Isid. Orig. 15, 2, 32; Doed. Syn. IV. p. 428; v. arceo
* A stronghold, castle, citadel, fortress, ἀκρόπολις; in Rome, the Capitolium.
* Lit.: arce et urbe orba sum, Enn. ap. Cic. Tusc. 3, 19, 44 (Trag. v. 114 Müll.): optumates, Corinthum quae arcem altam habetis, id. ap. ejusd. Fam. 7, 6: edicite per urbem ut omnes qui arcem astuque accolunt, cives, etc.; Att. ap. Non. p. 357, 14: Illa autem in arcem [hinc] abiit,Plaut. Bacch. 4, 8, 59; so id. Ps. 4, 6, 2: In arcem transcurso opus est,Ter. Hec. 3, 4, 17: Condere coeperunt urbīs arcemque locare,Lucr. 5, 1107: arcis servator, candidus anser,id. 4, 683: munire arcem,Cic. Pis. 34 fin.: cum Tarento amisso arcem tamen Livius retinuisset,id. de Or. 2, 67, 273: arx intra moenia in immanem altitudinem edita; Liv. 45, 28: arx Sion,Vulg. 2 Reg. 5, 7: arx Jerusalem,ib. 1 Macc. 13, 49: Romana,Liv. 1, 12: Capitolina,id. 6, 20; cf. id. 3, 18: Sabinus arcem Capitolii insedit mixto milite,Tac. H. 3, 69; Suet. Claud. 44 et saep. As the place on which auguries were received (cf. auguraculum): ut cum in arce augurium augures acturi essent,Cic. Off. 3, 16, 66; so Liv. 1, 18 and 24.—Hence
* Trop., defence, prolection, refuge, bulwark, etc.: Castoris templum fuit te consule arx civium perditorum, receptaculum veterum Catilinae militum, castellum forensis latrocinii,Cic. Pis. 5, 11: haec urbs, lux orbis terrarum atque arx omnium gentium,id. Cat. 4, 6; cf. id. Agr. 1, 6, 18: Africa arx omnium provinciarum,id. Lig. 7, 22: Stoicorum,id. Div. 1, 6, 10: arx finitimorum, Campani,Liv. 7, 29; 37, 18: tribunicium auxilium et provocationem, duas arces libertatis tuendae,id. 3, 45: arx ad aliquid faciendum,id. 28, 3: eam urbem pro arce habiturus Philippus adversus Graeciae civitates,id. 33, 14; Flor. 3, 6, 5: quasi arx aeternae dominationis,Tac. A. 14, 31.
* Since castles were generally on a height, meton., a height, summit, pinnacle, top, peak (usu. poet. and in Aug. and postAug. prose), lit. and trop.
* Prov.: arcem facere e cloacā,to make a mountain of a mole-hill,Cic. Planc. 40.
* Lit.: summā locum sibi legit in arce,upon the extreme height,Ov. M. 1, 27; cf. id. ib. 12, 43. —So
* In partic.
* Trop., height, head, summit, etc. (rare): celsā mentis ab arce,Stat. S. 2, 2, 131: summae laudum arces,Sil. 13, 771; Sid. Carm. 2, 173: ubi Hannibal sit, ibi caput atque arcem totius belli esse,head and front,Liv. 28, 42: arx eloquentiae,Tac. Or. 10.
* Of houses built on an eminence, Petr. 121, 107, and 293.
* Of the citadel of heaven: quae pater ut summā vidit Saturnius arce,Ov. M. 1, 163: summam petit arduus arcem,id. ib. 2, 306: sideream mundi qui temperat arcem,id. Am. 3, 10, 21.
* Of the heavens themselves: aetheriae arces, Ov. Tr. 5, 3, 19: arces igneae,Hor. C. 3, 3, 10: caeli quibus adnuis arcem,Verg. A. 1, 250; cf. id. ib. 1, 259.
* Of temples erected on an eminence: dexterā sacras jaculatus arces,Hor. C. 1, 2, 3.
* Of the head: arx corporis,Sen. Oedip. 185; Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 235.

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