Canopy
Canopy (κωνῳπεῖον, from κώνωψ, a Vnat; Vulg. conopeum):
(1) In the O.T. the term employed for the hanging of the couch of Holofernes (Judith 10:21; 13:9; 16:19), where alone it occurs in the Bible, although, perhaps, from the "pillars" of the litter described in Song 3:10, it may be argued that its equipage would include a canopy. It probably retained the mosquito nets or curtains in which the name originated, although its description (Judith 10:21) betrays luxury and display rather than such simple usefulness. Varro (R. R. 2:10, 8) uses the term (quae in conopeis jacent) of languid women very much as the book of Judith (ἀναπαυόμενος . . . ἐν τῷ κωνωπείῳ) describes the position of a luxurious general. (For farther classical illustration, see Smith, Diet. of Ant. s.v. Conopeum.) It might possibly be asked why Judith, whose business I was to escape without delay, should have taken the trouble to pull down the canopy on the body of Holofernes? Probably it was an instance of the Hebrew notion that blood should be instantly covered (comp. 2Sa 20:12; Le 17:13), SEE BLOOD, and for this purpose the light bedding of Syria was inadequate. SEE BED. Tent furniture also is naturally lighter, even when most luxurious, than that of a palace, and thus a woman's hand might unfix it from the pillars without much difficulty.
(2) In ecclesiastical use, SEE BALDACHIN.
