Piscina

(Lat.= a reservoir of water), originally the reservoir and filter connected with the aqueducts of Rome, but applied in ecclesiastical language to a water drain formerly placed near an altar in a church, is a small niche, orfenestella, containing the piscina or lavacrum, basin. It consists of a shallow stone basin, or sink, with a hole in the bottom, to carry off whatever is poured into it. It is fixed at a convenient height above the floor, and was used to receive the water in which the priest washed his hands as well as that with which the chalice was rinsed at the time of the celebration of the mass. It is usually annexed to the consessus or seats of the priests in the ancient churches, for the most part similarly decorated, and sometimes appearing as an additional compartment. It is sometimes also found alone in the southern walls of chancels and aisles, sometimes in the eastern walls on the right, and there are one or two instances in which it occurs on the left. When two channels occur in it, one was to receive the water in which the priest had washed his hands, the other that in which he had rinsed the chalice. Ducange limits the piscina, as it is restricted above, to the lavacrum. By Bingham it is received in a more enlarged meaning. "The font," says that author, by the Greek writers is commonly called κολυμβήθρα, and by the Latins piscina, for which latter name Optatus affords a mystical reason. He says it was called piscina in allusion to our Savior's technical name ἰχθύς, which was an acrostic composed of the initial letters of our Savior's several titles, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior." SEE FISH; SEE FONT. In many instances, particularly in those of Early English and early Decorated date, there are two basins and drains, and occasionally three; within the niche there is also often found a wooden or stone shelf, which served the purpose of a credence-table, to receive certain of the sacred vessels that were used in the service of the mass, previous to their being required at the altar; sometimes there is room at the bottom of the niche for these to stand at the side of the basin. In England the piscina is almost invariably on the south side of the altar, and usually in the south wall (though sometimes in the eastern), but in Normandy it is not uncommon to find it on the north side, when the situation of the altar is such as to render that more convenient than the south. No piscinas are known to exist in England of earlier date than the middle of the 12th century, and of that age they are extremely rare; of the 13th and succeeding centuries, down to the period of the Reformation, they are very abundant, and are to be found (or at least traces of them) in the chancel of most churches that have not been rebuilt, and very frequently at the eastern ends of the aisles of the nave also: their forms and decorations are very various, but the character of the architectural features will always decide their date.