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( êùíῳðåῖïí , from êώíùø , a Vnat; Vulg. conopeum):
(1) In the O.T. the term employed for the hanging of the couch of Holofernes (Jdt_10:21; Jdt_13:9; Jdt_16:19), where alone it occurs in the Bible, although, perhaps, from the “pillars” of the litter described in Son_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 (Jdt_10:21) betrays luxury and display rather than such simple usefulness. Varro (R. R. 2:10, 8) uses theterm (quae in conopeis jacent) of languid women very much as the book of Judith ( ἀíáðáõüìåíïò . . . ἐí ôῷ êùíùðåßῳ ) 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 theHebrew notion that blood should be instantly covered (comp. 2Sa_20:12; Lev_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.