I.a helm, rudder (cf. clavus).
I. Lit.: “hominis, non sapientis inventa sunt navigia, additis a tergo gubernaculis, quae huc atque illuc cursum navigii torqueant: exemplum a piscibus tractum, qui cauda reguntur, etc.,” Sen. Ep. 90; cf.: “piscium meatus gubernaculi modo regunt (caudae),” Plin. 11, 50, 111, § 264: “ut cruribus velut gubernaculis demissis cursum dirigeret,” Front. 3, 13, 6: “hic ille naufragus ad gubernaculum accessit, et navi, quoad potuit, est opitulatus,” Cic. Inv. 2, 51, 154: “ipse gubernaclo rector subit, ipse magister,” Verg. A. 5, 176.—
II. Transf., guidance, direction; esp. of the state, government (usually in plur.): “clavum tanti imperii tenere et gubernacula rei publicae tractare,” Cic. Sest. 9, 20; cf.: “qui ad gubernacula rei publicae sedere debebant,” id. Rosc. Am. 18, 51: “repelli a gubernaculis civitatum,” id. de Or. 1, 11, 46: “recedere a gubernaculis,” id. Fam. 16, 27, 1: “ad gubernacula rei publicae accedere,” Liv. 4, 3, 17: quis ad gubernacula sedeat summa cura providendum, id. 24, 8, 13: “abicere gubernacula imperii,” Val. Max. 7, 6, 1: “transferre ad aliquem fortunarum suarum gubernacula,” Nazar. Pan. Const. 27, 2: “temperare gubernacula vitae,” Plin. 11, 37, 88, § 219.—In sing.: “(rare) exercitus non habilis gubernaculo,” Vell. 2, 113, 2: “gubernaculum rei publicae tenere,” Lact. 1, 1, 14.
