% i n^ THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES '^o.Af^A' .yKeeu//^ . AV ILLUSTRATION OF THE iiloman Antiquities DISCOVERKD AT BATH. ^TTT^t-fiiil-t-y^ By the Rev. RICHARD WARNER, CURATE OF St. JAMES's PARISH. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR A\D CORPORATIO^^ BATH: PRINTED BY W. MtYLER. u , D c t , X I \ ; 1 TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, ALDERMEN, AND CHIEF CITIZENS OF BATH, THE FOLLOWING ILLUSTRATION OF CERTAIN ROMA^r AJ^TIQUITIES, ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED, AND BY THEIR CARE AND ATTENTION, NOW PRESERVED IN IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THEIR OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, RICHARD WARXER. Bath, teb. 13 »797' 623743 THE INTRODUCTION, »&4 W ERE we to give credit to the fanciful defcriptions of Jeffery of Monmouth, and other fabling afTcrtors of the Briiilh antiquities, we fliould beHeve, that the arts and fciences, the elegancies, luxuries, and refinements of life, were known and praftifed by the Britons, long before their communication with the Romans-, and we might be perfuaded, that even Bath itfelf made a confidcrable figure, as a city, fome centuries previous to the Chriftian ^£ra.' But if we turn from thefe wild dreanis of the cloiAcr, to the page of clalTical hiflory, we fhall find (from the few hints on the fubjecl which may there be met with) that I Little, if any, credit can be given to the details of Br!ti(h tranfaflioni pre- vious to the arrival of the Romans here, as Polydorc X'irgil hath well obferved. Lquidem nihil occultius ; nihil tncertius ; nihil ignoratius ; rebus Britannorum a principio gcftis ; partim quod annales, fi qui fucrant, ficut fupra oftendiroui Gildam tellificari, fundituj perierant, undc poftca qui hiftorias fcripfsnint, nihil hauritc po- lucre, Sec. Hifl. p. 18. 1, si, B the ii THE INTRODUCTION. the original inhabitants of our country little deferved tlie fplendid charafler thus attributed to them. Scarcely emerged from thofe fimple modes of life which are deno- minated the hunter flate, the Britons, when firft difcovered by the Romans, did not by any means prefent a pifture of national refinement. It was only near the coafl ' that any traces of civilization appeared ; and for this partial improvement in manners, the inhabitants were indebted to the communication which they maintained with the continental nations, through the medium of commerce. In the interior parts of the country all was wild and favage. Towns there were none ;^ the fcattered dwellings of the natives were but miferable huts,3 and many of the moll obvious comforts and conveniences of life were utterly unknown to them. Warlike and fierce,< but at the fame time mild and merciful ;5 precipitate and inconftant,^ but generous and candid ;' proud and haughty,* but benevo- lent and hofpitable -,9 the ancient Britons exhibit, in the page of hiftory, that inconfiflent charafter which is only 1 Ca:far fpeaking of the Belgie Britons, faysy " Ex his omnibus longe humanifllmi " funt qui Cantium incolunt ; qua regio eft maritima omnis : neque multutn a Gal- " lica differunt confuetudine." Cass. Bel. Gal. lib. 5, 2 Dion. Cafs. Lib. 39. 3 Diod. Sic. L. 5. c. 8. 4 Herodian lib. 3. 5 Hofpitibus boni mitefque'rupplicibus. Pomp. Mela, lib, 3. 6 Rumoribus atque auditionibus permoti de fummis f«pe rebus coniilia ineunt, Cxs. Bel. Gal. lib. 4. 7 Diod. Sic. lib. 5. 8 Celtx magna de feipfii fcntiunt. Arriin, Expcd, Alex, 9 Diod, Sic, lib. 5* found THE INTRODUCTION. ui found in an early flage of fociety, when men unac- quainted with the obligations and ties of morality or religion, regulate their condudt, not by any fixed jjrin- ciples, but by the wild impulfe of the paffions, or the whimfical di6latcs of caprice. This confidcration alone is fufficient to overturn the imaginary fyflcm of old Britifh refinement, which the writers above alluded to, in a miflaken regard for the honor of their country, have endeavoured to fbifl upon US; and convinces us, that if we cxpeft to difcover any trait of it previous to the arrival of the Romans in this kingdom, our hopes will be altogether difappointed. Confining our attention therefore to the period fubfe- quent to this event, we fhall endeavour to throw fome light on the Iliflory of Bath, under the conquerors of the world; to whom we are indebted for the remains of ancient art, which it is the purpofc of the following fheets to illuflrate. Fifty-five years before the birth of our Saviour, Julius Caefar difcovercd Britain to the Roman world.' I fav difcovercd, bccaufe his partial penetration into it, and his contelb with two or three tribes of the natives, fcarcely I Primus omnium Romanorum Divut Julius com exercitu Britanniam ingrciTui. T«cit. \'it, Agric. C. 13. ji 3 amount lY THE INTRODUCTION. amount to any diing further.' The conquejl of the country did not take place till nearly a century afterwards. The long and bloody civil wars in which contending ambition plunged the Republic, kept, for a confiderable time, the attention of the divided Romans confined to themfelves — When, at length, the fiercencfs of party was quieted, and the commonwealth overturned by the fuperior addrefs and good fortune of Augullus; the Emperor, fully employed in reconciling the minds of the Romans to this new fpecies of domination, had neither time nor inclination to attend to the conquell of a dillant nation, barbarous and wild, and cut off as it were from all the habitable world.* Ti- berius imitated the politic conduft of Auguftus in this refpeft ; and all the preparations of the weak, wicked, and capricious Caligula evaporated in folly. Nor was it till the reign of Claudius, about the year of our Lord 44, that any part of Britain was fairly reduced under the Roman yoke ; when Flavius Vefpafian carried the eagle in triumph through the Belgic provinces, and compleatly fubdued all the weflern, and fouth-weflern parts of Britain.3 1 Quamquam profpera pugna terruerit incolas, ac litore potitus fit, poteft videtj oftendide pofteris, non tradidiffe. Ibid. Intaftiisaut Britannus, Hor. Epod. 7. v. 7. 2 Et penitus toto divifos orbe Britannos. \'irgil. Ec. 1. v. 67. 3. Mox bella civilia, et in rempublicam verfa principum arma, ac longa oblivio Britannia; etiam in pace. Confilium id divus Auguftus vocabat, Tiberius prxcep- tum. Agitafle C. Ca;farem de intranda Britannia fatis conftat, ni velox ingenio, piobilis pxnitentia, et ingentes adverfus Germaniam conatus fruftra fuiffent. Divus Claudius Auftor Operis, tranfveftis leglonibus auxiliifque, et afTumpto in partem Tprum Vefpafiano, quod initium venturs mox fortunx fuit, domitae gentes, capti rfses, et riionllratus fatis Vcfpafiaiius. Tacit, in Vit. Agric. c. 13, To THE IXTRODUCTION. t To this period then wc arc to look for the origin of Bath.'— No fooner had the Romans penetrated into this part of Somerfetfhire, than the warm and medicinal Iprings, which had, probahly, hitherto flowed unattended to along the vale, caught their obfervation, and quickly determined them to eredl a ftationon the fpot. Habituated as they were to the ufe of the bath, they gladly availed thenifclves ofafituation which promifcd them, with little trouble, the indulgence that could not be procured in their own country without great labour and expence ; and confidering this advantage as fully counterbalancing all inconveniencies, they were content to forego their ufual principles in choice of fituation, and inflead of fixing on any of the neighbouring commanding hills for their rehdence, they planted a colony on the fcitc of prefent Bath, in the hollow bottom of a deep and clofc valle\ . The legions which accompanied Vefpafian to England were the 2d, the 9th, the 14th, and the 20th. Thei'e, as the Romans extended themfelves in the countv, were difperfed through the Rations that marked their line pf conquefl. Part of them of courfe remained at Bath, to 1 The country around Baih might have been conquered by Cjlarim, and the colony of Ajuiz Soils cftabliflicd by him. — He fubducd the Iceni tnACangi, (a people of (his part of Somcrfetfhire) about the year of our Lord 50, and built a regular chain of forti upon the banks of the Severn and Avon. Many of his cajlra crfiva, or t*flo- raioria are ftill plainly difcernible. Compare Tacit. Annal. lib. xii. c. 31. " OJi^riHt dttraktrt arma/uffiRii, cin loj'/ut cajlrii Sabiinum el Aalonam Jtiivhi Cybihtre faral," A notiiicaiion of Oftorius's ptefence in thefe parts, is met with in the name of Aiifi pafTage, called in Doomfday-book Oder-clivc, an evident corr,ip(ioQ of th; Romar^ ajpclk^ioB Qllorius, regulat^ vi THE INTRODUCTION. regulate and keep quiet the newly acquired territory, A detachment of" the fecond legion was appointed to this fervice; the foldiers of which immediately employed themfelves in clearing the country around, and erefting proper barracks and refidences for the accommodation of the Cohort. The place was then eftabliflied into a colony;* and the name of AqucE Solis,- or waters of the Sun, impofed 1 Fuerint olim apud Brittones xcii urbes, earum vero celcbriores, et praereliquiis confpicua: xxxiii. Municipia fcilicet 1 1 ; V'erolaraium et Eboracum ; viiii colonias fc. Londinium, Augufta, Canialodunum, Geminx Martiae — Rhutupis. Thermae — Aqux Solis — Ifca Secunda — Deva Getica — Glevum, Claudia — Lindum — Cara- boricum — Ricardi Corinenfis de fitu Brit. c. vii. The colonies were fubjeft to the Roman Laws; enjoyed all the rights of Roman citizens ; and were governed by a fenate of their own election. Colonis — jura conflitutaque omnia populi Romani habent. Aiilus Gel. Nofl. Att. lib. xiv, c. 31. 2 Aqux Solis is the name of Bath in the Itinerary of Antoninus ; where it occurs thus — " Iter xiv. Item alio Itincre ab Ifca (Carleon) Callevam (Ucheftet) M. P, ciii, ( 103 miles). Ab Ifca .... . - From Caerleon. Venta Silurum - - M. P. ix. - - Caergwent. Abone .... M. P. iv. - - Aunfbury. Trajeftus - - - - M. P. ix. - - Henhuin Aquis Solis - - - M. P. vi, - - Bath. In PtoUiiij's geography Bath occurs under the name of 'YJara Sspfta, or warm waters. •Toich Ao£r»oi; BEAFAI xj woXftf. \ffya.hi<; (Ifca) VJara fisff/a (Bath) Ovina (Vcnta). 1 he (JaJifx mentioned by Stephanus from Polybius is fuppofed to have been another name for the fame city. BAAIZA, vo>.n t>;; Bf£T]a»na;, noXtCio; TfKxaiJtzaiTHJ, to j9«ko» BaJiiilai©'. Step : de Urb : Tho' Wefseling doubts, and with good reafon, whether it were intended under that name. Inio facile reperias qui BaJi^a Polybii apud Steph : hue referant, impulfi, ut liquet, recentiore Aquarum nomine Bath ; quod ipfum fi 'Britannis Polybii xtate ufitatum fuiffe commonftrarent nondum rem tenerent : neque cnim ufque a Polybio fcriptum accepimus in ea urbe calidarum aquarum balinea fuiffe. ^fl/Z!o»:Vj prava Latinitate Ofbernus in Vit. S, Elphegi c, 1. appellat — WeiTeling, Anton, Itin, p. 4860 upon TME INTRODUCTIONT. vii Upon it; in allufion to its warm medicinal fprings, which were fuppofed to receive their heat from the influence of" that vivifying planet. Having arranged ihcfe necefTary preliminaries, the next care of the Romans was to collect togc-ther the mineral waters that had hitherto waded their healing powers on the wild foiiiudcs through which they flowed; and to ereft baths for the pleafure, health, and comfort of the inhabitants of the new city. This we are juflified in fuppofing would be a very early flep with the Romans after their fettlement here; fince there was no luxury in higher eflimation with them than frequent bathing. As linen was not generally ufi_d till the times of the lower empire, cleanlinefs rendered con- flant ablutions abfolutely necefTary; and, hence it was (according to an ancient writer), that the decent Roman, after every fort of exercife, or corporal exertion, plunged into the Bath, to free himfelf from the difagreeable con- Icquences of extreme heat, and to refrefli and mvigorate his exhaufled frame.' The like indulgence was generally ufed immediately before flipper, the great meal of this luxurious people;' though fbme adopted a contrary prac- 1 AX>.a n ViMfiii >iaTxrfi'i'''i''i»ii n iiiya>M vavj-aititonrtmKaQne, Artlrnid : Daldun : Oncir : Lib : i. c. 66. 2 Pro hinc cubiculo te refer, ct leflulo laditudinem refove, et exarbiiriolavacrum pete noi quarum voces accipls, tux famulx, fcJulu tihi prxmininrabimus, nee cor- poris curatz tibi regales ej^ulx morabuntur, L: Apul : Mctam : Lib: 5. in princip ; tiee, vm THE INTRODUCtlON. tice, arid never bathed till afterwards." Whatever difference, however, there might be in the times of ufing them, the baths were places of great refort, and Crouded with every defcription of charafter — the fenfual and the wife; the idle and the aftive; the fpcndthrift and the mifer; the philofo- pher and the buffoon. — Here, not only the body of the bather was refreflied by every art of wafhing, anointing,* rubbing, pinching, fqueezing, &c.3 but his eye was amufed with the fight of gymnaftic exercifes, in the furrounding Xyfti and porticoes ; and his ear gratified with the recita- tion of poems, fongs, and various other compofitions, which the authors, for the gratification of their vanity, or for the lale of their works, were wont to repeat to the company affembled at the Baths. To provide for a praftice that contributed fo greatly to comfort us well as amufement, and which conllant habit had rendered altogether neceflary to the Romans, would occupy their immediate attention, after having difpatched the more important concerns of their new colony ; and it is probable thofe remains of fplendid baths, difcovered in the year 1755, were part of the original Thcrmce erefted at J Oi Si tfi^a7c»Tec, ena Jf Xaovrai. Artim. Ut fupra. 2 'Ihe luxurious Roman went to a confukr;ible expence both in the ointments ufed on thefe occafions, and the materials with which his body was rubbed after their application. Jam Trimakio unguento tergebatur non linicis, fed palliis ex molUflt- ma lana faftis. Petron : Arb. in Satyr : p. ai. 2 Scabor, fuppellor, defquamor, pumicor, ornor, Expilor, pingor — Says a bather in l.ucilius. THE INTRODUCTION. ix Aquce. Soil's, as foon as the conquerors were once fettled in Oiat place.' The following dcfcription of thcfe remains is cxtra^ed from the Hidory of Sonierfeilhire; an account which I deemed it ncceflary to introduce, as they are now entirely hidden from infpettion, by buildings erected over them. '« The walls of thefe baths were eight feet in heioht, built " of wrought Itonc Hned with a flrong cement of terras ; " one of them was of a femicircular form, fifteen feet in " diameter, with a ftone feat round it eighteen inches high, " and floored with very fmooth flag Rones, The dcfctnt *•■ into it was by feven ft^onc flcps, and a fmall channel lor *' conveying the water ran along the bottom, turning at a " right angle towards the prefent King's Bath. At a fmull " diltance from this was a very large oblong bath, havino- *' on three fides a colonade, furrounded with fmall pilallers, •' which were probably intended to fupport a roof On " one fide of this batii, were two fudatories nearly fquare, " the floors of which were compofcd of brick, covered " with a ilrong coat of terras, and I'upported by pillars of '•' brick, each brick being nine inches fquare, and two inches " in thicknefs. Thefe pillars were four feet and a half hiffh. " and fet about fourteen inches afunder, compofing a " Hypocaufl, or vault for the purpofe of retaining the I They were ceruinly among the Jirjl of the Roman works here, being difcovered at the depth of fwtHij/fcet below the furface of the ground'; which is four feet lower than any of the other, and probably later fragments of architefturc were found. c " heat X THE INTRODUCTION. " heat neceflary for the rooms above. The interior walls ♦' of thefe apartments were fet round with tubulated bricks «' or funnels, about eighteen inches long, with a fmall *•' orifice opening inwards, by which the fleam of heat was *' communicated to the apartment. The fire-place from " which the heat was conveyed was compofed of a fmal] *•' conical arch at a little difiance from the outward wall ; *' and on each fide of it, adjoining to the above-mentioned " rooms, were two other fmaller fudatories of a circular " fhape, with feveral fmall fquare baths, and a variety of ^' apartments which the Romans ufed preparatory to their *' entering either the hot baths or fudatories ; fuch as the Fri- *' gidariuvi, where the bathers undreffed themfelves, which ^' was not heated at all ; the Tepidarium which was mode- " rately heated, and the E!(othe/;on, -which, was a fmall room, *' containing oil, ointments, and perfumes. Thefe rooms " had a communication with each other, and fome of them *' were paved with flag flones, and others beautifully telfel- *' lated with fmall dies of various colours. A regular fet of " well wrought channels conveyed the fuperfluous water ■' from thefe baths to the river Avon." The new colony being thus furnidicd with magnificent baths, which were found to be not only pleafurable, but (from the quality of their fprings) extremely healthy alfo ;o thofe who ufed them, foon became a place of refort. The Roman enervated by luxury, or worn out with toil. I M, Witruvi'js, lib: 8. c, 2, fought THE INTRODUCTION. r.i fought (Ircngth and renovation in thofe very Rrcams whicli give liealth and energy to the difabled of the prefent day; and our Britilh anccllors tlicmfclves, quitting, by degrees, tlie wild receffes of the .neighbouring forcfls, and the rudeneffcs of favage hfe, would at length be brought to admire the elegancies, and participate in the delights of Aqusc Solis.' A progreflivc improvement in the number and magni- ficence of the buildings, and a gradual increafe in wealth and population, would be the natural confequences of this uni- verfal rcfort to the waters of the fun. — Exclufivc, however, of the celebrity which the virtues of its fprings conferred on the place ; it received an addition of rcfpc6tability from its being the fituation of a mini; and the only town in this part of Britain for the manufatlure of the legionary arms. The former alTertion is rendered probable, from the cir- cumftance of Bath being one of the nine colonies that the Romans ellablilhcd in Britain ; which colonics, as well as the two municipia, were indulged with the privilege of minting their own coin. The idtt of the great military Ibrge being eftablinicd at the fame place, will be found to be proved by the obfervations on the fiill fepukhral monu- ment confidered in the following (heets. 1 Paulbtinquc dlscefTum ad delininienta vitiorutn, portlcus, et balnea, et convi. viorum clegantiam : id(]ue apud impcritoi humanitat vocabaCur. Tacit; Agric ; Vit: e. :i. C 2 The sii THE INTRODUCTION. Tlie Roman city when compleated, exhibited a pentagon in form; of twelve hundred feet in length, and about cle\en hundred feet in breadth, at the wideft part. A ftrong wall nine feet thick, and twenty in height furrounded it. Five circular towers, one at each angle, defended this wall ; and four gateways, which, according to the Roman prin- ciple, faced the cardinal points, gave entrance into the city The foffe-road, one of the four great Britilh military ways, ran immediately through it from North to South, and was interfefted at right angles, by another ftreet, running in a direftion Eafl and Weft. In the centre of the city, (the fcite of the prefent Abbey church-yard, and the upper part of Stall-ftreet) were fituated the Praetorium ; the refidences of the centurions, and military tribunes ; together with the fpacious baths, and a magnificent temple dedicated to Mi- nerva.' Whilft various other temples, facella, votive altars, and confecrated ftatues, were difperfed in other parts, and gave additional fplendor to Aquce Solis, It is probable the far greater part of its inhabitants, at leaft for a confiderable time after the eftablifhment of the colony, confifted of legionaries; as the Romans do not 1 Many parts of this temple are ftill preferved, which atteft its former elegance, and place its ereftion at an early period of the Roman dominion in this country. Amongft them are a beautiful Corinthian capital,''and an elegant fragment of cornice, equally excellent in their defign and execution ; and feveral pieces of columns, arehitraves, and friezes. — Moft of thefe point at the Corinthian order, and lead to the conclufion, that this temple of Minerva was originally of that ftyle of archi- te(fture ; the only example of it (according to the obfervation of Mr. Burke, when he faw the remains) as yet difcovered it Britain, appear TIIE INTRODUCTION. xlii appear to have allowed many of the natives to incorporate with them in their fcttlements of this nature.' But at the fame time, it cannot be qucUioned, that fome of the Britons would at length, from various caufes, be drawn thither; and afTid in forming that confiderable population which the great extent of the original city proves it to have formorly boalled. About the year of our Lord 72 or 73, Julius Agricola^ whofe charafler and anions have been fo admirably detailed by the incomparable Tacitus, was appointed Legate of Britain, by the Emperor Vefpafian. It was fortunate for the Roman intereds in this countrv, that a commander fo able and vigilant fliould be named to the regulation of their affairs here; for although their dominion had been but of a few years continuance, yet a fad relaxation in military difcipline, and a carclcffnefs and profligacy of manners, had already crept in, which rendered them defpicable in the e)'es, and open to the attacks of the furrounding Britons. The a6livity, vigilance, and fuperior talents of the new propraetor, quickly reffored rcfpcctability to the Roman arms, and order and difcipline amongd the legionaries. 1 We may infer this from the account Tacitus gives of xVt gtntrnl Jlaughitr com. mittcd by the Britons u(ion the inhabitants of \'erulam, Colchcller, and Londoa (the two latter of which were fo/o/r/f/), under Bonduca's revolt; a dcftruflion that would have been lefs univcrfal, had thefe places been inhabited, in any coDfiderablc proportion^ by tbeir own countrymen, — Compare Tacit. Annal ; lib. 14.C. 33. Tlic sir THE INTRODUCTJOK. The Silurcs and Orcfoi^zaj (inhabitants of Wales), were- yet unfubducd; and being a warUke and hardy people, offered a noble harveft of glory to the gallant mind of Agricola. He accordingly bent his attention to that quar- ter, and in a fliort time compleatly conquered the whole of Wales, and all its neighbouring ifles. But the talents of Agricola were not only fuch as {hone with unrivalled luftre in the field of battle — he was equally qualified to conquer, and to fecure his acquifitions by the mofl falu- tary political regulations. — Intimately acquainted with human nature, he was aware, that whilft the Roman do- minion over the Britons was fupported by the principle of fear alone, it would be but precarious and infecure. — He faw that their minds as well as bodies mufl be fubdued, that it was neceffary to wean them from their old habits, mannerSj and modes of thinking, which had all a tendency to keep alive a warm fpirit of national pride and courage, and an ardent thirft for liberty, utterly incompatible with iyftematic fubjeftion. — No fooner had the rigour of winter precluded further military operations therefore, than he direfted his attention to the execution of a plan, conceived in the very fpirit of political wifdom. The difperfed and uncivilized Britons were called together, and encouraged both by precept and example, to imitate the focial habits of Roman life. All the neceffary arts were firft commu- nicated to them; afterwards fuch as are more immediately connefted with comfort and elegance. They were in- {lru£tcd in Roman literature ; taught to admire and imitate Roman archiiefturc; to adopt the Roman garb; to affe6l Roman THE INTRODUCTION, xr Roman manners ; to praflicc all the modifications of Ro- man luxury; and thus, under the fair (liew of civilization and refinement, to emafculate their minds; extinguifh their native dignity of fpirit; and fit themfelves for uncom- plaining fervitude, and irreverfible bondage.' As the expeditions of A of a porticoj belonging to th« ^dis Sa/utis, at A^:i(e So/is. AuLus Claudius LiguriOs Sodalis ascitus Fabrorum coilscio LONCA Seria defossa hanc ^Edem e nimia vetustate laeentbm de jn. VENTA ILLIC PECUNIA RETECl ET R.EPINGI CURAVIT, The import of which is ; A : C : Ligurius a member of the College of the Fabri, or armourers, refitted and beautified, (from a fum of money found in a/ens 01 earthen Tcflel) the/EJ(s Saluti!, or Temple of Health, which was in a ruinous ftatc. Gov. Pownal's defcription, &e, of Bath Antiquities, p. 1 1, et infra. during THE INTRODt'CTIOy, ,ix during this progreli that he vilitcd Bath, where he found tlic (ollowing f'ragincnis of Roman mafonry. " There be divers notable antiquities engraved in ftone, " that yet be fene yn the walles of Bathe betwixt the South " gate and the Welle gate; and agayn betwixt the Welle " gate and the North gate. " The firR was an antique hed of a man made al flat, ** and having great lokk.es of here as I have in a coine ol " C. Ayitius. " The fecunde that I did fe b)'twene the South and the " North gate was an image, as I toke it, of Hercules ; for " he held yn cchc hand a ferpent. " Then I faw the image of a foote-man. Vibrato gladio " ct prcctevfo clypeo. " Then I faw a braunch with levcs folded and wrethirj " into circles. . " Then I faw 2 naked images l)ing along, the one im- " bracing the other, " Then I law to antique hcddes with heere as rofclid yr^ " lokkes. " Then I faw a grey-hound as rcnning and at the tayle " of hym was a flonc engravid with great Roman letters, f' but I could pike no fcntence out of it. D '* " Th?o XX THE INTRODUCTION. •' Then I faw another infcription, but tlie wether had, ••' except a fe^v letters, clere defacid. " Then I faw to\v:ard the Weft-gate an image of a man ** embraced with 2 ferpentes. I took it for Laocoon. — " Betwi.xt the Wefte and the North-gate. " I faw two infcriptions of the which fum wordes were *' evident to the reader, the refidue clene defacid. " Then I faw the imatre of a naked man. o " Then I faw a ft one having Cupidines et lahufcas. '■ i'iifercurreiiUs. '•' Then I faw a table having at cche cnde aft image vivid '* and florilhed above and bcnath. In this table was an "■' infcription of a tumbe or burial, wher in I faw playnly *' thefe wordes, vi^^it annos X X X. This infcription was " meately hole but very diffufcly written, as letters for hole ^' wordes, and 2 or 3 letters conveid in one. -' Then I faw a 2 images, whereof one was of a naked " manne grafping a ferpent in eche hand, as I took it ; and " this image was not far from the North-gate, '•' Such antiquities as were in the waulles from the North- ■i' sate to the Eft, and from the Eft-gate to the South, hath " been THE INTRODUCTION. xxi •' been dcfacid by the building of the monaflcrv, and " new waulles." In the year 1522, a fcpulchral altar, bearing the fol-. lowing inlcription, (in the ufual abbreviaiionsj was dug up in the village of Walcot. Caios MuRRius Caii riLius Arniensis (trie us) FORO JuLllMoDESTUS MILES LEGION IS SEC UND: : *ADjuTRicis pijE fidelisJulii secundi an: : NORUM VICINTI QUINQUE STI P EN D lOR U M HIC SITUS EST. At the fame time this was difcovered ; Dis Makibus Marcus Valerius Marci filius Latinus centurio eques-miles legionis vice: : simian norum tricinta qui n que stipendi: :ORUM VIGINTI inC SITUS tST. Both thcfe altars, Camden tells us, were removed by Mr. Robert Chambers (a great lover of antiquities) who found them, into his own gardens ;' and were afterwards inferted in a wall belonging to the houfe of a Mrs. Chives near the Crofs Baih, where Hortlcy faw them about feventy years ago. J Camden Brit. vol. i. p. 91 . Edit, lyjs, a lion, Brit, Rom. p. 3^6. In XKii TfiE INTRODUCTION. In the inner fide of the wall between the North and Weft gates, were to be feen, in Camden's time, the figure of Hercules holding up his left hand, with his club in the right. — Near it, in a broken piece of ftone was this in-» fcription in large and beautiful letters ; DeCURIO CoLONIiE GleVENSIS VlXIT Ann OS OCTOGINTA ZT SEX.— — Attached to this, was the reprefentation of leaves folded in, and in a fepulchral table between two little images, one whereof held an Amalthean horn, there were written in charafters fcarcely legible, and badly executed, thele words; DiS MaNIBUS SjCCIiE PeTRONIjE vixit annos TRES MENSES QUATUOR DIES NOVEM VALERIUS ^ETRONIUS EtTuICTIA SaBINA FILI^ CARISSIMyE; FECERUNT.» 1 Dr. Guidott gives the following account of this fepulchral altar, together »,vith a different iiiterpretption of its infcription. " Next to that lower, towards the Weft-gate is the monument of one of the children of two Romans, Primulus, Romulus, Vipomulus, or rather Viteromulus, (for that word in the (lone is fomewhat difficult to be read) and I'icluj'ayina, with a longer and exaflly Roman infcription, in a fepulchral table, between two little images, whereof the one holds the horn of Amald-cta, or cornucopia ; the other bringeth a flying roll or winding lifl, or banner over the left flioulder. The infcription thus — Diis manibus J'uccejfm Petronia, lixit amies tres, menfes quatuor, dies ttovem. Vderomnlus el Vi::i/arina Jilice Catijfimoi feceriir.t. Dr. Gujdott's Difcourfe of the Baths, p. 80. A little THE INTRODUCTIONi xziU A little below this, on a broken piece of flone, were the foUownig letters; V R N I O P Between the Weft and South gates was a fculpture re- prefcnting O/'Amna enfolded by a ferpent;' two mafculine heads with curling locks; a hare running; and a great ftone with thcfe letters : / L I A ILIA A naked man grappling with a foldier; two cumbent figures embracing each other; a foot-foldicr with his fword and fhield; another with liis Hafta; and thefe letters engraven on a monumental ftone; L I I \^ S S A S \' X S O together with the head of Medufa.' 1 Dr. Wynter ii of opinion, that " wRat Mr. Camden call* fomothing of an " ancient image of //'rrn/t-/ grafping a ferpent in his hand, was the local Htrcultt «« with the reed in his hand, his proper enfign, as tutelar deity of waters ; and far- " ther, that his C/tiai^ZiBi^nfolded by a ferpent between the N\ eft and South gate, •« was the figure of the Grttk yE/cvtapius, very proper for tbii place." Treatifc of Bathing, p. loand n. iiorfley'i Brii, Rom, 3}9, X Catndcn't Brit, r. i, p. 92, Dr, jt'xif tHE INTRODUCTiON. Dr. Guiclotl mentions a few fragments of Roman rha^ fonry as vifible in his time, which are not now to be found; •• Between the Weft and South-gates were two fierce *' heads, one within the cope of the wall, and another on " the outfide thereof. Hard by an angry man laying hold *•' of a poor peafant, which may be a bbld infuking Roman, " on a diftrefled captivated Briton. " Two kifting and clipping each other, which by the " crook in the right hand of one, and the dog upon the " other, feem to be a fhepherd and his miftrcfs ; the dog " reaching up towards the head of the woman. " A foot-foldier brandiftiing his fword, and bearing out " his fiiield. *' A footman with a truncheon in his right hand. " A great face, or a giant's head, with hair. " At Walcot, a parifh adjoining to this city, was found " a ftone with this infcription: V I B I A 1 V C V N D A . . . H . S . E " jucundavfSLS an Agnomen of the family o^ Carvilia, and " it feems o[Vibia, as Z^z^j of the CtaudicedLndPomponia."^ \ Guidott's iJii'coutfes of the Batlis. p. 8i. The THE INTI«5DUCTI0W. vxv Tlie Dc>flor mentions the following coins as having bceii' dug up at Bath. — A brafs Vcfpafiayi, bearing this legend on the face; IMP. CAES. VESPASIAN. P. F. AVG. Im- perntor Cirfar Vcjpajianus Pius FcUx, Augv/lus. Rcverfe: riETAS AVGVSTI. vith the figure of jullicc betvetn the letters S. Q.fcnatus conj'ultuvi. A filver Trajan with this infcription on the face; IMP. TRAIANO. AVG. GER. DAC. P. M. TR. P. Im.pe^ ratori Trajano Augujlo Germamco Dacico Ponhjici Maximo TribiLmtiaPoteJlaic.—Rtxtxk; COS. V. P. P. S. P. Q. R. OPTIMO. PRINC. Confuli quinto Fatri PatriK Senatus Populufqiie Ramanus Optimo Pnncipi. A brafs Caraujius ; the infcription on the face runs thus ; IMP. C. CARAVSIVS.P. F. AVG. I, up er ator Caefar Ca- raujius PiiiS Felix Auguftus. On the reverfe, PAX. A\[.G. Pax Augujti. A brafs Alexander Scverus whh this infcription; IMP. C. M. AVR. SEV. ALEXAxND. AVG. Imfierator Ca-far, Marcus Aureliics Scverus Alexander Auguftus. Reverfe; P. M : T. M. R. II COS. P. P. Pontijex Maximus Tribu. nitia Potiftatc Sccundo Cemful Pater Patriae. Mr. Horfley gives an engraving and defcription of a curious Hone he had feen in or near Bath, towards the J ViJ« Pliny '» Epift : xvii.lib: 2. £ clofe sxvi THE INTRODUCTION". clofe of the lafl century, which was prefented to Dr. Muf- grave, and at the time of Horfley's writing, remained in the pofTeffion of his fon.* It reprefents a female head, with the hair highly raifed, and curioufly dreffed, fuch as appears to have been falliioa- able in the time of Juvenal, who ridicules it in the following lines: Tot prcniit ordinibus, tot adhuc compagibus-aUum JEdificat caput, Andromachcn afronievidebis; Poft minor, crcdas aliam. Sat : vi. v. 501. This piece of antiquity is, I believe, at prefent pre- ferved in the inellimable colIe6lion of Lord Pembroke, at Wilton. ' ' In the repofitory which contairts mofl of the Remains of Antiquity treated of in the following (lieets, are many other fragments of Roman Archite61ure. Thefe confifl of a piece of cornice, elegant in defign, aud highly finiflied in point of execution. — Two fragments' of a magnificent capital of the Corinthian order — parts of a plain column ^nd pilaller, eighteen inches in diameter. The pediment of a portal with the figures of Genii fculptured on it, and fe\'eral hollow tiles, twelve inches long, nine deep, and four broad, with which the ancients formed the flues that heated their hypocaufts, chambers^ paflages, &c. » - r .iii i.i flt ( p . y6« ■t Horfley's Qfji, Rom. p, 329. NUiVlBER IVLIWS VITA i,Ls[.^:iviiT("a?s IS-LECr-XX-V-V-. vSTIPEm)IOJi V'M:tXAmORXX: Jr'ARRICE-ELM'V S . .H: . k) . ._hi . 1^0. I N U xM B E R I. i»0^0^0^»^0^0^0« JL'LILS VriALIS FABRICIESIS LECIONIS VICESIM^. \ALF.R1AX/E VICTRICIS STIPENDIORUM NOVEM ANNORUM VIGINTI NOVEM NATIONE BELGA EX COLLEGIO FABRICS ELATUS HIC SITUS EST. JN UMBER I. reprefents a monumental flonc, difco- vercdin the month of Oclobcr 1708, by certain workmen, vho were digging in, and repairing the road called the FoflTc, originally a Roman way, which now forms the London road running through VValcot. It appears to have been crc6lcd to the memory of Juhus Vitalis, a native of Bclgic Britain, or Weflcrn England ; an armourer, and Itipcndiary of the twentieth legion, who died at Bath, in the ninth ) ear of his fcrvice, and the twenty-ninth of his age. 3: 2 ^lanv ( * ) Many curious particulars are conncfled with this in- fcriptiofi, which merit individual confldcration. The Cognomen Vitalis is not an unufual one; it occurs frequently in Gruter, and tw^ice in the iufcriptions difco- yered in this country. Dr. Gale has preferved one, wherein mention is made of Quiniia Virius Vitalis;"- and Horfley gives us another, found at Drawdikes, in Cumberland, which commemoraLes a foldier of the fame narne with the pne defcribcd in this monumental ftone.^ It cannot, how- ever, be fuppofed to refer to the fame perfon; fince the former was a Centurion in a Praetorian cohort, and the latter only a common ilipendiary, of no dignity or command. The worif Fahricicjis (for Fabricienfis) denotes the em- ployment of the deceafed ; and informs us that he had been a member of the College oi Armour en — What the bufmefs of this fociety, and the laws by which it was regulated, were, we learn from certain articles in the Theodofian and Juftniian codes. — It there appears, that in the later periods of the Roman empire, the army fmiths were erefted into a formal company, under the controul and manao-ement of an"officer denominated Prinikerius? — That the employment of this body, was fo make arms for the ufe of the foldiery, at public forges or Ihops, called 1 Gale Anton, Itin { p. 2 o. % CoiIORTIS QUART>B fR.tTORIAK.t POSUIT CeKTURIA luL^l VlTALIS. Ilors : Cumherland jtxxviii. 4 PanciroUus Not : Col; 1498. Fabricic, ( 3 ) Fabrics, crc£led in their camps, cities, towns, and military {lations. — That thcfe arms, when forged, were to be de- livered to an officer appointed to receive them, who laid them up in the arfenals for public fervicc. — That to pre- vent any abufe in this important branch of military ceco- nomy, and to enfure its proper and methodical manage- ment, no perfon was permitted to forge arms for the imperial fervice unlefs he wereprevioufly admitted a m^;m- ber of the fociety of the Fabri. — lliat to fecure the con- tinuance of their labours after they had been inflru61ed in the art, a certain yearly llipcnd was fettled on each Fuber; who, (as wpU as his children) was prohibited from leaving the employ, till he had attained the office of Primiccrhu. — And finally, that no one might quit his bufmcfs without deteftion, a mark or fligma was impreffid on the arm of each, as foon as he became a member pf the college.' That a club or company of this trade was fettled, and a public Fabrica ellabliOied at Baih, during the refidence of the Romans there, may be fairly inferred, both from the confideration and importance of the place in thofe times, and the expreffion, in our infcription, ex Collcgio Fabrkce elatus; whic^ denotes that the Fabrica was in a neifflibourir,^ city. For it hath been obferved by the learned Selden, that the terms cffcrre and deducere, in monumental inlcrip- tions, are applicable only to thofe funerals, in which the bodies were brought from an immediately adjoining city, I Cod. Thcooil : Hk, X, Tit; 2?, Cod, Jul! : ii. Novel; Thcod : xliii. town. ( 4 ) town, or ftation, and interred in its contiguous and appto-, priate public burying ground. The deceafed is further dcTcribed as belonging to the 20th legion ; the titles of which, though contrary to general practice, I have given I fl/mirm and Viftorious. My interpretation is countenanced by the authority of Dion, who exprefsly fays, " that the 20th legion flaticned in Britain, in his time, was called \'^alerian and Vitlorious.''* There were, it is true, more 20th legions than one; but that which received its name from fome commander called Valerhis, is the only one which appears from hiftorical records, or infcriptions, to have ferved in Britain.' This body of troops came over in the reign of Claudius, and continued here nearly as long as the Romans retain- ed poffefiion of the country. — Deva or Chelter was their head quarters for the better part of three centuries ; but our infcription leads us to conclude, they might have f hanged that ftation for Bath, previous to their departure t 0( eiy~oroi o» k] Ofa^f^iwoi y.a-i vixyiro^e^ mo^otffiji^voif y.cu ef ^rtravyix T>) aval ovTs;, tirn/ccf cti'TfaXi ^l^^^ f!cKei)>y £cC. I-lb, LV. P 564- 1 The Roman legions took their Cognomens from various circumftances. Some- times from the names of the '^ m/:e rors v.ho iormeS them; fu'h Ss Legio Augufl.n; Claudiana ; Calbiana; Flavia ; Trajana ; Antoniana. — ?>omttimes {lom the pi o'vinces they had conquered ; fuch as Parthica ; Scythica ; Gallica; Arabica ; Hifpanienfis j or from the //ir.-.i ' in which they «ere firft itationtj, after being embodied, fuch as ItaHca; Forenfis ; Cyreniaca; — or from the -vajncjof the deilits to whom the Emper- ers that formed them were more particularly attached, fuch as Minerva; Apollinaris —orhTllly from certain particular clnumjiances by which they wcrediftingi.iifted, fuch as Legio Qermina; Adjutrix ; Mania; Viftrix : Ferrata; Fulminatri.\ ; Alauda; Kapax } Primigenia ; anJ. fo forth, — \'iJe Derapi^er AntJti. Rora, c, 4. p.^966. fron^ ( 5 ) from England. Tlu' (hapc of the letters, ami ilic ligatures and cojnplicaiions which appear in the nfth and leventh lines, mark the infcription tor a late one; and authorize us to fuppofc, the monument might be eixtted towards tlic clofe ot the iourth century, about which time, it is pro- bable the 20th legion left this kingdom. The 41)1 andjih lines contain a notification of the age of the deceafed, and his time of fervice ; by which we find he had entered rather later than was common into military employ. — The age at which the Roman youth alfumed the togamiUtaris, or foldier's habit, was feventcen;' a pradice beautifully alluded to in the following lines of Silius Italicus. Piibefcit cajlris miles, Galeaque tcrdnlur Nondumjignalccjlaud lanugine vialce.^ But although the enrollment of the youth took place at the age of feventeen, it is manifefl both from the above infcription and many others in Gruter's collection, that they were not always called immediately into a6lual fer\ ice.— The legions being previoufly complcat, or many other cir- cumflances, might occafion a confiderable interval toelapfe from the time of nomination, to their being incorporated; and as, during this period, tliey were not intitled to a I Liv : 3. Dccad. Lib. 5, .1 Sil ; Ital; Libj 1. Jlipmdium, ( 6 ) ftipendium, or pay, they were of courfe not confidered as legionaries, though they had affumed the mihtary garb.— Horfley has preferved another curious infcription, dug up about two hundred years ago, in the then village of Wal- cot, commemorating a Centurion of the fame twentieth legion, who appears to have been an exception to the general p raftice of not commencing the military career till after the age of feventeen, fince at his deceafe, at thirty-fivfc, he had ferved twenty campaigns, and confe- quently mull have been in aftual employ when only fifteen years old. The words Natione Bdga (for Bclgica), inform us that the deceafed was a Briton, probably a native of Somerfet- fhire, which county conflituted a part of the divifion called by the Romans Britannia Bclgica. This flone is at prefent fixed in the wall at the eaftern end of the Abbey-church ; is feven feet four inches in height, and thirty-four inches in breadth. 1 Dis Manibus Marcus Valerius Mabgi jii.ius Lati-nus centurio ilQUES MILES LeCIONIS VICESIMjE annobum triginta quinque stipen- • lORLM vjciN-Ti Hic siTvs EST. jloifle/ Bfit : Rom: Somerfet: No. iii. NUMBER |3o. n. ( 9 ) N U M B E R II. LUCIUS VITELLIUS MANTANI I'lLIUS JAXCINUS C I V F S HlSPAKl/E. CAURIESIS EQUITUM A L /E VETTONUM CENTURIO AKXORUM XXXXVI. S T I P EK D I O K U M XXVI. IIIC SITUS EST. 1 HE inferior part of iliis monumental (lone, containing the above infcription, was erected to tlie memory of Lucius VitclU us Tancmus, the fon oi' Manlcuius, a citizen of Caurium, in Spain, centurion of the Vettonenfian auxiliary horfe;' who died in the forty-lixth yeaf of his age, and the twenty- 1 " Altera pars cxcrcitus aiixilia erant. Sic autem diccbantur ii militcs qui a fociis, " vel c fxJcraiis geiitibus mittebantur." Dcmpftcrp. 964. 'ihc Romaa auxiliaries were the troops levied in thofc tiiies and towns, on whofe inhabitants tlie title and privileges of Roman citizens had been conferred. Thefe were formed into cohorts, and attached to particular legions, of which they made a part, and were denominated auxiliaries. When the army was marlhallcd for battle, they were ufually placed at the two extremities of the line. Hence the auxiliary foot were often termed tomurt or horns; and the horfe, Ahc or wings, " Alx didi funt exercitus, Kquitum ordinis, " quod circum legiones, dcxtra finidraque tanquam All in avium corpore locoban- H tur," Dcmpftsr, r*'9^'?" 1 he politic wifdom sf the Romans induced them to f continue ( lo ) tvventy-fixth of his military fervice. Tliisj and the frag- ment now placed ^bove, and attached to it, have been hitherto confidered as conRituting one piece of fculpture ; but the crroncoufncfs of the opinion will be fufficiently obvious, when the refpeftive dinienfions of the two Hones, and the proportions of their figures are attended to, which prove that the parts had no connexion originally with each other. — Add to this alfo, they were found in places widely feparate; the upper part near to Grofvenor Gardens, ancj the lower one on \hc feite of the prefent Market-houfe, The former has been conjedured, and with fome pro- babilitv, to be the moiety of a monumental flone eretled to the honor of Geta, one of the fons oi' Septimius Stverus, who, about the year of our Lord one hundred and ninety- fix, was left by his father in this part of the kingdom to adminiiler julUce, during his abfence on a Northern expedition. One prominent feature in the chara6ler of this prince was an unbounded paOion for horfes; a foible which the degenerate fenate pf the times took care to flatter, by continue to tlie auxiliaries the ufp of futh arms, as they had been in the habit of handling in their own countries, and in the management of which they had of courfe attained to great excellence and expertnefs. And hence it was, that their armies were provided with the belt warriors of every kind, that the world could produce. The Balearic iflands, Minorca and Majorca furniihed them with flingers — Crete with bowmen — Numidia with light horfe — Spain with heavy cavalry — Greece with engineers — and Rhodes and Epirus gave confequence to their marine, hy fending admirable fliip-wrights, and experienced naval commanders. iniprefTing '^•s. ( >» ) iinpicfriiig on his coins, ilic figure of the yduih m llic ciiarafttT of Caflor,' cloathcd in a military cqucfhian (Ircfs.- — And as this was conlidertd on the continent as an high compliment, it is not unlikilv that fycoj)hants would he Ibund in the province where he commanded, to pay him finnlar adulation ; and to gratify his vanity, hy erecting altars, exhibiting him in his favorite charadler. The upper fculpturc is much dcHiccd ; but fufilcient of it remains to fhew that it isancqueitriau figure, bearing in his left hand Tiparmaj and in his nghia hqj la pura ■,i and purfu- ing a flying enemy. The under one, rcprefented a Spauilii, liorfeman in the garb of his natioh, riding over a prof- trate foe. The name Tancimis fecms to have been a Spanifli cog- nomen, fince it occurs in an infcription fouild in the province of Lufitania, and preferved in Gruier's collec- tion; "A/; Licinius Tancinus — H: S: E ;"* The deceafed foldier is aifo mentioned to have been a citizen o( Caunum,^ a town of Lufitaniii, in tin; dilhicl of Eltrema- 1 Caftor gaudet equis, ovo prognatus eodcm Pugnis. Hor. * 2 Oiefclius Tlies. ScJ Num. in Verb. Gera. 3 A fmall light, commodious (hield or target, adapted by its fize, for the cavalr}'. Brevis clypeus, rotundus ct undiquc par. Not : in /En i lo. v. 8oo. 4 A miflilc weapon or fpear, with which the horfe were futniflied, having for the f*ke of lightnefs, no iron about it.— Pura Juvenij qui mittitur hafta. Mn : lib. 6. 6. 5 Grut : Infctip: 917 — 8. 6 The word is written Canriefis for CaurUnJ.i ; the letter N being dropped — Thii cmilTion is not unufual in ancient infcriptions, of which thert »re miny estanr, f 2 wherein ( 12 ) Eftremadura,' invefled with municipal privileges ; that is, enjoying the ufc of its own ancient laws and conllitutions, togcilier with tlie rights and franchifes of Roman citi- zens.3 The Vettones were a neiglibouring people, who furnifhed excellent heavy-armed horfe levies to their Ro- man maflers. Its ala, or wing, here fpoken of, was pro- bably attached to the twentieth legion ; in this Tanc'mus bore the office of centurion -, a command fomewhat ana- logous to the captaincy of a troop in our fervice. Points or flops in ancient infcriptions are good criteria of their antiquity. In the earlier periods of the empire, thefe confifled merely of fimple round dots. About the time of Antoninus Pius, however, the workmen began to deviate from this fimplicity ; and becoming gradually more capricious, introduced at length Hops of various forms ; wherein the engraver feems to have fpelled the word according to the popular mode of pronunciation, which frequently rieglefted to found the A' before the letter i', when it occurred in the middle of a word. Phil. Trans. No. 357. Alfo laft in- fcription in verb : I'abriciefu pro Fabricienfts — This praf^ice was gradually admitted into the Roman orthography ; and being countenanced by Auguftu* Cjcfar (as we learn from Suetonius) it foon gained fuch a footing as to be adopted into the lan- guage of the bed fcholars- — " Orthographiam, id eft formulam rationemque fcri- " bendi, a Gtairjmaticis inftitutam, non adco cuftodiit ; ac videtur eorum potius " fequj opinionem, qui perinde fcribendum, ac loquamur, exiftiment. Nam quoj ■' fxpe non literas mode, fed fyllabas aut permufat, aut pnterit, communis homi- " num error eft." Sucton : in Vit : Aug: c. 88. X Lufitani.c opp. Ptol : qui et Caura vulgo Coria. In Eftremadura Region : juxta Alagonem Fkv ; qui feptem inde I.euc : cadit in Tagum ; 5 Leuc : a confinio Portu- gallice, &c. Hoffmanni Lexicon, Tom, 1. P. 778. 2 Municipiura oppidum crat jure civium Rotnanorum donatum. Rofmus Ant : Rom ; Lib : ?, c, xxii. angular. ( »3 ) angular, triangular, Icaf-niapcd, and rlioinbcidal. The form of thofe in our infcripiion are of iliis fantadical nature, and prove it to be a very late one; probably coeval with that which we lalt conlidered. The initials H: S: E: wiiicli merely notify that the deceafed was interred near to the (tone that commemorates him, conveys a pleafing idea of the fimplicity of the Ro- mans with refpetl to their monumental infcriptions.— Thefe wife people were aware, that as " the floried urn, the " animated bufl," or the tinfel of fepulchral flattery, could not give future renown to departed infamy, fo neither were they aids, to which worth and virtue had occafion to look, for the praifc of pollerity ; " The aclions of the juft " Smell fweet, and bloflbm in the dufl;." This monumental (lone is alfo fixed in the wall at the Eaftern end of the Abbey-church — its height is five-feet ; the breadth of the lower part is ^6 inches ; of the upper part 28 inches. NUMBER MKYV MEIL ¥SLM |2o. Ill, ( t5 ) NUMBER III, X. ■^>Ig ^-*»- D E ^ S U L 1 N I M I X E R V it S U L I N U S M A T U R I F I L I US VOT U M SOLVIT LIBENS MERITO, JL HIS is a votive altar, turned up in 1774, as the work- men were removing the rubbifli from the head of the fpring of tlie Hot Bath. It appears to have been folemnly dedi- cated to the tutelary deity of the Bath waters ; (to whom the devotee lias given the lopal title of Sulinis) and was probably intended as a grateful return for benefit received from the ufe of thefe fprings, which were under her im- mediate protection and patronage. On confidering the charafler of the extraordinary people, by one of whom this memorial of pious fuper- ilition was erefled, we cannot help remarking a very (Iriking feature of it ; the warm fpirit of religion by which it was diflinguilhcd from the earlieft period of the com- monwealth, to the lowefl times of the empire. Originally incorporated with their conititution by the great Roman Icgiflator ( i6 ) legiflator Numa, (who knew full well that religion was abfolutely ncceffary to the eftabliftiment and fecurity of civil government) the principle gradually expanded, as the Republic increafed; entered into all their public con- cerns, and domeflic tranfaclions ; entwined itfelf with every profeflion in which they engaged, and was con- ne£led with every plan which they undertook. — It is to this religioufnefs of fpirit, that we are to attribute the numerous temples, altars, and other memorials of their devotion, which m'C meet with fo abundantly in every place where the Romans had been for any confiderahle time ftationary. If an evil were to be deprecated, or a blefiing invoked, the votary entered into a folemn engage- ment to raife fome monument of his gratitude to the be- nign being who fhcmld hear his prayer, and comply with his petition ; a vow which fuccefs never rendered him unmindful to perform.' As the falutary waters of Bath were generally reforted to by the Romans for nearly four centuries, it is probable that a very large number of thefe 1 \'otum folvit libens merlto. — He luillinglj fulfilled the vow which he had de. fervedly made, was the language in which the Roman exprefled his readinefs to obferve this facred engagement. — All the ancients indeed were very ftrid in this le peft, — It is a precept of Pythagoras ; Ti^a, y.at o-s€a ojx.ot. — that is, an oath or vow made to them. And vF.neas before he attends tq filler preffing concerns, takes care to fulfill his vows to the Gods. vEneas (quanquam et fociis dare tenipus humandis Praecipitant cura;, turbataque fuuere mens eft) Vela Dcum pri.Tio \"iflor folvebat Eot5, — Vjrg : En ; 1 1—2^ votive ( >7 ) votive altars would be erefted to the lutclary deity of their fprings, by thofe who left them with renovated heahli and vigour; and, doubtlefs, the foundations of the prefent city cover many precious remains of this nature, which, if difcovercd, would afibrd further examples of the united art and piety of the conquerors of the world. With refpea to the fituation of thefe altars, no particu- lar rule fcems to have been obferved. They were many times placed in the temples of the divinity to whom they were dedicated ; and as often erefted near the public ways, or other frequented fpots, that they might be confpicuous teflimonies of the kindnefs of the propitious deity, and the pious gratitude of his worfhipper. The diniunitive fize of the altar under confideration, and its being found on the fcite of the ancient temple of Minerva, render it probable, that it was originally placed within the walls of that magnificent fane. It was a principle of policy with the Romans to adopt into their own mythology, the various deities of the dif- ferent nations they fubdued; a pradlice that difplayed the profoundefl knowledge of the human mind.' For as there is nothing that fpeaks more powerfully to the hopes and fears of man than religion: fo there is nothing which makes a deeper imprefliou on tiie foul^ that is retained with 1 It IS a remark of Dlonyfias Halicareffenfis, that there were fix hundred dif. ferent kinds of religi&nj, or Oicrcd rites exercifcd at Rome. Jortin's Remarks en JEcd. : Hift; v. i. p. 37^, G greater ( iB ) greater tenacity, or renounced with more reluflance. It was this indulgence {liewn to the religious prejudices of ihe conquered nations ; this allowance of the free exer- <.'ife of their accuflomcd modes of worfhip, that both facilitated the Roman fucceifes, and gave them (lability; that ftrii)ped conquefl of half its horrors, and made the \ oke of fervitude tolerably eafy. With refpeft to Britain, indeed, it was necelfary for them to depart, in fome degree, from their ufual moderation ; for fuch was the wonderful influence which the Druids had obtained over the minds of their difciples, that all the arts of Roman policy would have been infufEcient to reduce the Britons to order and fubordination, had they permitted a fuperflition fo ferocious and indomitable to have continued. — To modify it in any (hape, or to incorporate it with their own fyftem, was impoOible ; fmce the profound veneration and implicit deference paid by the conquered nation to the minifters of their religion, as well as the favage nature of it,' effeftually precluded all liope of reconciling them to a milder fyflem, whilfi; Druidifm exifled. Prudence therefore diftated to the Romans to forego, on this occafion, their general lenity; and this wonderful fuperflition (with all its bloody rites), was at length confumed in the flames of the facred groves of Mona.* It 1 Ca-farde Bell: Gall: Lib: vi. F.f vos barbaricoj ritus, moremque finirtrum. Sacrorum DruiJi pofitis repetlftis ab armis — Lucan Thar : L : i. 445. 3 The dreadful ferocity with which Druidifm infpired even the weaker Cex, U well defcribeJ by Tacitus; a ferocity, that, for a time, difturbed the fteady ■ravery of the Roman legiotu. " Stabat pro litore diverfa acies, dcnfa armis vi- ••rifqS ( 19 ) It is to be obfcrved, however, that tliis harfhncfs of the Romans was confined, in a great degree, to tlie more Northern, and North- Wellern parts of Britain. — Tlu- communication which the Southern or Belgic principa- lities liad for fome time prcferved, tlirougli the medium of commerce, with the inhabitants of the continent, had im- proved tlieir manners, and fofien.'d tlie favage ciiaracler of their ancient fupcrlUtion. They had difcarded tlie fanguinary pra61ices of Druidifni, and imbibed fo much of the fpirit of Polytheifm, as to admit the exigence of all thofe fubordinate inteUigences, with which the or- thodox Pagan, beheved every part of created fpace to be filled.— By them, therefore, the mythology of their con- querors would be readily received ; and the divinities of South-Britain were quickly alTociaied with the deities of Rome, The Goddefs Sui-iNis, mentioned in our infcription, feems to have been a local deity of this kind. — The altars. No. 5 and 6, are dedicated to her individually, with no addi- tional name; and as they appear to be the grateful offerings " rifque, intercurfantibus feminis ; ij modem Furia..-j?n» 'cfte ferali, crinibus " deje^is, faces prjefcrebant. Druids circum prcccs diras fublqtis ad cxium m.ini- " bus fundentes, novitate afpeftCis pcrculcre mintes, ut quafi hzrcntibus membris, <' immobile corpus vulncribus priberent. Deln cchjriationibus ducis, et fc ipfi " ilimulantes, ne muliebre et fanaticum agmen pavefcerent, infcrunt figiia, flernuntqu^ ?' obvios, et igni fuo involvunt. Pr^fidium poAhac impofitum viftis, excifique luci •' fivis fuperftitionibui facri nam cruore captive adolire aras, et hominum f.bris 5' confulerc Dcoi fas habcbant. Tacit : Ann : Lib : xiv. tq, G 2 0( ( 20 ) of certain invalids who had received benefit by the ufe of the waters, it is reafonable to fuppofe fhe was the tutelary deity, or Nymph of the Bath fprings. To thefe imaginary beings it was very ufual with the ancients to ereft altars, and make vows. — Indeed the worfliip of rivers and fprings, was one of the moll early fuperlHtions that milled man- kind. The limpid element being confidered as an admirable emblem of the purity of the great firfl caufe, it was foon made one of the intermediate vehicles of communication with the deity. This pra6lice infenfibly begot the idea of there beinsj an inherent fan6titv in the element itfelf ; an opinion, to which ignorance and error gradually added the more abfurd one, of inferior Deities inhabiting, or pre- fading over each fountain, fpring, and river. In procefs of time the fuperflition became almofl uni- verfal ; and there was fcarcely a country which did not pay divine honors to its own ftreams.' Egypt, famed for mental error and moral darknefs, firfl adopted the praftice, and regarded with peculiar venera- tion, the river Nile, the father of their country, the great fource of their wealth and plenty.^ From hence, this fuperflition flowed, with many others, into Greece ; and as early as Homer's time vows were made, and religious rites offered to fivers. To the ThefFalian flream Sperchius, 1 Eri w» xai woraji.uti Tifiij, Max, Tyrius. C, 8. P. 79. 3 NstAovTSi' vaTiiO. y.cti fuTr.cei ti;; ;<4';;Jt,-, Flutarch. Sj'IHp, L, 8 P. 729. (that ( 21 ) (that is to the genius or deity fuppofcd tp refide in ii^, Pelcus, the father of Achilles, promifed to facrificc an Hecatomb ; fifty flieep, and the flowing locks of his fon, if he returned fafely to his native land. £01 Se KOfitvjv Kf f eav, pe^eiv S'lejvjv £xa:T6jj..&viv* YiivTeaoitTx h ei/o^x"^ ''^*f xurodi |ji,viX' h^evthv The Romans receiving the fanciful mythology of Greece, adopted, of courfe, this branch of it. They confecratecj particular days to the wordiip of the fuhordinate intel- ligences who prefided over the fprmgs and rivers of their country ; on which, amongfl: other tokens of veneration, fhewn to them, chapleis of flowers were calt into th^ 1 Spcrchie, fruftra tibi utique pater vovitPcleus, lUuc me reverfum dilcif^um inpatriam terram, Tibiquecomam abfciirurum, m.nflaturu.Tjquc facram Ilecatomben : Quinquaginca infupcr mafculas ibidem oves facriiicaCuruiii Ad footes, ubi tibi ager facer altarcque oJoratum. lAIAA,'^', 1.4,]. The facrifirc of the head of hair to Rivers, was ufual with the an- cients, as the Scholiaft obfcrvcs; who alfo gives us the Reafon for it, Li©-r,,T(,i,- (iifcr Ti'r oiol^^wf airiaj «>ai. Schol : in Loc. Virgil malces his hero yEneas, or\ his rcacliing the mouth of the Tyber, immc. diatply invoke the nymphs and unknown deities of the flream. Nymphafquc et adhuc ignota precatur IS'umina :— . Vig : -Cn: vii, L. 137. fl reams, ( 22 ) flreams, and crowns of the fame were placed on the borders of the wells.' But this fuperftition far from behig confined to Egypt, Greece, and Rome, infelled, as I have before hinted, moll other nations. Perfians,°Parthians,3 and Phrygians,* bowed before the tutelary gods of their rivers ; and the numerous Celtic tribes worfliiped the Genii or Daemons, who peopled the various flreams that flowed through their ex- tenfive country. ^ From thefe circumflances, it appears to be more than probable, that the Goddefs Sulinis was the inferior in- telligence, to whom the Britons attributed the tutelage of the Bath fprings ; and to whom they gave the Cognomen I Varro Lib; 5. de Ling. Lat. a 2£o(ivTai7roTaf*«; >taAira.Herod. L. 1. C. l^^. 3 Parthis. prscipua omnibus veneratio. Jnftin L. 41 c. j. ^juy£!T0K irtiT«fioi;. Max. Tyr. Difs. 8. P. 87. 5 Ihulitse complures Genlos colunt. Aereos, terreftrcs, marines, et alia minora Daemonia, qus in aquis fontium et iluminum verfari dicuntur. Procopius Goth : Lib: 2. The Germanic nations alfo, which bordered on Italy, held fimilar cpi. nions ; as is manifell from a pafiage in Tacitus ; where, in anfwerto a propofal made in the fenate, for altering the courfe of the Tyber, an objeftion was made that the intended alteration might interfere with the religion of the Roman allies, who had dedicated groves and altars to their national flreams. Speftandas etiam religiones fociorum, qui facra, et lucos, et aras patriis amnibus dicavcrinf. Tacit: Annal, Lib : i. c, 79. p. 4b, Edit : Elziv. Minerva ( =3 ) MinerVa, bccaufc in her attributes and attachments flie bore fome rcfcmblance to that Deity. This altar is about thirty inches in height, and twelve in "vvidih.* 1 This altar ii placed, at prefcnt, on the great ftaircafc of the Cuild-hall, and with it, ij another of nearly fimilar (hape and fize. — The infcription of the altar u fo defaced, that I could not make it out j in the Hillory of Somcifctlhiic it (lands as follows : (vol, i. p. 14). DE A E DI A NAE. SACRATI SSI MAE VOTV M SOLVIT V V ETTI VS B E N I G N V S. L. M. NUMBER CCALPVJmVS| ^0, IV. ( 25 ) NUMBER IV. DIIS MANIBUS. CAIUS CALPURNIUS RECEPTUS SAC£R-« DOS DE^ SULINIS VIXIT ANN LXXV. — CALPURNIA CON'JUXX FACIENDUM CURAVIT. X II E kltar we are now to illuflratc is a fcpulchral Cippus, commemorating Caius Calpurnius, a pricit oF tiie Goddefs Sulinis, who died at tlie age of fcventy-five. His wife Calpurnia caufed this tribute to his memory to be eretl- ed. It was dug up by fome labourers about two years iince, as they were working in Sydney-Gardens. The ancients, both Greeks and Romans, held every tiling which regarded the dead, in great veneration ; and the laws relative to fepullurc, funeral obfcquies, &c. make no fmall part of their legal inftitutions. Previous to the publication of the twelve tables, it was cuflomary with the latter, to burn, or inter the bodies H of ( 26 ) of the departed, ^v ithin the walls of the city.' But as fe- feveral inconveniencies were experienced from the praftice, one article of this code was exprefsly levelled againll it ; Hoviinem viortuum, in urbe, ne Jepelito, neve, urito ;- a.\diW which did not regard Rome alone, but extended itfelf to every city of the empire. This prohibition obliged the Romans to fcek out other places of interment ; and it was not long before they adopted the cuflom of burying the dead, and performing the obfequies, a little without their towns, erefting the fepUlchres, by the fide of the public high-ways. — A prac- tice to which they were led by the two-fold reafon of thus rendering their piety and gratitude more confpicuous ; and exciting the numerous travellers and pafTengers to ferious refleftion on the precarioufnefs of life, and the certainty o diffolutionj3 Thatthefe public roads were the general places of fepul- ture, is evident both from the numerous funeral altars difcovered immediately contiguous to them, and from various allufions to the pra£lice in the works of the poets. 1 In their own gardens, or near their own refiJencts were frequently the places cf interment, Sedib'is hunc refer ante fjis, et conde fepulchro, yEn : L : 5. 2 Cicero Lib. 2, de Leg. Credo (inquit Cicero) vel propter ignis Periculum. 3 Mouuraenta enim in fepulchris fetundum viam funt, qua; pra;tereuntes admo- fieant el fe Jfuifle, €t illos effe monalej. Varro, Lib: 5. deLing: Lat. Thus ( 27 ) Thus Juvenal Expcriar quid coyicedalur in illos, Quorum Fiaminid tcgitur Cinis, aique Latind,'* ^Ifo Propertius — r- Diifaciant viea ne terrd locet ojjafrequenii Quafacit ojjiduo traniite vu/gus iter,* Again ■ - Nonjuvat in media nomen habere via 3 And lalUy Si te forte meo ducet via proxima hujlo.^ But that the fepulchral altars thus erefled in public and (Expofed fituations, might be prote6led from de{lru61ion, or violation, the Roman law made them a particular objeft of its cognizance. 5 It was an inftitution originially of Solon, afterwards adopted by the Decemviri, who digefled the twelve tables, that the perfon who defaced a fepulchrc ; broke it ; erafed its infcription ; or beat down the monument, fliould fuffer 1 Juv : Sat. 1. in. fin, a Lib: 3. Elcg : 16. 3 Id, i} IJ. Lib. 2. 1. Sj. 5 Sepulchorura autcro fanflitas in ipfo folo eft quoJ nulle TJ moveri/ nequc ddeti ■otcft, Dempfter's iVntiq : Rom ; p. 784. \i. 3 death, ( 28 ) .vve %f ^wy he oi entxXe tvhIxu, yixi^\>.x^ov, xvrov It (pA07'£a) a-uv£(pA.£^£ y.iqxvMi)i,l % Cic : de Leg : Lib : 2. _ . 2 Plutarchus in Vit : Solon. 3 Nam profeiflo columnara in Apharei extantcm Sepulchre erutam celetiter Meflenius Idas Projefturus erat in fratris fui interfedorem : Sed lupiter opem tulit, manibufq illius excuflit fabrefatflum Marmor, ipfuraq flannmeo cojnbuffit fulmine. Thcoc : Jd : H. ,C. 207. T|ie ( 29 ) The initials D. M. at the head of the infcripiion inform us, that the akar was dedicated to the Dn Mana. With refpefl to thefe imaginary beings, the ancients do not appear to have had any precife or determinate ideas.' — Sometimes they were taken for the infernal deities ; an4 in this fenfc tiiey fcem to be invoked in the fourth Georgic ; Quojldu Manes, qua Numina voce moveret.* Sometimes for the fliadeorgholl of the deceafed, as ap- pears to be the meaning of the exprelTion in the following pafTage ; Libabat cine Andromache, manesque vocabat Ilcclorcum ad tumulum.i For it is to be remarked, the ancients were of opinion, that at the difTolution of any perfon, his amma, foul, or fpiritual part, was wafted into Heaven : his body remained in the earth where it had been depofited ; and his Umbrae Imago, Shade, or Ghojl, dcfcended to the infernal regions. » Sumuntur pro mortuorum animis, et pro loco ipfo inferorum, ubi anirai degunt, et pro diis ipfii infcrorum. — \'ide Not : inVirg: Ceorg: Lib. iv. L. 469. Ani- maj Ilominum Daem«ne» elTc, et ex hominibus fieri Lares, fi meriti boni fint : Lmurti five Larval, fi mail ; }>l»Hei autem cum incertum eft bonorum eot, five ma. lorum effe metitorum — Plotinus apud, Aug. civit : p. Dei. 81, ix, 1 1. 2 Virg: Ceorg: iv. L. 50J, 3 vEn : Lib : iii. v. 302, But ( 30 ) But whatever their notions might be in refpeft to the Manes themfelves, yet they appear to have regarded theni with the moil fcrupulous fii perdition. — The Cippi, as I have before obferved, were efleemed facred. Particular facri- fices were appointed to be offered upon them ; and certain anniverfary days fet apart for celebrating thefe holy rites/ On the ninth, and thirtieth days after interment, the relations of the deceafed vifited the tomb, and paid a va- riety pf honors to the manes of the departed. — Honey, ■wine, water, milk, and barley-flour, were poured, and fprinkled upon the altar; To TftTOV Xv'is vSx71 £T( 3' xX(pt'7X KSVUX TtxKvvOV^ 1 Thefe days were' called Ferafia, and occurred about the middle of February, Pvi^ in his Fafti has enumerated the rites, then obferved : Eft honor et tumulis animas placare paternas, Parvaque in extruftas munera ferre Pyras. Parva petunt manes, pietas pro Divite grata eft Munere, non avidos Styx habet im4 deos, Tegula porreftis fatis eft velata coronis, Et fparfae fruges parvaque mica falis. Inque mere mollita Ceres, violique foluts : Haec habeat media tefta relifla via. Kcc majora veto, fed et his placabitis umbra eft : Adde preces pofitis et fua verba focis^ 2 Horn : Odyfl"; b. v. 36, Sometijnes ( 31 ) Sometimes a lihaiion of blood was made; with whicli the ancients liippolcd the Manes, or Gholb, were mucli dehghted. Inftviynus tepido fpumantia cymbia lade, — Sanguinis etfacri pater ai.* And again, at the annivcrfary of Anchife^* death, facrc;! blood is mingled with the other libations. Hie duo viti mero libens carckfjia Baceho, FundiL humi, duo lade novo, Janguinejacro^ Certain flowers, alfo, which were efleemed to be pa)ti- cularly agreeable to the infernal deities, were on thefe oc- cafions, laid on the tomb, or fcattered around it j Piirpurcofqiiejacltjlorcs, ac taliafaiur.^ And the monument itfelf, was folcmnly anointed with precious unguents and fwcci pcrlumcs ; Afferet hue unguenta mihi ferhfque fepidehrwrix Ornabit, Cujlos admea buftaJidauA 1 i£n '. Lib : iii. vr ^. 2 ^n: Lib: y. v. 77. 3 III ; Lib. V. V, 7 J. 4 Propctc; Elcg : Lib: 33 Eleg : ij. An ( 30 An attention which Anacreon, in the true fpirit of jollity, intreats, may be paid to himfelf whilft living, rather thaft to his tomb-flone, when he is no moie ; TL lQ\&\9l9i< DEiE SULINl PRO SALUTE ET IN'COLUMIT ATE AUFIDIi MAXIMl LEGIONIS VI^* VICTRICIS MILITIS AUFI- DIUS EJUS LEBERTUS f/'ro HbcrtUs) VOTUM SOLVIT LIBENS MERITO, JL HIS votive altar exhibits another example of the gra- titude and piety of the Romans. It was crefted by a manumitted flave, in performance of a vow made to the Goddefs Sulinis, for the reftoration of his mailer, who had made him free. Luxury, of every fort, was carried to a proverbial height by this augull nation. But in no article were the Romans more extravagantly profufc, than in the ufe of flaves ; and in the multitudes which every citizen of pro- perty affefted to entertain. — The numerous and various offices in their town refidences, and country villas; in their I 2 gardens^ ( 36 ) gardens, farms, and fields, were filled by thefe unfortunate beings ; over whom the lordly mailer domineered with the moft uncontrouled and difcretionary fway.' To fuch a pitch, indeed, did this vain and cruel cufl;om arive, that inflances are not wanting of a noble Roman polfeffing a body of ten, and even twenty thoufand domefiic flaves.* Nor was it at home alone that they manifelted this fol^ ly; whole troops of thefe wretched men followed them whereever they went; whether to the courts of jun;ice, or the fenate-houfe; the theatre, the temple, or the bath ; ubi, comitantibus Jinguios quinquaginta mimjlrts tholos iiu troiererd balnearmn.^ — FamiLiafium agmina, tanquam pre- datorios g'tobos, pojl terga irahentes; ne Sannione quidem, ut ait Comicus, domi relitlo ;•* and Horace records Tigellinus as parading tlie fireets of Rome with a retinue of two hun- dred fervi at his heelso'^ 1 The numbers o{-Jlaves employed by tlie Romans in their kitchens, and about thfcir perfons, mud aftonifh even the moft extravagant of our prefent beaus and epi- cures. — " Ouam celebres culinae funt ? Quanta i-(epotura focos juventus prerait, " Tianfeo puerorum infelicium grcges, qpos, poft tranfafla convivia, alii cubiculi •' contumelise expeftant. Tranfco agmina exoletorum, per nationescolorefque de- " fcripfa ut eadem omnibus levitas fit, eadem prims menfura lanuginis eadem \' fpecies capillorum, ne quis> cui reiTlior eft coma, crifpulis mifceatur, Tranfeo " piftorum turbam, tranfeo miniftratorum per quos, figno dato, ad inferendam cxnara " difcurritur. Dii boni!" (Subjoins the phijofopher) " quantum hominura «' uoius Venter exercet." Seneca's Epift : 2 Mt'^iBc, y.ui Acr^tipiH5, (oiK'Tas) «ai IT< w^fiai Jf n'a;^y.ritur ^acr?.«Ta5 Nixia;; otM a TX«tf{ Tur PujiMfjit irfyTjoioVTa? i;^9V« T«? »-?.»irou«-Ati!ensus Diip : Lib : vi, 3 Anmianus, Lib, xx>iii^ ^ Id : Lib, xiv. ,g lior: S»t : Lib: 1.5. With ( S7 ) With 'the more humane and rcfle£ling Romans, how- ever, it was not unufual to emancipate their (laves from this cruel Hate of bondage, in the cafes of faitliful iervice, and meritorious conduft — This was done by various modes ; any one of which converted the Servus into a Libcrtus, and though it did not confer on him all the rights and priviieo-cs of Roman citizenfhip, liberated jiim notwi;hltancling, for- ever, from the tyranny of a pafTionate, or the caprice of a whimfical lord. — The only compliment due on this occa- fion from the manumitted flave to his quondam mailer, was to adopt his name; a circumllance which, we perceive by our infcription, had not been pniitted by the freed man of Aufidius Maximus. The Sixth legion, mentioned on this altar, was tranf- ported into Britain, in the time of Hadrian; and probably accompanied that Emperor, when he took thi? kingdom in the tour of his dominions.' Its firft ftation was fome- where in the North of England, in the neighbourhood of the Vallum, the Weft end of which it appears to have erefted. — Towards the middle of the reign of Antoninus I'ius, it moved rather more to the South, and became ftationary at York. — Here it continued till the beginning of the fifth century ; when it returned to Italy, to alTilt in fupporting the finking fabric of the empire." 1 Thi> we have reafon to conclude, from the following infcription on an altar, given by Gale.— " Imperatoris Divi Hadriani ab ai^is tribuno roilitum legionii f fexcx viAricis cum qua ex Cermania in Britaoniam tranfiic," Galei Anton: Jtin; p. ^7. 2 llorfley'i Brit : Rom : 79, 80, Tiierc ( 38 ) There is no room to fuppofe the Legion itfclf was ever at Bath ; but from two infcriptions having been found there, in which mention of it occurs, a reafonable con- jefture arifes, that one of its difperfed cohorts might have been, at leafl for a time, quartered in this city. This altar was found on the fcite of the prefent Pump-' room, about four years lince. I have added a reprefentation of the Focus or Thuribulum on the top of the altar; a cavity intended to receive the libations and frankincenfe offered tfO the Deity to whom it was dedicated. — a > — z ^ — i * t'O \^ NUMBER %>A£j in^H;vm:ita gt£;^3AKAVFID. /WF ID I VS JtVA TVe-HES -LIB £ic, VI, ( «9 ) NUMBER VI. ►©♦©♦©♦•♦o^o^o* DEiE SULINI PRO SALUTE ET INCOLUMITATE MARCt AUFIDII MAXIMI LEGIONIS VT* VICTRICIS AUFI- DIUS EJUS ADOPTATUS HERES LEBERTUS VOTUM SOLVIT LIBENS MERITO. X HE ftyle of this infcription ; the form of the letters ; the dimenfions of the altar; together with its being found on the fame fpot, and bearing the fame names with the lall ; lead me to conclude, that it is nearly contemporaneous with it. — It fecms to have been ercded by the fame Liber- tus, probably a fhort time after the former, when his patron had conferred the additional favor of adopting him for his heir and fucceflbr. — This was not an unufual praftice with the Romans, for as the law gave them the molt unrcilraincd difpofition of their own property,' the limi- I It wai a law of the twelve tables. " Utl quifqiie Icgaflit fuT rci, ita juj " efto."— on which words Pornponius obfcrves; " Verbis I.egis duodccim labula- *• rum his uti qulfque legaffit fusrei, ita jus efto : latiffima poteftat tributa videtur, " ct hxfcdi&inftitucndi, et legata et libettates dandi, tutclas quoque conftituendi, " Unde liquet earn ad manumiffiones etiam pertinerc, ut quotquot c fuis quifque '« fcrvjs liWeroj relinquere veUct, peiTtt." — De.vcrb: Signif; ia Verb : Legatis. tation ( 40 ) tation of it to a favorite flave, who had rendered himfelf ufeful to his mafter; who had flattered his paflions, or humoured his weakneffes, would be natural, and confe- quently frequent — More particularly, when the tellator had neither confort nor offspring to inherit after him; which was generally the cafe with the Roman foldier ; who feldom entered the married ftate till he had compleated his term of military fervice. « * * * » K * » » « • » » » ♦ « • « NUMBER |5o. VII. ( 4i } NUMBER VII. PEREGRINUS SECUNDI FILIUSCIV'IS TREVERIS JOVI CETIO MARTI ET NEMETONA VOTUM SOLVIT LI- BENS ME R I TO. X HIS votive altar was difcovered feveral feet under ground, in the year one thoufand feven hundred and fiftv- I'our, in the upper part of Stall-drcct. It is dedieated lo three deities, the Ceiian Jupiter, Mars, and Ncmctona, The name of the perfon who erefted it does not appear, for the word P^^'^rznwi is merely an appellative; inij^lying that he was a flranger or traveller.' — We find, hcAvever, by the fecond and third lines, the name of his father, Se- cundus ; and the city of his refidence,"Treves in Germanv. Though it be fufficicnily evident from the writings of the more enlightened and philofophic. Romans, that they were Dcifts, and held the wild and abfurd notions of Po- lytheifm m fecret contempt, yet the belief of a multiplicity 1 Amongft the Romans it was extremely common for perfons to receive names from certain circuraftances of their birth or fortune ; fuch as Vopijcut, an appellation given to the furvivor of two twins, when one Jied in parturition ; Qajar, Agri^fa, and oihen, K of ( 42 ) of deities tainted the popular mind, and pervaded all the middle and lower orders of the empire.' Error being once admitted, increafed in a rapid degree; and bewildered rcafon not fatisfied with ercftmg every element, paflion, and even abflrafted idea, into a divinity ; taught at length, that there were a variety of Gods of the f^me name, differ- ing, however, in their a6ls and chara6lers. This was the cafe m.ore particularly with the greater deities ; and there was fcarcely a town, of any confc- qucnce, throughout the Roman empire, which had not its peculiar Jove, Minerva, or Mars. Thefe differed not only in their chara6lers, but in their reprefentations alfo;* and fo materially, that the Jove of Terracina, or Jupiter Anxur, was fculptured with the beautiful and bcardlefs face of the fon of Maia, or the brother of Latona, inltead of the awful countenance, of the father of Gods and men.3 It was to a local Jupiter of this kind, the peculiar God of the municipal town, Cetium,^ in Germany, (together with Mars and Nemetona) that this altar was dedicated. J Omnes gentes una lex, et fempiterna, et immortalis, continebit ; nnofque erit, quafi magifter, et imperator omnium, Deus. Cicero : Frag;'Lib : 3. De Repub, 2 Montfaucon, Tom. i. Plate 12. Fig. g. 3 Bis fex csleftes, medio Jove, fedibus altis Augufta gravitate fedent. Sua quemque deorum Infcribit facies: Jovis eft regalis Imago. Ov : Met : 1, 6, v. 74. 4 Norici oppid Anton : Baudrando Pagus Auflris inferioris ad Danubium, ubi recipit Anzefpach Amnem. Hoffraanni Lex: Tom; i. p. 1. Municipii dig- ritatem, non colonias literati lapides urbi contribreunt. — Fuit Municipium ad Mon- !em Kalcnberg. AntoQ ; Itin ; apud Weffelin : p. 234. Now called Kotvvig: bimp : in Id. The ( 43 ) The lad of tlicfc deities feems to have been a Britifli one, and kjiown only in the South-\Veflernparts*of England. — The name Nemetotacio (which Baxter confidcrs as lyno- nymous with Nemetomagus) feems in the chorography of Anonymous Ravennas/ and is conje6iurcd, by Baxter, to be the prefent Launcellon.*— If this be allowed, the near approach of Nemetona to the town Nemetomagus, will juftify the opinion of the former being the local divinity of the latter. I Honlcy, p. 490. s Bax : Gloff: Antiq: p. 172. 182. • « • • « '«««•••<« #»•«•* * • » K 2 NUMBER 130. VIII, ( 45 ) NUMBER VIII. »v«^^^>5S^^^V! SULEVIS SULINUS SCULTOR (pTO Jculplor ) BRUCETI FILIUS SACRUM FECIT LIBENS MERITO. J- HIS altar was found at the fame time and place with the one lafl defcribed. It is dedicated to tlic Suliv^, the Bcce. campcjlres; oj local rural deities of the country around Bath ; SwU riiflica nuvi'ma Kymphce Faunique, Satyriquc, et MonLicolx Sylvani."- A con- 1 Ovid : Mft : Lib : i. v. jg2. Thefc were inferior intclligCRces to the Dil rujliti, who more immediately prefiJcd over Agrkulturt, and afTifted the labours of the hufbandman. Varro invokes, and enumerates thefc deities in tlic beginning of his work Ri rujiica. " Quoniam, ut ajunt, Dei facientcs adjuvant, prius invocabd e»s ; nee ut Homerus, et linn'ms Mu/ai : fed xii. Dfss conj'eatet. Nequc tamen Urkams, quorum imagines ad forum auratx ftant, fex mares et totidem frmini, fed illos xii. Deos, qui maximc agricolaruro duces funt. Primum, qui omnes fruflus agricultursecoelo ct icrra continent, Jivcm ct TfHnrert; itaquc duo hi parcntc* magni ( 46 ) A conjeflure that is confideraljiy flrengthened by the magnitude and dcpili of its Focus, which is well calcu- lated to receive the abundant ofFej-ing of herbs, fruits, and flowers, with which thefe fancied intelligences were fup- pofed to be pleafed, The aukward form, and bad fculpture of tliis altar, place its execution at a time when the arts wei'C fdclly degenerated here ; probably not long before the Romans quitted Britain. jTiagni dicuntur : Jupiter pater appelUtur : Tellus term mater. SccunJo Solem et Lunam, quorum tenipora obfervantur, cum quxdam fcri;ntur et contluntur. lertio Cererert tl Liberum, quod horum frutlus maxiine neceffarii ad vi5tum. Abhisenini cibus et potio venit c fundo. Quarto, Rot:gu:a ac Floram, quibus propitiis, neque ruhigo frumeiita, neque arbofes corrumpit, rieque non tempeP/ive fiureat. Itaque publicc Rohiga ferix, Robigalia, Floiii: ludi Flaralia infiituti. Ite;!. advenero Mi- ner'vamtt I'enerem, quarum unius procuratio Oliveti, alterius hortorum : quo nomine ruftica Viualia inftituta. Nee non etiam precor Lymphma tt Bonum E^vcutum; q\ioniain fine aqua omnis arida ac niifera agrkultura \ fine /uccejTu ac bono eventu; ffuftratio eft, non cultura." • NUMBER xilO,,'^yj\:i;;'l.^l';Kl]SI vS<■jJ;.!JLi^SEVEK1V.S po, IX. ( 47 ) 1 ili ijgir^a— -— -J, J-JLI L-I_!l»i-] NUMBER IX. -*• ■«.' •..■• •a-'xaam^-B "'""•..^''"■■v., tOCUM RELIGIOSUM PER IXSOLENTIAM ERUTUM VIRTUTE INAUGURATUM REPURGATUM REDDIDIT CAIUS SEVERIUS EMERITUS CENTURIO POSUIT ERGO GRATI/^E. X HIS monumental Cippus was found in Stall-flreet, on the 2gtli of June, 1753- It commemorates the re-edifica- tion of fome place of worfhip, which had fallen into difufe and decay. Caius Severius Emeritus,' a centurion, re- flored, and dedicated it afrefh; and erc6led tlic above Hone in lellimonv of this acl of piety. The ccnturial mark (which is nothing more than the inverted initial of Centurio), being of the fhape much in n{c about the middle of the fourth century, enables us to form fome idea of the antiquity of tills Cippus. 1 If the word Emeritus be taken for an appellative InAead of BiCognomcn, it will mean a r^/fr^Tn; or one who had compleated his j-enrs of fervice, and received his difcharge. " Emeriti dicuntiir \'eterani, folulique raiiitesi qui jam in ufu pKclii •' nou funt, quia mcreri militare clicuntur, a llipcndii^ fc-licit, qux mercr.tur. •• lidem et veterani dicuntur, quia jam in ufu prxlii non funt fed, poft inultos mi- " litis labores quieti^ fuS'iagium confequuntuj." Vahrio : de Re Mil : Rom : vi 5. NUMBER 00, X. B ( 49 ) NUMBER X. I — » » Wg r: W HAT the original ufe or defign of this flone miglit have been, it is now difficult to fay. It appears to be part of a fculpture exhibiting a military commander in pretty bold relief. From the rudely-chilfel'd dolphin on the left hand corner, it (hould fecm that a naval officer -wsts intended to be reprefented ; fince that fifh was confidered facred to Neptune," and held to be an emblem of extenfive maritime power ; » Tvi \t.iv yap yxiccv, Tv^ 5t ^xXxtjxv txii.^ In matters, which, (from particular circumflanccs), will not admit of demonilration, it may be allowable to advance 1 " Qui Neptuno fimulacnimfaciunt, Oclpliioum aut in manu ejus, autfubpede " conftiiucre liiicntur ; quod gratiffimum N'cptuno effe arbitrantur." — Il/ginui in Delphino. X Ve( : Crzc : Epie : in Antbol : on a Cupii Jiolding a flower in one hand and a ielphia in the other. L ratioual ( 50 ) rational conjeciure in the room of proof. — Prefuming upon this privilege, I would venture to offer an opinion that the Rone under confideration, might have been ereded to the honor of Caraufius, a bold ufurper in the reign of Dioclehan, who, by his confummate gallantry, and extra- ordinary naval Ikill, obtained the compleat dominion of Britain and held it for feven years. The following ac- count of him is given by Eutropius. " Caraufius, though " very meanly born, obtained a confiderable poll in " the army, and acquired a great reputation, whilft he *' enjoyed it. He at Bononia received a commifiTion to *' keep all quiet at fea upon the Belgic and Armorican *' coall, infefled by the Franks and Saxons ; and having " taken many of the barbarians, without either returning " the whole booty to the provincials, or remitting the " fame to the Emperors ; a fufpicion arofe, that he de- " fio^nedly fuffered the Barbarians to make inroads that he *' might catch them as they were going off with their booty, *' and by thefe means enrich himfelf. Orders were given " to Maximian to kill him ; upon which he affumed the " purple, and feized on Britain; and when force had been ♦' ufed in vain, they were glad at laft to flrike up a peace " with him. Seven years afterwards, he was killed by " Aleftus liis companion, who himfelf kept poffeffion of " Britain for three years after the death of Caraufius, and " then was fuppreffed by the management of Afclepio- " dotus, the Captain of the guards,"* 1 Horfley's Brit : Rom : p. 69. Sculptural ( 5» ) Sculptural rcprcTcntaiions of their great men, were, we know, very cuilomary modes of flattery amongfl the Ro- mans, particularly under the lower empire, when altars, flatues, and temples were raifcd,and divinity attached to the poffelTion of the purple, however vicious or contemptible the wearer might be. Many fuch compliments would doubtlefs be paid to the fuccefsful ufurpcr Caraufius, and as the ftyle of fculpture obfcrvable in the flone before us, marks it to have been chiffelled when the arts were on the decline, this, (together with other circum(lances) feems to jullify the opinion of its having been, originally, a repre- fentation of him. The drefs of the figure, alfo, is that of a military com- mander ; a loofe cloak, called a Chiamys, which covererl the clofer vefl, or Twiica, and was faflened on the ricrht flioulder with a Fibula, or clafp. The Dolphin, moreover, points at the fame profeffion ; being a fymbol of aftivity and difpatch, and therefore a very proper accompaniment to a fculpture of this kind. The coins of Vefpafian, (who affefted the motto of Auguftus, j~evh Bp^ta;) very fre- quently exhibit on their reverfes, the Dolphin entwined with an anchor ; to denote expedition and alacrity, coupled, at the fame time, with prudence and moderation. It is to be remarked further, that the cropped hair, and fliort curling beard, obfcrvable in this relief, bcfpeak a foldier of the lower empire; when it became faflnonablr L 2 to ( 52 } wear the lafl appendage to the face.' The hiflory o{ beards indeed, amongft the Romans is foniewhat fingular, and well exemplifies the caprice and mutable nature of fafhion. In the early ages of the commonwealth, whilft the Roman charafter continued to be a ferious one, the beard was carefully cherifhed, and regarded with veneration •,'^ nor were barbers heard of in the capital of the world, till four hundred and fifty years after its foundation, when they were firft introduced there by Ticinius Mcena from Sicily.3 What ceafes to be fafliionable, however, foon 1 It was a cuftom with the Romans to crop the hair fliort in the neck, when they affumed the Toga 'virilis, at the age of feveitteen ; and to keep it ever after in the fame ftate — This was done with great folemnity, and the fliorn locks were generally offered to fome deity or other — Frequently to Bacchus ; lUc genas Phxbo, crinera hie pafcebat Jaccho, StatiusTheb: 8. 492. Sometimes to Apollo : Accipe laudatos juvenis Phaebeie crines Quos tibi Csfareus donat puer, accipe Ixttia, Intonfoque oftende patri. Stat : lib : 3. Sil : 4c At other times to Jove ; Jupiter hunc crinem, voti reus, ante dicarem. Si pariter nati virides libare dediffes Ad tua templa genas 2 Livy Lib : v. — 41. — Lucan alfo defcribes Caia, as rigidly obferving the falhion of the beard; Intonfos rigidam in froutem defcendere canos Paffus erat, maestamque genis in crefcere barbam. Lib. 2. 3. Pliny, Lib : vii. c. jg. Omnino tonfores in Italiam ex Sicilia primnm vcnifle dicuntur, poft Romam conditam Anno Quadringcntefimo quinquagefimo quarto, ut fcriptum in publico Ardea in Uteris extat, eofque adduxiffe P. Ticiniura Jvicnam. M ; Varro dc Re Ruft : Lib : a. Cap ; ult, Jbegins ( 53 ) begins to be confidered as abfurd. The refined Romans adopting the oriental cuftom of Oiaving the chin, quickly lofl; all refpeft for their ancient cu(lom, and laughed heartily at the {implicity of their ancellors, in following one that was now termed barbarous and ridiculous ; Credam digniim Barbd, dignumq Cahillis Majorutn.' The Beard became a fubjc£l of fcorn wherever it appeared ; and the poor pliilofopher's chin fuffered many a pra61ical joke from the mifchievous urchins of the Au- guftan age ; Vellent tibiBa rbam Lafcivi pTwri,^ Inconltant fafhion, however, rendered the beard once more refpeftable, and Hadrian, in the beginning of the fecond century, again gave it popularity, by encouraging the growth of his own.3 Succeeding Emperors followed his example; and the cullom kept its ground, till the ter- mination of the empire.* The 1 Jav : Sat : »6. 32. 2 Hor: Sat: Lib: 1. Sat: 3. v. 134. ^ 3 AJ5ia.®-7r^i^T3-yiF»v yi^o^ ev ^e^w ^euv t^at^^wTZuv : GC OraC, 4 " Geniurn effe uniufcujufqueanimum rationalemet ideoeiTe fingulosfingulorum." Varro apud Aurel : Auguftin. 5 " Genium Dicebant antiqui natiiralem Deum, uniufcujufque loci, vel rei, aut bominis." Servius in imo. Gcorgic. Virgilii. >' Suuscuique mos, fuus cuique rifui ( 55 ) glnary beings were two in number, wliich took charge oF every perfon from the moment of liis nativity, one of ■whom continually impelled him to good, the other to evil.* That they were conftantly employed in this bene- ficial or pernicious work, and never quitted him for a moment of time, from his birth to his dcceafe." Having this powerful influence over human aflions, and temporal affairs, the Genii were held in profound veneration, and divine honors paid to them, both by flates and individuals. Various oifcrings were efleemed to be agreeable to them. A pig of two months old ; Cras Geniummero Curabis ct porco bimr/lriJ A faked cake; Tic ccjpite vivo Poncfociim, Geniumque loci Faunumjuc Laranque Saljo Jarre voca.* Titus eft, varies cuftodes urbibus cunftis mens divina" diflribuit, ut animx nafcrnti- bus, ita populis fatales Genii dividuntur." Q : Symnachus in Relatione fua aJ A, A. A. pro reftaurando Deorum gentilium Cultu. 1 Cum nafcimur duos Genios fortimur, unus ell, qui hortatur ad Hona ; alter qui depravat ad mala, nee incongrue dicuntur Crnii, quia cum unufqnifquc "cnitus fuerit ei ftatimobfcrvatores deputantur; quibus affiftentibus port mortem aut aflerimur in meliorem vitam aut condemnnmur in deteriorem." Scrvius in hoc Virgihi." *' Quifquc fuos patimur manes." 2 Genius autem ita nobis afTiduos obfcrvator appofitus eft, ut ne punfto quidem temporis longius abfcedat, fed ab utero matris exceptos ad cxtrcmum vitz diem comitetur, Cenforin : de die Natal : c, 3. AiratTi SttifAU't avi^i TU ystufiutu. McnandeTi Omni homini nafcenti Geoius, 3 Hor : Od : Lib : 3. 17. 4 Calf hurn ; Sic : Ec : 5. An ( 56 j An oblation of Frankincenfe ; Magne Geni, cape thura libens, votifque faveto j Si viodo cum de me cogitat ille cadets Fruits and wine ; or wine alone; Funde merum Genio.' Thefe offerings were generally made on the natal day of the pious votary, in a private manner, in his own manfion. But to the Genius of every particular ftate or city, a temple was raifed at the public expence, and divine rites publicly obferved on particular days fet apart for that purpofe,3 1 Tibullus, Lib : 4. de Natali Cerinthi, 2 A : Perfius in princip ; Sat : 6. 3 In Rome, in the 1 4th Region of the city, was a chapel dedicated ad Cnh: iiberorum; another, ad Genius Larium, in the 6th Region; and a third, in the 7th, ad Genium Sangi, — Rofmus Antiquitat : Rom : Lib : 2, c. xiv. Ammianus Mar. celliniK mentions a temple to the fame intelligence in Alexandria. Lib : £2< NUiMBER |5o. XI. ( 57 ) NUMBER XI, crass "TTTyryrri 1 T is fomcwhat fingular, that a very intelligent and rcfpcftable antiquary of the prefent day, (hould have millaken the monument before us, for the produttion of the Saxon or Gothic age; when its form, fubjeft, and every other circumftance, manifefl it to be intimately con- ne£lcd with clafTical mythology,' — The fculpture, indeed, is not remarkable for elegance, having been executed, (as I fliall prcfcntly fliew) towards the beginning of the fourth century, when the arts were very much on the decline; but, perhaps, wc can fcarcely judge now, fairh-, of its original execution, fince it is worked on Bath flonc, the friable nature of which, prevents the long prefervation of the finer and minuter parts of any piece of fculpture. Amongll the ancients it was an ufual praflicc to dedicate thc/cune temple to feveral deities. — Thus Hercules and the Mufes were joined in one at Rome ; as well as Callor and 1 Governor Pownal't '• Defcriptions and Explanatloni of force Remains of f Roman Antiquitiei duj up in the Cicy of Bath ;" p : e6, M Pollux; ( 5S ) Pollux; Pan and Ceres; Apollo and ^fculapius. — Thofe alfo, who in their attributes bore any refemblance to each other, were often aflbciated together upon the fame altar. When this occurred, the divinities were called S-jfj^fwfxtoi and c)(jooffc>joi, and the altars themfelves Aifoj/j^ot, or double altars, — Of this fort was the one before us, which appears to have been dedicated to Jupiter and Hercules bibax, or the convivial Hercules/ The following explanation of the tvvo figures will probably be confidered as fufficient proofs of the truth of this opinion. The left-hand relief reprefents Jupiter with thofe various emblems which diftinguifli him from the other deities of ancient mythology. 1 In the frequent Leftifterniuras which the Romans made to Hercules, they ufcd even to invoke him under his dnmhen charaBer, as one finds by Statius ; and a parti- cular friend of that poet had a very remarkable little figure of this God, which he ufed to place upon his table, whenever any gaieties were carrying on there. He held a cyathus in one hand, and his club in the other, with a mild good-humoured look, that feeraed to invite others to be as happy and well plcafed as himfelf, — Spence's Polyraetis, p. 126. Nee torva effigies, epulifque aliena rcmiffis; Sed qualem parci domus admirata Molorchi, Aut Ales lucis vidit TegCica facerdos : Qualis et Oetxis emilTus in Aftra favillis Neftar adhuc torva Ixtus Junone bibcbat. Sic mitis vultus ; veluti de peftore gaudens Hortetur menfas. Tenet hsc marcentia fratris Pocula; adhuc fsvae meminit manus altera pugnx; Suftinet occultum Neinexo tegmine Saxum. Statius Sylv; 6. v, 58, The ( 59 ) The God grufps in his right-hand, ihc/ulmcn, hghming.or three-forked boh, according to the delcripiions ol' ihc poet ; Cut dextra trifulcis Jgnibus armata cjt.' With his left he holds his fceptrc, as the King or father of all beings, ^vhether human or divine ; Celjior ipfc loco, fccptroque imnxus eburno^ At his feet may be feen the " feathered king," or eagle ; which from its fuperiority to other birds, was confidcred gis the peculiar attendant on Jove, and the bearer of his lightning; Magni Jovis aiesfertur in altum AJJucto voliians, gejtes ceufidmina Mundi.3 The head and countenance are much mutilated, but fufficient of the former remains to tcflify that it was origi- nally modelled, in the circumflances of the hair, beard, &c. after the fublimc defcription given by Homer, of the fathe^ of Gods and men ; H, xari xvxve^Jiv f tt o^putri ueua-e K-^ot/iuv ; ^Ov; Met; L.2.V.325. 2 Id: Lib: i.v.178. 3 Manilius, Lib ; I, v. 345. 4 Ilora : II : L : 1, v. ^21, M 2 HiSi ( 6o ) His only covering is a regal Pallium, thrown over the left fhoulder, and hanging loofely around the body. ^ The figure which occupies the other face of this bifronted altar, is the reprefentation of Hercuks Bibax, or the con- vivial Hercules. The ufual attributes of this deity were his lion's Ikin, club, and bow ; The two former of which are fufhciently vifible in the relief, But when he was reprefented under his drunken cha- ra^ler, inflead of the latter implement of war, he bore m his right hand a cyathus, or goblet ■Tenet hac marcentiafratris Pocula,' This emblem was given him, in allufion both to his in- temperate propenfities, and alfo to a wild m)'thological fable, which feigned that he traverfed the ocean in a Scyphus or drinking vefTel; a dory that hq.d its rife, acpord- \ Lucian, torn: i, p. 298, 2 Sutius uc fupr;!. mg ( Gi ) ing to Macrobius, from a voyage performed by this adventurous hero, not in a goblet, but in a fniall fliip, that bore the name of Scyphus.^ The affociation of jfove and Hercules on the fame altar, was not unufual ; inftances of it o.ccur in Grutcr and Montfaucon. The pra6licc, however, flourifhed more par- ticularly during the joint reign of Dioclefian and Maxi- minian ; the former qj' Mhom affc6ied the name and cha- rafter of Jove, the latter thofe of Hercules.* This circum- ftance may be confidered as an index to the date of our altar, which was probably raifed to the honor of thefe Emperors ; and places it confequently, fomewhere between the years of our Lord 284, and 304, a period \shich comprehends the term of their dominion over the Roman cmpire.3 This altar feems to have filled the corner of fome temple ; two of Its fides being rough and unwrought. — Its focus was evidently intended to receive libations and offerings. 1 Macrob : Saturn; L. 5. c. 21. E Jupiter et Hercules nonnunquam occurrnnt cum hoc titulo DH Magtii, — Hxc Jovi ct Ilerculi fimul oblata religio maiimc vigebat i-vo Diocletiani ct ^laximiani, vjuoram prior Ja^jius, fecundus lltrculiut in honoxcra duotum horumce numinum vocitatus eft. — Montfaucon, torn: 1, p. 47. 3 Eutropius. Lib: ix, c, 22, NUMBER Do. XIL ( 63 ) NUMBER XII. jTa-T the lime of difcovcring the two preceding pieces oi fculpturc, this curious fragment was alfo dug up. It feems to have been the pediment of a fmaller temple, chapel, or faccllum, dedicated probably to the Goddefs Luna, under one of her various names and charaflers.* — The head which appears in the centre, is executed in rude, but bold relief; and exhibits a broad Ethiopian counte- nance, with the hair dreffed in very large curls; and tied at the top in a knot. — A crefcent encircles it; and a knotted wand, with a ferpent twilling round it, appears on the right fide, without the crefcent. That this fpecimen of antique mafonry originally made part of an edifice dedicated to the intelligence which \\'as fuppofed to prefide over the moon, will probably appear from the following remarks. 1 Cicero enumerates fome of her appellationi, and gives the reftfons for their beii.g applied to her. Cic : de Nat ; Dcor : 2, n 68, Thp ( 64 ) The Greeks and Romans borrowing their mythological r.nd philofophical notions from the Egyptians, adopted the tenet of the eternity of the fun and moon,' and confidered thefe planets as the great parents of univerfal lifej the authors and fupporters of animated nature ; Numerous temples were erefted to them individually, throughout the empire ; and at Rome, no lefs than three, Avitli a fmall chapel, flood dedicated to the fair planet of the night.3 The mod confiderable of thefe was htuate on the Aventine mount ; Avcntino Luna colcnda jugo ;t And here, under the name of NoEliluca, the moon re- ceived divine honors. But the worfhip of this planet was not confined to the city of Rome alone. It found its way into all the colonies and provinces ; and as the influence and powers of the f 1 tirtXa^n) (Egyptii) eivui avo Seb; ai^is? toj te rXiov y.aci rn' o-eXuini'. Diod. Sic: Aiuia cvinanttTc; >I^lo^ Kai atXriiniii yeafaaij otx T» aiijiia f,vici fmp^na, Hor: Apol : in 2 Sibyllina Carmina, apud Zofim : Hiftor ; L, 2, 3 Dempfter's Antiq. Rora ; p. 163. 4 Ov : Fall : L. 3. in fin. moon f G5 ) moon were eflcemcd to be various and important, fo her Vorfliip was cultivated with the mod rigid care and at- tention. — Conflant fires illuminated her temples during the night; and particular facrificcs marked the dilTercnt Uages of her appearance ; her increafe, her full, and wane. When her countenance was obfcured with clouds, or hidden by an eclipfe, various ceremonies were obferved to court her re-appcarance, or to relieve her from the eflfefls of thofe witcheries, by which the wild wanderings of Heathen fu perdition edcemed her, in the latter cafe, to bf oppreded. Candida ncc magicas artes, inimicaque verba Pnjfa, nee a radiis terrx moliminefratris hitcrceplafui, bijfenas Delta nobles Horruit, etfufca tcxit caligine vultum. Q^uantwn pavidcefucciirrere LuncB Certantes popuU tlnnitibus ceris acuti Jngeminant, furdnfque Dea nituntur ad aiires ThcJJalicum ne carmen eat, detraUaque c^elo Suppojiias lata terras fiviul obruat orbe,"^ The inducncc of this planet, alfo, over the human frame was conddercd as very powerful, and in fcveral difeafes it was cudomary to invoke the moon for cure or relief. 1 Pet: Apollon ; CoIIatiti de ExciJio Hicrefulun . Lib; i, Nf From ( 66 ) From this circumflance more efpecially, it feems pro- bable, that a temple or Saccllum to the Goddefs Luna, might be erefted in the Roman colony of Aqux Solis ; fmce it was hither that the afflifted invalids, from all parts of the kingdom, rcforted, to recruit their flrength, and regain their health; and nothing is more likely, than that an intelligence efficacious in reftoring bodily vigor, fhould be worfliipped on a fpot where her influence was more parti- cularly known and experienced.— Indeed the emblem which furrounds the head, in this piece of fculpture, feems to prove beyond difputation, that the edifice to which it belonged, had a particular referrence to the Moon. For in almofl: all the ancient fculptures, and on the reverfes of mofl of the coins, which reprefent this intelligence under a corporeal form, the emblem of a lunar crown, or a Crefcentj accompanies her, and points out the Siderum Regina bicornis — ,' " The Queen of Stars who rules the night, '• In horned Majefl;y of light. - The ferpent twining itfelf round the flick with a knot on its top, is a very proper ornament, alfo, for a temple erefted to a deity fuppofed to be influential in removing bodily complaints ; fmce it is an emblem of ^fculapius, the God of healing and convalefcence. In the pharma- 1 Hor: Carm : Sec : L : 35. ... a Francis's Hor ; v, 2. p. 39.1.. copeia ( C; ) copcia of antiquity, the fnai Py thior : cde 3, 4 Ov : Met: 15. 662. 5 L: Apul : Lib; irao. Mile; in principio. N 2 N'L'MBER ■-^'^T.^fflfc*^*^ QP tit('^:^eu3i£^. c£'ef^ K^t ( h ) • NUMBER XIIL "laestQl i^ I® cauKBi X HIS fine bronze head was dug up in the month of July 1727, in Stall-flreet, where it lay buried fixtecn leet undeY the furface of the ground. It is a beautiful fragment of a ftatue of Apollo, which flood, probably, in a temple dedicated to him, near the fpot where the head was difcovered. That this Deity fliould have a temple raifcd to his honor, in a city which received its appellation from himfclf, will fcarcely admit of a queftion, particularly as he was elleem- ed to be potent in the infliction and cure of many difordcrs. Homer introduces him very fublimely, as dcfcending from Olympus, and difcharging amongfl the Grecians hi^ arrows winged with plague and pcfliknce. ( 70 ) Bv) Ss nx~ aXujj-TCiJ y.ccq'yi'^av Xo^oi^Bv ^ xvjf, To^' &'(iOJiriv f%u;y, i!:(ji.Cp'/)f£(pfia; t£ (paf£TfV)V' EyiKixy^xv h^aq o'iqoi fts'' w(j<.wi/ %iyo(*£VOiOj AuT8 Kivv)6fv7®''. 5' vji'f yjjtTt eoiy.aig. E^£t' £';7£jt' a:ira:i/£i;S£ i/£a.v, fjLfra 5 lov evins' Z2l£ivv) 5£ nXzfyvi yevST ctqyvqeoio (iioio' Ovqv)x; \t.ev th^cotou a-miiixelo, unci xwag x^yag. Aurxq £ii7£:T' xvTOtTt. /SeX®-- £%ca7£u>{£i' e(pietg, BxX/:.' And fhortly after, as removing the malady from their camp, at the intercelhon of his favorite pried : H5 eTL y.Xt, VVV fjtOJ TOS £TiK^V)V)!/(5V SbXScC^, (Q; £^a;T' £Li%CfA£v@-'* T8 5' ey.Xva (pSif ®~> AtcXXwv.' The Apollo Medicus, or healing Apollo, occurs alfo in other poets, as the inventor of medicine, and the difcoverer of the ufe of fimples : JnvenUnn medicina meum ejl ; opiferque per orhcm Dicer ; ct Herbarumfubjeda potentianQbis.^ The claim of Apollo to this fragm.ent is further flrength- ened, by the circumftance of the hair\ which curls luxu- 1 Horn : II : i. 44, a II: I. V, 455. 3 Ov: Met; 15. 24. riantly ( 7» ) riantly round ihe face, and falls in graceful ringlets behind the head. This was a Ihiking charaderilHc of the God's perfon, and procured him, aniongd the Greeks, the ap- pellation axffjf xo(xv;j, or long'locked; and with the Romans, that o{Grannus oxGrynceus, a Celtic appellative, defcriptivc of the radiant, thick, and trembling Solar beams.' — To the flowing locks of Apollo, the poets are perpetually alluding; Dignos et ApoUini crincs, Savs Ovid of a beautiful head of hair; and Tibulhis, in an addrefs to the God himfelf, does not forget to cele- brate his profufe ringlets as conllituting a chief ornament of his perfon ; Ku nc indue vrjlem Sepofdam, lovgas nunc bene pccle comas. On a coin prcferved in the Xumifmata of Albertu. — Id gravibat capitibut Corgorcis agitabatur magogt terror. Lucan ( 8o ) i Lucan alludes to her terrific look , Quos habuit vultus haniati vulnerefcrrl Cxfa caput Gorgon? Queintofpirajfe vcneno Or a rear, quantum([ue oculos eff under e mortis.* A fimilar allufion occurs in Flaccus ; Horrentem colubris fjEgideviJ, vultuque treviendam Gorgones^ And Virgil hath not forgotten to mention the rolling of her eyes as a diflinguifhing and horrible circumilance in the countenance of Medufa; Gorgona, defeElo vertentem lumina collo? Thai Ihe is ever reprefented indeed with a beard or whifkers, I do not find. But thefe appendages may, I think, be very well accounted for, by taking into con- fideration that as the fculpture was intended for an eleva- tion of thirty or forty feet, the archite6l might have added" them (improperly enough) for the purpofes of giving more charafter to the countenance, and conveying into it that mafculine ferocity, which the poets attributed to it.* 1 Lib : 9. V. 680. 2 Argonau, 6. v. 1 76. 3 En : 8. v. 438. 4 Cupid is introduced, in Lucian's Dialogues, as telling his mother, that Miner- va's appearance is fo fierce and mafculine, he is afraid to approach her. Ac^ia a ftriri^t avTr,t, »t«^a yaj sm, xai xa^ovn x«» ^ei>iii( at^^lxv. Tom : 1— 716. The fame author tells us alfo, that a firailar mafculine and feraciaM look might be obferved in the couHtttumet of Itr ^lis, P. 89, The ( 8i ) The zvings attached to the head confluutt- a further proof that Mcduja was intended to be here rcprcfcntcd. Mofl of the gems and fculpiures reprefent her with a caput poma- tum, which feems to have been thus ornamented, in allufion to the fable of lier de(lru6lion, accompjidied by Perfeus with the afTiftance of Mercu,ry who accommo- dated the hero with his own wings, when lie undertook to deftroy this pernicious monflcr.' Another argument in favour of my opinion may be drawn from the fnakes which are interwoven with the hair, particularly thofe that are coyvuclcd together under ilic chin, \o which both Ovid and Virgil more efpecially allude ; Ncxaque nodofai ayiguc Mcdufa comas. Connexos angues.' The above obfervations may, perhaps, remove the Governor's objeftions with refpeft to the head being that of Mcdufa. — It will now be necelTary to notice certain ornaments obfervable on the fragment, which may be adduced as decifivc proofs of the whole referring to Mincnu inftead of Sot. • On confidering the annexed engraving, it will be remarked that the head is furrounded by two circular ornaments. The external one exhibits an olive icrcath, a^ is evident I Montfaucon, Tom: i. p, 144, OviJ ex ponto, Lib' 3. Cp: i, y. 134. p from ( 82 ) from the long, narrow, and llightly indented leaves, and the berries which accompany them. — That this tree was facred to Minerva, and emblematical of her as patronefs of the arts, is notorious.' In claffical mythology, Ihe was feigned to have firfl prefented the valuable plant to man- kind ; and in her peaceful charafler, was always repre- fented, either with a branch of it in her hand, or with one encircling her helmet.^ Another ufual accompaniment of the fame Deity, in fculpture and gems, is the ozot, or bird of wifdom, which was fuppofed to be particularly agreeable to the Goddefs of it. ; Non comes ohjcurus tripoduvi non fulminis ardes Ve6lor adcs, Jlavcequefonans avis unca Minerva.^ A bird of this fpecies appears on the Tympanum, jufl without the external circular ornament ; which, (though Governor Pownal confiders it 2iS di negative proof o^ the truth of his Hypothefis) I cannot but think, was intended as a further indication of the exclufive claim of Minerva, tq the edifice of which it was an ornament. — The fame obff r- vation may be made with refpeft to the Helmet that appears on the oppofite fide; it being, an emblem of the Diva nrmigera, or Minerva in her warlike charafter; and as, fuch, is a very compaon reprefentation in fculptures which 1 Olea, Minervs fymbolum eft, cui haec arbor facra artiura habita praefes, quae, artes ad lucernam noftu lucubrando nimium quantum crefcunt in qua lucerna et oleuqj adhiberi folet. Ant: Auguft: Dial; inAntiq: D. 2. p. 19. 2 Id ; Dial : 4. p. 69. 3 Statius, Theb: Lib: 3. v. 520. h^^'e ( 83 ) Lave a reference to her. Though it be romewlut defaced by the injuries of time, it {till affords us a pretty gQO<] pattern of the Roman Galea; and proves how admirably this piece of Head-armour was calculated to anfwer the parpofes for which it was defigncd. It might not be indeed fo light, nor perhaps, fo becoming, as the cavahv hclmci of modern days ; yet its conflrudtion rendered it much more ufeful to the wearer, and preferved him both from inconvenience and injuries, to which the imperfeft form of the one now in ufe, renders him liable. The /Imp that appears on each fide, and which was fallened under the chin, prevented the polhbility of the helmet being thrown off in the fhock of battle, an accident that may eafily happen witliout fuch a precaution. This appendage was Called 0%fu>% and made a part of the ancient Grecian, as well as Roman Helmet.' Another fuperiority which the Roman Head-armour poflefled o\er the modern one, was the buccula or leathern flap, that depended from the back of the helmet, and covered the neck and part of the flioulders. This addition mufl, doubtlefs, ]ia\e been fome- what incommodious to the wearer, until ufe had reconciled him to it ; but the inconvenience was amply recompenfed by its utility, fince it preferved thofe parts from beitig wounded, which being left expofed by the modern Cafque, are, as I am informed, very frequently, and (e- verely injured. I It was (his (trap, which, had it not been for the interporuion of Venus, would have been the death of Taris, in his conteft with Mcnelaus. Qi m-it' a.th^tt:ti; iX.niTitum^^U>^ir,(. HoiB. I. y. 37 J. P 2 I Pl'O- ( H ) 1 proceed now to the lafl, perhaps the ftrongefl proof, that the Tympanum under confideration may be confidered as part of the temple of Minerva mentioned by Sohnus. — It is well known that the ancients efleemed certain beajls to be particularly agreeable to particular Gods, — Thefe, on fellivals, and other folemn occafions, they offered up ; and each Deity was regaled with the favor that arofe from the facrifice of his favorite animal ; It is equally certain, that the Goddefs Aluicrva was thought to prefer ^n Heifer of a year old to any other beaft; and, under this abfurd imprefhon, the ancients frequently made that offering to her, as the molt grateful one in their power. — Such a facrifice does Diomed promife to Alinerva, as the recompence of her affiflance in an expedition he is about to undertake; So) 3'aru fyw f j^w /Ssv v\viu, £i;fy(xfTa;3rO!/, And Helenus advifes twelve of them to be facrlficed to the fame Goddefs, as the mofl likely means of engaging her compalfion in behalf of Troy and its inhabitants; V Hom|: II: i.v. 317. Nidor autem aJ cxlum ibat circumfufusfumo. 2 II: X, V. 292. ( 8j ) Kwj, tiHft^a;? ie^t\j7a[i.eVf • &c. Now it is a curious and remarkable circumflance.nrontjlv corroborative of the opinion 1 liave ventured to fuggeft, l\idX fcvcralliorns, together with pdiTis oi'Jkulls, which from their fhape, figure, and fir.c, are, unqucflionably, thofe of .yearlings, were found on the fame fpot with the Tympa- num and other fragments of the temple to which it be- longed. This faft fecms to fettle, beyond doubt, that the c uji omary {dcx'x^ccs to Minerva had been offered in this edifice; and, when connected with the other circumflanccs above adduced, forms fo powerful a body of prefumptne proof that the edifice itfelf was confecrated to this Goddefs, as nothing, but abfoluie demonflration to the contrary, can refill or overturn." 1 T.t ei voveat JuoJecim boves in tetnplo Anniculas, jugum non paflas, facrificaturum, irc, II: 6. v. 93. a Theothtr fragment herewith reprefented, bpart oiijljing Ctniui; two ofwhich appear to have fupportrd the outer wreath, as maybe concluded from the remaining hands and arm vifible on the right fide of it. UNIVERSITY C^ CAL' OR>''\ LTBI- University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. RECO LD-URt AUG 12, QL JAN 2 1994 t:o. V3 139T p,RT LIBRARY J I ipl J ■ ■■ •*» ;■■■ -1 .-* 'W 'V '; ■ )\ ■!' J •'Iri'MS