So faid the Matron; and about her head I need not mention her fitting on the ground, because we have already spoken of the aptness of fuch a posture to reprefent an extreme affliction. I fancy, fays Eugenius, the Romans might. have an eye on the customs of the Jewish nation, as well as of those of their country, in the feveral marks of forrow they have fet on this figure.. The Pfalmift describes the Jews lamenting their captivity in the fame penfive pofture. By the waters of Babylon we fat down and wept, when we remembered thee, O Sion. But what is more remarkable, we find Judæa represented as a woman in forrow fitting on the ground, in a paffage of the Prophet that foretels the very captivity recorded on this Medal. The covering of the head, and the rending of garments, we find very often in Holy Scripture, as the expreffions of a raging grief. But what is the tree we see on both these Medals? We find, says Philander, not only on these, but on several other coins that relate to Judea, the figure of a Palm-tree, to fhow us that Palms are the growth of the country. Thus S lius Italicus, fpeaking of Vefpafian's conqueft, that is the fubject of this Medal. Palmiferamque fenex bella domitabit Idumen. Martial feems to have hinted at the many pieces of painting and fculpture that were occafioned by this conqueft of Judæa, and had generally fomething of the Palm-tree in them. It begins an Epigram on the death of Scorpus a chariotdriver, which in thofe degenerate times of the Empire was looked upon as a public calamity. Triftis Idum eas frangat Victoria palmas ; Mart. Lib. 10. Epig. 50. The man by the Palm-tree in the first of these Medals, is fuppofed to be a few with his hands bound behind him. I need not tell you that the wing- FIG. 14. ed figure on the other Medal is Victory. She is reprefented here as on many other coins, writing fomething on a fhield. We find this way of regiftring a Victory touched upon in Virgil, and Silius Italicus. Ere cavo clypeum, magni geftamen Abantis, Virg. Æn. Lib. I fix'd upon the Temple's lofty door The brazen shield, which vanquish'd Abas bore: The verfe beneath my name and actions speaks, "These arms Eneas took from conqu❜ring Greeks." Mr. Dryden. Pyrenes Pyrenes tumulo clypeum cum carmine figunt ; High on Pyrene's airy top they plac'd The captive Shield, with this infcription grac❜d: "Sacred to Mars, these votive spoils proclaim "The fate of Afdrubal, and Scipio's fame." Parthia has on one fide of her the FIG. 15. Bow and Quiver which are so much talked of by the Poets. Lucan's account of the Parthians is very pretty and poetical. -Parthoque fequente Murus erit, quodcumque poteft obftare fagitta- Each fence, that can their winged fhafts endure, -Sagittiferofque Parthos Mr. Rowe. Catul The crown fhe holds in her hand, refers to the crown of gold that Parthia, as well as other provinces, prefented to the Emperor Antonine. The prefenting a Crown, was the giving up the fovereignty into his hands. Ipfe oratores ad me, regnique coronam, Virg. Æn. Lib. 8. Tarchon, the Tufcan Chief, to me has fent Antioch has an Anchor by her, in memory of her founder Seleucus, Mr. Dryden. FIG. 15. whose race was all born with this mark upon them, if you'll believe Hiftorians. Aufonius has taken notice of it in his verses on this city. -Illa Seleucum Nuncupat ingenuum, cujus fuit Anchora fignum. Qualis inufta folet; generis nota certa, per omnem Nam fobolis feriem nativa cucurrit imago. Auf. Ordo Nobil. Urbium. Thee, great Seleucus, bright in Grecian fame! Smyrna is always reprefented by FIG. 17. an Amazon, that is faid to have been her first foundrefs. You see her here entering into a league with Thyatira. Each of them holds her tutelar Deity in her hand. Jus ille, et iti foederis teftes Deos Sen. Phoeniffe. Act. 1. On the left arm of Smyrna, is the Pelta or Buckler of the Amazons, as the long weapon by her is the Bipennis or Securis. Non tibi Amazonia eft pro me fumenda fecuris, Ov. Lib. 3. Epift. 1. ex Pont. Lunatis agmina peltis. Virg. In their right hands a pointed Dart they wield; The left, for ward, fuftains the lunar Shield. Videre Rhati bella fub Alpibus Mr. Dryden, Drufum gerentem, et Vindelici; quibus Tempus Amazonia fecuri Dextras obarmet quærere diftuli. Hor. Od. 4. L. 4. Such Drufus did in arms appear, But why thofe favage troops this weapon choose, FIG. 18. The drefs that Arabia appears in. brings to my mind the defcription Lucan has made of thefe eaftern nations. Quicquid ad Eoas tractus, mundique teporem Luc. Lib. 8. While Afia's fofter climate, form'd to please, Here |