Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/497

Rh and now in the British Museum. With these engravings it hath in common the seven Egyptian figures on the one side, viz. The Holy Ape, the Cat or Bubastes, the Dog or Anubis, the Bull or Apis, the Ram or Amrnon, the Hare and Ass, each figure having its appropriate symbol at the bottom, which symbol in the compartments above is tripled, and then seven times multiplied. On the other fide, where the other seven figures or angels are, the same symbol is also tripled, and then thrice multiplied. We will take, for instance, the symbol under the Ram like a wave. This symbol is frequently met with on obelisks, and almost every Egyptian remain on which hieroglyphics are sculptured. It is also found upon Etruscan and Greek vases, which vases, as may be proved from the coverings on mummies having many figures in common. This symbol is generally thought to be expressive of water, and in Egypt of the Nile. On the Etruscan or Greek vases in the princely collection of our celebrated ambassador at Naples (where it frequently occurs) it is understood to have the same signification.

The figures on the other side are also seven. In this and the engravings referred to in the British Museum I take it to be a numerical talisman of three by seven and three by three."

P. S. Since writing the above a coincidence of accidental circumstances hath happened relative to the above symbol of water I cannot omit mentioning. In company with two captains in his Majesty's navy, the conversation turning upon hieroglyphic writing, they observed that each of them had been marked at Otaheite with characters, each of which had a meaning there among the natives. Nearly the symbol above mentioned went round the thickest part of the leg of one of them. But in the room where we were conversing was a very large antique Etruscan or Grecian vase of singular beauty and elegance. The upper ornament of this vase and the ornament round the leg were not only nearly, but ex-