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LEFT MEDAL OF HONOR LEaiON 172 MEDEA Congress. In 1905 a new Medal of Honor, a five-pointed star in rose-gold, was adopted. In the center is a head of Minerva in relief, surrounded by a band, inscribed "United States of America." A laurel wreath of green enamel sur- rounds the star with a bar above, in- scribed "Valor," surmounted by an eagle. The decoration hangs from a watered- Silk blue ribbon emblazoned with 13 white stars. The reverse of the medal is left plain for the recipient's name, which is preceded by "The Congress to — " Until this decoration was insti- was revived in Europe at the period of the Renaissance. In France it has risen to great perfection, and the series of na- tional medals, beginning under Louis XI., illustrates almost every great event in French history. The fashion spread to England where the battle medals form an excellent series. In Italy princes and popes on ascending the throne commemo- rated the event by striking medals bear- ing their portraits, and in the papal series particularly the greatest artists Italy^ has produced did the work of en- graving. The art has had an increasing THE VICTORY MEDAL, UNITED STATES tuted, the United States had no military decoration equivalent to the Victoria Cross of Great Britain. In 1917 Con- gress authorized the issue cf a new Medal of Honor, differing slightly in design and to be awarded to members of the army and navy for valor in the World War. MEDAL OF HONOR LEGION (United States). A patriotic society consisting of officers and enlisted men who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. As organized in 1890, only those who fought in the Civil War were admitted to mem- bership, but afterward the privilege was extended to all who had received the medal regardless of the war in which it was won. MEDALS, a medal in its modern signification, is independent of the coin and sculptured medallion, being a piece of metal, resembling a coin in form and size, stamped with images and inscrip- tions to honor a person or commemorate an event. The Greeks and Romans made profuse use- of them, as a record of events in their respective histories, and the art development in the United States and there are portrait medals of all the American presidents. Chief among the engravers of medals in modern times have been Vittorio Plsani of Italy, Jacques Wiener of Belgium, and Roty and Chaplain in France. Midway be- tween sculpture and painting, as Vasari held it to be, and working in the minia- ture, the art has been shown capable of great expression and beauty. Such works as the "Study" of Roty or his "Medal Wedding" rival the larger arts in their depth and wealth of detail. See Service Medals and Decorations. MEDEA (me-de'a), a celebrated magi- cian of classic fable, daughter of ^Eetes, King of Colchis, and the niece of Circe. When Jason came to Colchis in quest ol the golden fleece, Medea became en- amored of him, and it was to her arts that the Argonauts owed their preserva- tion. Medea had an interview with her lover in the temple of Hecate, where they bound themselves by the most solemn oaths and promised eternal fidelity. No sooner had Jason overcome all the diffi-