Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 1.djvu/210

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

[9 th S. I. MAR. 12, '98.

laurel that it can scarcely be seen, and the branches are even bound up to clear the entrance to the doors, so many of his countrymen having planted slips in honour of departed genius."

The grave, a solitary one, is, I believe, to be looked for somewhere " on the banks of the Arno," outside the city of Pisa on the road to Leghorn, not a fragment, perhaps ? of the widow's tribute of love remaining ^n situ to mark the spot. J. BUCHAN TELFER.

ANCIENT ZODIACS.

(Continued from p. 104.)

A SMALL bronze tablet brought from Pal- myra (said to be on the line of the Phoenician march from the Persian Gulf) was obtained by M. Peretie, of Beyrout, and may be described as a Phoenician zodiacal tablet. It is explained as representing the fate of the soul according to Assyrian or Phoenician belief. But the emblematic figures seem to be derived from the zodiacal signs. On this perhaps unique tablet (No. 27) the following figures are noticeable : Cidaris (Corona in Libra), star, solar disc, crescent, seven stars (Pleiades in Taurus), the seven planets, holy water kettle (1 Kings vii. 45) on tripod, fish- headed man holding corn (Spica in Virgo), body on bier, priest in fish robe, two lion- headed men, man in conical cap, animal- headed man with eagle feet, lion-headed human being holding two serpents (Ophiuchus in Scorpio and Hydra in Leo), horse (Pegasus in Aquarius), boat (Argo in Cancer), leg (Cepheus in Pisces), sheaf of arrows (for Sagittarius), river (Eridanus in Taurus), fishes (Pisces). The two uprights might perhaps refer to Gemini, whose later emblem was the duo gcesa.

At the base is the appearance of a fringe, and at the two upper corners are two eyes for suspending it. So it may have been a divining zodiacal pectoral. Josephus (' Anti- quities ' III. vii. 7) connects the twelve signs with the twelve stones in the Hebrew pec- toral ; and a modern author calls the Hebrew pectoral " the divining zodiacal breastplate of Aaron" ('Migrations of Symbols'). This Phoenician zodiacal tablet is engraved in the Quarterly Statement of the P. E. F., July, 1881, p. 215.

Arabian Zodiac.

28. This was found in a cave about ten miles from Zimbabwe, in Mashonaland, South Africa, by a gold prospector. It consists of a wooden bowl, round the edge of which are carved the twelve signs. It is about thirty- eight inches in circumference, and has also on it the sun, moon, and three stars, while a crocodile is in the centre. Mr. Bent con-

sidered that the Zimbabwe ruins were of Arabian origin. Mr. Cecil Rhodes obtained it, and it is engraved in South Africa, 4 August, 1894, vol. xxiii. No. 292, p. 218.

Greek Zodiacs.

29. The following appear to be of Greek design. The twelve signs surrounding Phoebus on a gem. Engraved in Montfaucon, pi. Ixiv. La Chausse coll.
 * Antiquite Expliquee,' 1719, vol. i. p. 1,

30. On a coin, round the temple of Artemis. In Montfaucon, i. 87, pi. xv.

31. On an oval marble sculpture, round Phoebus. In Montfaucon, i. 64.

32. On a gem, round Aries, Zeus, and Hermes. Fould collection. In King, 'An- tique Gems and Rings,' 1872, vol. i. p. 243, sardonyx.

33. On a gem, around Zeus. In King, i. 243.

34. On a gem, around Sor-Apis or Serapis, with the heads of the planetary deities (King, i. 252).

35. On a gem, around Sor-Apis and the planetary deities. Bosanquet collection (King, i. 252).

36. On a gem, around Zeus and the Dioscuri. Egyptian emerald. Praun collection (King, i. 252).

37. On a gem, around Sor-Apis and the planetary deities. In Caylus, 'Recueil d'Antiquites,' 1752.

38. On a coin of Amastris of Paphlagonia. B.C. c. 322. In Head, 'History of Numis- matics.'

39. On a medal, around Artemis in a temple, struck at Ptolemais. In Taylor, 'Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible,' 1823, vol. v.

40. Describing the emblematic statue of Artemis of Ephesus, Taylor (Calmet, iii. 199) says: "On her breastplate (pectoral) is a necklace of pearls ; it is also ornamented with the signs of the zodiac." In Calmet, vol. v.

41. A similar, but not duplicate statue is in the Naples Museum, of which Falkener (' Ephesus,' p. 290) says : " In her breast are the twelve signs of the zodiac, of which those seen in front are the ram, bull, twins, crab, and lion." Engraved in Fairbairn ('Bible Dictionary,' 1872, i. 529), and described fully in Wilson, ' Lights and Shadows of Northern Mythology,' 1881. pp. 113-116.

42. On a round gem, around a quadriga and Victory, sardonyx. Marlborough collection. In Worlidge, 'Antique Gems,' 1768, No. 52.

43. On a circular gem, round Phoebus. In Smith, 'Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology,' on title.