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CHAP. if kneeling; while the other is erect, and laying

I.

Substances

used for the

Cyprus.

hold of the ground, as horses do when endeavouring to spring up. One of the two infants she is holding in her arms, and suckling, like a human creature, giving it her teat, which resembles that of a woman; but the other she suckles at her mare's teat, after the manner of a foal. In the upper part of the picture, a male Hippocentaur, intended to represent the husband of her who is nursing the children, is leaning over an eminence as it were, and laughing; not being wholly in sight, but only half way down, and holding a lion's whelp in his right hand, to frighten the children. The admirable skill of Zeuxis consists in displaying all the variety of the art in his treatment of one and the same subject: here we have a horse, proud, spirited, a shaggy mane over his chest and shoulders, a wild and fierce eye; and a female, like the Thessalian mares, never to be mounted nor tamed; the upper half a woman, but all below the back like a satyr; and the different bodies fitted, and as it were blended together.""

The signet-stones of Cyprus, although cut in a Signets of variety of substances, were more frequently of red carnelian than of any other mineral. Some of the most diminutive size were finely executed in red garnet, the carbuncle of the Antients.

I.

Others were formed of plasma, onyx, blood-stone, CHAP. topaz, jasper, and even of quartz. Of all these, the most antient had the scarabæan form. Two tient form very interesting examples are here represented.

Most an

nets of

Cyprus.

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The first is of the most remote antiquity. It was found among the ruins where the idols recently alluded to were discovered. The substance of it is an onyx, in a very advanced state of decomposition. The characters are evidently Phoenician, and correspond with those exhibited by inscriptions found upon the same spot, and published by Pococke'. The subject represented appears to be the dove, Avis PAPHIA, a very antient symbol of Venus, and of Astartes. But whether the figure placed before the bird be a grain of the bearded wheat so common in Cyprus, or any other type connected with its antient

(1) See Pococke's Travels, vol. II. p. 213.

(2)

“Alba Palæstino sancta columba Syro.”

Tibullus, lib. i. El. 8. ver. 18.

I.

CHAP. mythology, it is not easy to conjecture. The second is a carnelian scarabæus, bought in the bazar of Nicotia, representing, in front, a sepulchral Stélé. One of the letters is evidently a compound; and four others agree with characters in the Etruscan alphabet. There is, moreover, the following inscription upon the back of this stone, which is evidently Phænician; but this also exhibits Etruscan letters. Hence it seems manifest that the Etruscans and the Phoenicians were originally the same people1.

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(1) It is a curious circumstance, that Leonhart Rauwolff, in his Itinerary into the Eastern Countries, (as published by Ray in 1693. Part 2. ch. 13.) calls the Druses of Mount Libanus by the name of TRUSCI. This people now use the Arabic language; but very mistaken notions prevail concerning their origin. A writer in the Quarterly Review for March 1813, p. 196. has communicated some observations upon this subject, of which the author is glad to avail his readers. The Druses have a peculiar dialect. Hyde (Reliq. Vet. Persarum, p. 461) identifies them with the Curds; and asserts, that the appellations of Yesidean, Curd, and Calb (quære, Xáλvßes?) are given by the Turks to both. Those singular fanatics the Assassians were, according to him, of this number; and he finds them in Herodotus as inhabitants of Libanus, under the name of AHPOTZIAIOI,”

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Antient Geography of the Island-Situation of Citium— Phoenician Settlements Illustrious Citieans Last Remains of the City-Reports concerning Baffa Minerals of Cyprus-Journey to Nicotia-Women of Cyprus-Gardens of Larneca-Desolate Appearance of the Country-Village of Attién-Primeval Mills— Curious Mode of keeping Bees-Carob Tree-Appearance of Nicotia- Banishment of Prostitutes-Palace of the English Dragoman-Visit to the Turkish Governor -his Reception of the Author - Oriental Mode of entertaining Guests-Gŵyûmjee, or Goldsmiths of Turkey-Antiquities obtained in the Bazar-Polished

Stones

CHAP.
II.

Antient

of the

Stones of Cyprus-Antient Gems found in Nicotia -
Camels Rivers of the Island-Antient Phoenician
Medal-Tetradrachm of Tyre-Return to the Fleet-
Loss of the Iphigenia.

IT

T will now perhaps be interesting to ascertain from what Phoenician city the antiquities discoGeography vered at Larneca derived their origin; and if Island. the Reader will give an author credit for the difficulties he has encountered, in order to ascertain this point, he may perhaps spare himself some trouble, and render unnecessary any ostentatious detail of the volumes it was necessary to consult. The antient geography of Cyprus is involved in greater uncertainty than seems consistent with its former celebrity among enlightened nations. Neither Greeks nor Romans have afforded any clue by which we can fix the locality of its Eastern cities. Some of them, it is true, had disappeared in a very early period. Long prior to the time of Pliny, the towns of Cinyria, Malium, and Idalium, so necessary in ascertaining the relative position of other places, no longer existed'. Both the nature and situation

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(1) After enumerating fifteen cities belonging to Cyprus, Pliny adds: fuere et ibi Cinyria, Malium, Idalium." (Plin. lib. v. c. 31. L. Bat. 1635.) Idalium signifies, literally, the "place of the Goddess;" whence Idalia Venus. In Hebrew it was called Idala, and under this appellation it is mentioned in the Scriptures, (Jos. xix. 15.) as the name of a town belonging to the tribe of Zabulon. See Gale's "Court of the Gentiles," also Bochort, Can. lib. i. cap. 3.

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