VTMOSE FIND. 



20!) 



ornaments traced on the blade, and several of these were still 



in thoir wooden scal.k-mls when 

 found. The double-edged swords 

 vary in size from about 19 or i'<) 

 indies, to 35 or 36 inches. On 

 several are factory stamps a star- 

 shaped sign on one side of the 

 blade near the tongue or hilt point, 

 and a ring-shaped figure on the 

 sides of the hilt points, a mark 

 which looks rather like a scorpion ; 

 in one stamp are Latin letters, 

 which are somewhat difficult to 

 decipher. Many are welded or 

 forged from two united blades, while 

 others are made of a single blade 

 and have no factory mark. Four- 

 teen are damascened in 

 patterns. 



In this remarkable find sevn-.-il 

 enamelled objects have been dis- 

 covered. This art appears to have 

 been unknown to the nations of 

 classical antiquity. There is no 

 word for it in Greek or Latin. 

 Philostratus, 1 when describing a 

 wild boar hunt, mentions the beauty 



different 



1 This Greek writer, who lived at the beginning 

 of the 3rd century, was called to the Roman 

 Court by Faustina, wife of Septimius Severn*, 

 whose numerous coins are found, and if thi> art 

 was known by the Romans he would certainly 

 have described it. 



"Around this youth is a group of young men 

 of fine appearance, and engaged in fine jiur.-uits, 

 as beseems men of noble birth. One of th>'m 

 seems to bear on his countenance traces of the 

 palaestra, another gives evidence of gentleness, 

 a third of geniality : here is one who you would 

 say had just looked up from his book ; and of the 

 Fig. 390. Fig. 391. horses on which they ride no two are alike, on.- 



Sax, or single-edged swords, one in j s w hite, another chestnut, another black, another 

 wooden scabbard, i real size. bay, and they have silver bridles, and their 



trappings are adorned with golden and decor'it'-<l 

 bosses ((J)d\apa). And it is said that the barbarians by the oceaa pour these colour-. 



VOL. I. P 



