Phillips. f> l- [Oct. 3, 



of the deceased were two small silver plates, of the size of large buttons, 

 which bore in relief two beautiful female heads. Near the remains of the 

 skull was discovered a small plate of thin gold folded together, on which 

 were visible some traces of Greek writing, and which, on being opened, dis- 

 closed within its folds another similar tablet likewise bearing an inscription. 

 The learned professor to whom this find was given to decipher, believes 

 that the larger plate contains mystic matter written by one familiar with 

 the Eleusinian mysteries ; the small plate contains an inscription in capital 

 letters in the Doric dialect, in which a hierophant addresses the dead, con- 

 gratulating him that after having suffered the worst of evils he had from a 

 miserable mortal become a god, having pursued the right path which leads 

 to the fields reserved for the just in the bowers of Persephone. 



There is a fine Tetradrachm of the famous city of Tyre (in Phoenicia;, 

 bearing on the obverse a laureated head of Heracles, on the reverse an eagle 

 on rudder behind a palm branch, to left date /// (year 18), inscription, 

 TTPOT IEPAZ KA1 AITAOT. 



Tyre was one of the grandest cities of all antiquity, and its commerce 

 and riches are frequently spoken of in the classical writers. From Tyre, 

 as from modern London, ships went to visit all parts of the globe to which 

 they could reach ; and to Tyre came merchandise from all parts of the con- 

 tinents of Europe and Asia. According to Herod jtus it was founded about 

 2755 B. C, and received its independence about 126 B. C. This coin was 

 therefore issued about 108 B. C. The execution of this coin is especially 

 noteworthy. The massive boldness of the head of Melkarth (the Tyrian 

 Hercules) exhibits a brutal and repelling countenance ; the eagle (sacred to 

 this god) on the reverse is in an attitude of life-likeness almost unsurpass- 

 able. The rudder exhibits the maritime character of the city and the palm was 

 the emblem of Tyre and Sidon. Phoenicia is fabled to have taken its name 

 from this tree, which in Greek was known as &0INI3. The palm was 

 likewise the well known emblem of victory. As found upon coins it is, 

 according to Spanheim, of three varieties, viz : 



1st. That which is tall, thick-branched and leaved, but bears no fruit. 



2d. Smaller, less dense and bears fruit. 



3d. The small sterile dwarf palm. 



The palm tree of Judea, which bears fruit, is found upon the coinage of 

 that country. As a branch the palm is found upon the coins of Arabia ; 

 as a tree, upon those of Tyre, Damascus, Alexandria and the Phoenician 

 Colonies of Sicily, Africa and Spain. 



The palm tree was one of the ornaments sculptured in Solomon's Tem- 

 ple, and among modern writers (e. g., Inman's Ancient Faiths) has been 

 considered to be a Phallic emblem equivalent to Asshur. "On a coin of 

 Ephesus a palm tree is represented as springing up by the side of a stag cut 

 asunder, meaning that the 'Great God (Kronos or Ilos) being cut off, the 

 palm tree repairs all.'"* 



• Inraan, Vol. 1, p. 19 >. 



