88 pliny's natural HISTOET. [BookXXXIII. 



gems : but are they to cover'their feet^' as well with gold, and 

 so, between the stola^^ of the matrons and the garb of the 

 plebeians, establish an intermediate^^ or equestrian''^ order of 

 females ? Much more becomingly do we accord this distinc- 

 tion to our pages/^ and the adorned beauty of these youths has 

 quite changed the features of our public baths. 



At the present day, too, a fashion has been introduced 

 among the men even, of wearing effigies upon their fingers 

 representing Harpocrates*^ and other divinities of Egypt. In 

 the reign of Claudius, also, there was introduced another 

 unusual distinction, in the case of those to whom was granted 

 the right of free admission, ^^ that, namely, of wearing the 

 likeness of the emperor engraved in gold upon a ring: a 

 circumstance that gave rise to vast numbers of informations, 

 until the timely elevation of the Emperor Yespasianus rendered 

 them impossible, by proclaiming that the right of admission to 

 the emperor belonged equally to all. Let these particulars 

 suffice on the subject of golden rings and the use of them. 



CITAP. 13. COINS OF GOLD. AT WHAT PERIODS COPPEE, GOLD, 



AND SILVER WERE FIRST IMPRESSED. HOW COPPER WAS USED 

 BEFORE GOLD AND SILVER WERE COINED. WHAT WAS THE 

 LARGEST SUM OF MONEY POSSESSED BY ANY ONE AT THE TIME 

 OF OUR FIRST CENSUS. HOW OFTEN, AND AT WHAT PERIODS, 



37 In allusion to the use of gold as an ornament for the shoes and 

 sandal-ties. 



33 A dress worn over the tunic, and which came as low as the ankles or 

 feet. The stohi was the characteristic dress of the Roman matrons of 

 rank ; other i 

 reach so low. 



39 Between the matrons of rank whose feet were not to be seen at all, 

 and the plebeian females, whose feet were seen, but comparatively unadorned. 



*o In the same way that the gold ring was the distinguishing mark of 

 the Equites, so would the gold ankle-jewels be the characteristic of this 

 new order of females. In the use of the word "Equestrem," Ajasson 

 absolutely detects an indelicate allusion, and rallies our author on thus re- 

 taining " the aroma of the camp !" 



'^^ " Paedagogiis." The origin of our word "page." The pages of 

 the Romans were decorated with gold ankle-jewels and other ornaments 

 for the legs. 



^2 Or Horus, the god of silence. Ajasson is of opinion that this im- 

 pression on the seal was symbolical of the secrecy which ought to be pre- 

 served as to written communications. 



*3 To the Emperor's presence. 



