IMPORT OF THE TETTIX ON GREEK COINS, XIX 



cages. Here, unconcerned with their confinement, 

 or else from mere excitement, they sing ahnost inces- 

 santly. The " little beasts " in their cages are 

 suspended round the children's necks, who seem 

 delighted with the screeching music. 



In some parts of Italy I am also told that boys fly 

 them with light strings, like kites, for a time, and 

 afterwards return them to their cages. 



In illustration of the interest shown by the Greeks 

 in the Tettix, I have placed on my first plate drawings 

 of three pieces of Athenian money, to which the 

 following explanations and descriptions apply. 



The symbolism and significance of the Tettix have 

 been already noted ; but here it may be additionally 

 stated that, in Grecian effeminate times, golden 

 Tettiges apparently were worn in the hair as ornaments 

 by both men and women, and they were stored 

 amongst the valuable treasures of the Parthenon. 

 Probably many of these ornaments were given as 

 votive offerings. The Tettix was symbolically used, 

 even after the time of Thucydides, in those mysteries 

 where archaic forms were still preserved. 



Although no city equalled Athens in its appreciation 

 of Fine Art, it is remarkable that it allowed other 

 cities to excel it in the beauty and stamping of their 

 coins. Thus the coins of Syracuse — the productions 

 doubtless of Greek artists — are the more famous, and 

 they show probably more skill in execution ; but it is 

 not unlikely that the Athenians were averse to alter 

 the effigies, &c., on their ancient money, from the 

 circumstance that it was a recognised medium of ex- 

 change throughout commerce. 



Description op Three Coins stamped with the 

 Tettix. 



The obverse of the silver tetradrachm shows the 

 usual helmeted head of Athena, whilst the reverse 

 represents the owl, sacred to her, standing on a vase 



6-2 



