90 RELICS OF THE ROMAN OCCUPATION, LITTLE CHESTER, DERBY. 



concentric striations which indicate such an use. The reader will 

 make out its peculiarities from the plate ; the small holes near 

 the edge (probably four in the perfect stone) are not deep. Fig. 

 5, is of very fine sandstone, about 9 in. square and of uncertain 

 use. 



But the most interesting relic of Roman Derventio is a carved 

 stone (fig. I, plate vi.) 20 in. high, square in transverse section — 

 eich face being 8| in. broad. The top is roof-like and keeled at 

 the ridge, the front and back of the stone terminating upwards in a 

 gable in consequence. On the front, which is surrounded by a bead- 

 shaped rim, is depicted in relief a nude male figure, much worn 

 like the rim, of rude workmanship but decidedly Roman spirit. 

 This stone was found years ago near the river, and removed to a 

 dark embowered rockery or fernery in Mr. Mottram's garden, 

 where the writer first saw it. When it was brought into open day- 

 light certain incised lines were visible upon its front, which when 

 followed up proved to be the insignia of the god Mercury. His 

 left hand rests upon the Caduceus — the winged wand entwined by 

 serpents given him by Apollo. The wings cannot be traced : the 

 serpents are conventionally represented by two semi-circles and 

 intervening circle, intersected, of course, by the wand. Starting 

 upwards from the head are two pairs of lines — the wings of the 

 god's travelling hat. Over the right shoulder is an indistinct line, 

 which may represent his magical sword. The right arm terminates 

 in a lump, too large for the hand — evidently the purse, his attri- 

 bute as god of traffic. All these, with the exception of the purse, 

 are inconsistently rendered in grooves instead of raised work. In 

 fact, the execution of the whole is such as to preclude its being the 

 work of a mason. For this reason we must dismiss the idea that 

 it may have adorned a public building. Rather, as representing 

 the god in his capacity of patron of merchants, it may have pre- 

 sided over a Roman ofiScina, or taberna or shop ; if indeed it did 

 not fulfil a less honourable duty, for this convenient god was also 

 patron of thieves and pickpockets. And what better patron could 

 these have had ? Mercury, to use an expressive term, "bested" 

 his superiors — he robbed Neptune of his trident, Venus of her 



