17 



gined that the Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians would receive 

 their full share of attention. At the commencement of the 

 century a very curious Greek Treatise on these Hieroglyphics 

 proceeded from the Aldine press. It has been ascribed to 

 Horns Apollo of the Nile, a grammarian of Egypt, who taught 

 about the year 380 at Alexandria and Constantinople. It 

 went through many editions, was speedily translated into 

 Latin and French, and was illustrated with beautiful wood 

 engravings. It was followed in the year 1556 by the Hiero- 

 glyphica of Pierio Valeriano,* a ponderous and erudite folio, 

 divided into 58 books, and illustrated by about two hundred 

 wood-cuts, wherein the author attempts (not in all instances 

 with judgment) to explain nearly every branch of science and 

 art by Egyptian, Greek, or Roman symbols. 



" At this period Devices and Mottoes became very exten- 

 sively used for the purpose of designating the various Acade- 

 mies winch then nourished in Italy. These literary institu- 

 tions, which had been anciently promoted in Europe by 

 Charlemagne and by the Arabians, became nearly extinct 

 until revived at the end of the fifteenth century by the Medici 

 family at Florence, and by the celebrated printer Aldus 

 Manucius at Venice. 



"Naples, Eerrara, and Bologna, now also boasted their 

 Academies, and were followed by the Imperial city, where, 

 under the auspices of Leo X., the Eoman Academy was resus- 

 citated, and two other institutions were established, namely, 

 the Gymnasium for the delivery of hterary and scientific lec- 

 tures, and the Greek Institute for the special study of Greek 

 hterature.t That the Institutions then founded in Rome and 

 other Italian cities had a most powerful influence in promoting 



* Valeriano, a native of Belluno, was a scholar of great assiduity and attain- 

 ments, and became attached to the Pope Leo X. Another curious treatise was edited 

 by him, entitled ' De Literatorium Infelicitate,' containing many interesting anec- 

 dotes of the scholars of his time, and supposed to have suggested to the late Mr. 

 D-Igrueli his more successful work on the ' C'alamitiet of Authors.' 



+ Tirahoschi — Storia della Mterat'ira Italians 



