representing the Theban Sphinx. 5 



is further an extraordinary relic, as, excepting one other frag- 

 ment of a sepulchral inscription, which is of the same material, 

 but cut with greater delicacy, and found at Colchester about twelve 

 years ago*, no Roman remains of a similar kind are known to 

 have been discovered either at Colchester, or even within the 

 county of Essex. This, from the long residence of the Romans 

 in that quarter of the island, is indeed almost unaccountable ; 

 but may be judged of by the void it has occasioned in Horsley's 

 Britannia Romana\, 



We have now to offer an unexpected testimony in favour, not 

 only of the Roman origin of our stone Sphinx, but also of the 

 peculiar reverence in which, perhaps, that very same beautiful 

 figure of sacred legend, or at least the more common and less com- 

 plicate mystic symbol, was held at Camulodunum ; by the for- 

 tunate finding of a bronze Sphinx, of which the following en- 

 graving presents a view, the same in size as its original f. 



The bronze is perfect, excepting the loss of the wings, which, 

 from the appearance of the back, have evidently been torn off. 

 This, which I deem to have been one of the lares of an inha- 

 bitant, was dug up last summer within a few yards of the spot, 



* Now in my possession. 



t Since this article went to the press, John Disney, Esq., of the H>de,near 

 Ingatestone in Essex, has been so obliging as to make known to me a small 

 sepulchral monument in his possession, which was found at Colchester in 

 1713, and bears the following inscription. It is a tablet of marble, eight 

 inches long, by four and three-quarters high, having a border of foliage and 

 other work in an inferior style : 



CONSIDIA-VENKRIAFII.IAV-A-III-DXXX-CO.NSIDIANATALISMATER-VA-XXXV. 



} In the possession of a lady at Colchester. 



