88 PAPERS, ETC. 



disposed within, only what were statues at Rome, shrunk 

 up into mere altars at ßath. In the common niches were 

 lodged the altars of Jupiter Cetius, Mars, and Nemetona 

 — three deities honoured by one altar only. The altars to 

 Jove and Hercules, honoured together upon one ; and to 

 Sulinis, in the greatest niche of all." 



An Ancient Inscription was found amongst the fragments 

 of this temple, which has exercised the learned ingenuity 

 of antiquarians, and which has been restored and placed in 

 the passaqe of the Literary Institution. From the ancient 

 portion whieh remains, it may be gathered that " Aulus 

 Claudius Ligurius, having dug up a pitcher containing 

 money, expended it in restoring and repainting this temple, 

 which was ready to fall, through extreme age." This in- 

 scription contains several literce nexce. In this temple, it 

 is conjectured by Mr. Whitaker, that many of the altars 

 which have been found in and about Stall Street, were 

 originally placed ; and that the bronze head which has been 

 engraved by the Society of Antiquaries, found in Stall 

 Street, near the corner of Bell Tree Lane, is the head of 

 the principal statiie of the Goddess Minerva, formerly 

 Standing in her own temple. 



This splendid relic is now in the library of the Lite- 

 rary Institution, and is well worth careful examination. 

 Much has been written about it ; it was dug up in the month 

 of July, 1727, where it lay buried sixteen feet under the 

 surface of the ground. It is called by Mr. Warner a head 

 of Apollo, but Mr. Hunter regards it as a head of Minerva. 



Mr. Whitaker observes: " It appears to have been cast in 

 a mould ; the form of it is very fine, and the features are 

 truly Minerva's. This military Goddess has been expected 

 by some to be like Venus, the mere Goddess of smiles and 

 loves. She is a Goddess veiy difFerent, wearing a helmet 



