A N T I QJJ I T I E S. 24! 



though many of the edifices of Palmyra are to 

 be attributed to t'^e emperor Aurclian, and toi 

 :;utus and his wife Zenobia, who reigned 

 there about the year 264, yet there aTe found, 

 at the fame place, ruins of buildings, that ap- 

 pear to be of far greater antiquity, and that are 1 

 not lefs beautiful. The ancient Perfepolis is 

 fufiicicnt to prove this afrertion. When we 

 ferioufly reflect on all thcfe matters, and efpecial- 

 ly if we attempt to acquire any knowledge 

 of th nee, we fliall foon be convinced 



that it but ill becomes a peiit-maitre to laugh at 

 a learned antiquary. 



XV. The knowledge of thcfe monuments of 

 the ancients, the works of fculpturc, ftatuary, 

 graving, painting, &:c. which they call antiques, 

 requires a ilnct attention^ with regard to the 

 matter itlelf on which the art has been exer- 

 ciied -, as the \\ , i, ivory, (lones 



of every kind, marble, ilinr, bronze, and every 

 ibrt of metal. \Ve ihould begin by learning on 

 what matter each ancient nation principally 

 worked, and in which of the tine arts they ex- 

 the mutter itlelf, as the different 

 narble, rornpolition-i of metals, and the 

 fpcc: >es, lerve frequently ta 



ihe true ant: , difcover the 



counter!' . OlC connoilllurs pretend allb to 

 know, by certain ers in the defign 



and execution of a work < the ag; ; 



nation v.hrrc- it iind, n. 



CL over, 



