ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 37 



On the third handle is the figure of a prieftefs before an altar 

 facrificing, holding incenfe in her right hand, and a Thyrfus in 

 her left ; above her head, is like the head of a bearded emperor, 

 and at the bottom two other fmallcr figures. 



4. Part of a handle, whereon is a figure of Mars, in armour ; 

 and below, a Flamen before the altar of a temple in a grove ik- 

 crificing ; gilt, and in relief. 



5. A figure of Hercules and Antaus wreflling 



Herculis Antaeum procul a tellure tenentis (i). 



' *i i ' 



finely executed ; the lyon's fkin and club lying by them, on the 

 left hand. 



6. A Neptune, naked to the waift, in a reclining pofture, hold- 

 ing his trident in his right hand, and an anchor in his left. 



The lane, in which thefe antiquities were found, is only about 

 a mile from the Roman caufway. They feem by the workman- 

 fhip to be as antient as the time of Agricola, who made the grand 

 roads in Britain, and in whofe time the Romans wore beards, as 

 expreffed in the two figures ; it not being the cuflom for that po- 

 lite people to wear any from the 454 year of the city till the em- 

 peror Hadrian (kj. The Roman Hercules, and his two rival heroes 

 in gymnaftic feats, Thefeus and Perithous, are fet in no very 

 favourable light by the virtuous Mantuan, who reprefents them 

 as trying their flrength in Pluto's regions, and doing acts of*vio- 

 lence there i intimating, that the fpirit and temper men die in, 

 attend them beyond the grave (1). 



{>) J uv - Sat- * A 



(k) Monf. Span's Refearches curieus. (!) f7/. /En. vi. vr. 392, &c. 



VOL. IL Z z z New 



