5l6 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1 7O9. 



secures cupreae, though Dr Leigh will have both his instances to be Indian. 

 On a closer consideration of the Roman sacrificing instruments, I have quite 

 changed this opinion, not finding the least vestiges of such axes in any books 

 on the Roman antiquities. On the contrary, they are, in the suovetaurilia or 

 soUtaurilia of the Columna Trajana, represented in the same form, and fastened 

 in the same manner, that we use at this day ; and so also in other sacrifices, as 

 may partly be seen in the gems, rings, &c, published out of the studies of 

 Augustinus, and Gorlaeus, as well as in the monuments of Gruter, Reinesius, 

 Spon, and Fabretti, not to mention the authors collected on this subject by 

 Graevius, in his large body of Roman antiquities. Neither could they have 

 been the heads of spears, as is manifest from the same authorities. The Roman 

 spears and javelins occur very frequently ; and yet not one of them, either on 

 their coins or elsewhere, is to be met with in the shape of these instruments. 

 It is true some of their spears had two heads, that they might use either end 

 uppermost, as they pleased. We have one of these in Augustinus. The heads 

 differ from each other, but neither of them answer to our monuments. Nor 

 are the most antient spears of the Romans we meet with, different from those 

 they used in more modern times, as may in some measure be seen in the famous 

 shield lately published at Oxford, which is certainly authentic. It may here be 

 further added to what is there alleged, that Lucius Florus gives us the first 

 instance of the Romans fighting on horseback without bridles ; and in the 

 Columna Trajana the horses are placed in full speed, with their riders, without 

 any bridles, or other curbs, to restrain or guide them ; a great many of the Ro- 

 mans having made themselves masters of this method of fighting, that they 

 might, like the Numidians, who were famous for it, be the less encumbered in 

 the battle, and rush upon the enemy with the more force : their desultores also 

 are sufficient proof of its being practicable. 



But now, though these instruments are not properly Roman military weapons, 

 such as they used in their battles, yet they were of service among the soldiers, 

 and numbers of them were constantly provided, to be carried about in the army; 

 for I believe they are Roman chissels, and that they were used to cut the 

 stones, and other materials, that were judged serviceable for building their 

 camps. This is not a mere conjecture only, as appears from the Columna Tra- 

 jana, where the soldiers are represented polishing the stones, for the Roman 

 tents in the Dacic wars, with such sort of chissels made of brass, which they 

 beat and worked into the stone, and other materials, with mallets of the same 

 metal. There are other instances of it in the same pillar, which is one of the 

 best monuments we have, by which to judge of the several instruments used in 



