546 LAPIDAKIUM SEPTENTRIONALE. 



ably be expected in a work of this class. "We subjoin a few 

 examples of tlie omissions, some of which, we regret to say, are 

 not trivial. 



In n. 51 we have the following inscription : — 



0)PP 



On this Dr. Bruce remarks : — 



" The stone possibly has some relation to the century of Peregrinus." [See 

 D. 49.] 



And yet on n. 140, bearing a similar inscription, the same Editor 

 remarks : — 



" Dr. McCaul suggests the reading Centuria Primipili." 



Of the correctness of this suggestion there can be but little doubt. 

 See nn. 127 and 459. 



In n. 150 a sculpture, found at Cilumum, Chester, is figured; and 

 the following are Dr. Bruce's observations on it : — 



" Horsley, who was the first to publish this 'coarse though curious sculpture,' 

 thought, at one time, that it was sepulchral in its character. Afterwards he 

 adopted the opinion that it was mythological. _ The seated figure he took to be 

 a female, ' holding a key in her right hand, and a thyrsus or hasta in her left ; ' 

 the other part of the stone he describes as representing 'a human figure lying 

 along, and a lion, with one of his paws, gently raising up the head.' ' This 

 sculpture,' he adds, ' may very probably represent Cybele, for both the key and 

 the thyrsus were her symbols, by one of v/hich was denoted the opening of the 

 earth, and by the other the producing of wine.' ' And if it be Cybele who is 

 here represented, the lion that is gently raising up the head of the human figure, 

 may signify the revival of man by the spring, and produce of the earth, or by 

 the wine and fruits it affords; for the lion does not seem to be in a devouring 

 posture, but rather guarding or cherishing.' 



" The Rev. John Hodgson properly dismisses the idea that the seated figure 

 was a female. He takes it to be ' a figure of Mithras seated on a bench, and 

 having a flag in one hand, a wand in the other, and on his head the Persian 

 tiara.' ' And,' he adds, ' I would hazard a conjecture that the whole relates to 

 the Mithraic rites called Leontica; for the lion in the zodiac of the ancient 

 heathens stood tor Mithras, or the Sun, which threw its greatest heat upon the 

 earth during its course through the constellation Leo, from July 24 to the same 

 day of August.' 



" There is yet another explanation of the sculpture, one that is simpler and 

 more probable than either of these. It represents a scene in the amphitheatre. 

 The presiding officer in his robes sits upon a chair of state. The staff of 

 authority is in his left hand, and in his right is a flag to direct the sports. A 

 contest between a gladiator and a lion has been going on, in which the man has 

 been worsted. Probably the right-hand portion of the st.me, which is wa:nting, 

 contained a corresponding representation. It is not probable that so important 



