1836-3 Mithraic Series of Coins. 641 



Fig. 3. A type familiar to us, in copper — and known before in gold 

 of a smaller size. It was, in fact, one of the two coins first extracted 

 by M. Ventura from the Manikyala tope. In Mr. Masson's coin 

 the spelling accords with the vernacular pronunciation MIIPO, and the 

 solar glory is irradiated on its edge, to shew more plainly its reference. 



Figs. 4 and 5. Two more gold coins of Mr. Masson's collection, 

 having the legend of the reverse respectively NANO PAO and NANA, 

 both proved to be equivalent to NANAIA by the peculiar attitude of 

 the allegorical image. The introduction of PAO in the first of the 

 two would almost seem a mistake of the engraver, who had in his 

 mind the PAO NANO PAO of the obverse. I have nothing to add to 

 my former remarks on the word itself, except to draw attention to an 

 extract from the Armenian Chronicles with which Mr. Avdall has 

 favored us, proving that NANAIA and the Persian ANAHID were not 

 positively identical, each having her separate temples and votaries 

 even in Armenia. 



" Anahid was the tutelary goddess of our country, and was known 

 equally by the names of Artemis and Aphrodite in our mythological 

 works. She was always considered identical with the planet Venus, 

 though possessing all the attributes of Diana." As Nanea, on Mr. 

 Avdall's authority, means maternal or motherly, it would hardly 

 be proper to ascribe such a designation to the moon, the chaste 

 Diana ; neither has her effigy on our coins the lunar emblem, so 

 distinctly portrayed on the MAO and some other types. Rather 

 then let her be constituted the Venus of the group, who plays an 

 equally conspicuous part in the Mithraic system*. 



Fig. 6. Is a gold coin from M. Court's drawing, of the A0PO 

 reverse. The obverse legend is PAO NANO PAO OOHPKI KOPANO. 



Fig. 7 is likewise from M. Court's collection. In it I was struck by 

 the strong resemblance of the head-dress to that of the Parthian or 

 Sassanian coins. The legend is wanting, and that of the reverse is 

 quite illegible, though the monogram and device are in a perfect state. 



Fig. 8 has been already engraved in my plate of the Manikyala 

 relics ; but as one of the most interesting of the Mithraic series, it could 

 not be denied admission in a plate exclusively devoted to them. I wish- 

 ed further to place it in juxta-position with the sitting figure of the 

 APAOKPO reverse, because it might be conceived to be the parallel 

 Hindu lunar coin to that form of the Hindu solar effigy, OKPO. 



* The Baron Hammer says that the word Neith of the Egyptians is evidently 

 the same as the Persian Nahid — whence also may be traced the German Nacht 

 and the English Night. 

 4 o 



