142 



On the Gem and Coins described in Nos. 7 and 8. [No. 122. 



-JL 



thraic Abraxas did prevail among the contemporaries of Telephus is 

 sufficiently shown by the occurrence on a coin of Hippostratus, as noted 

 by Lieut. Cunningham, of a figure having the most striking of the 

 Abraxead attributes ; I am the more inclined therefore to believe that the 

 present discovery will to further illustration of the presence of a 



it 



Basilidean worship, the types of which have hitherto 

 been inexplicable en the coins which present them. 



Another, and a very curious instance of analogy between 

 the usage and superstitions of the ancient inhabitants of 

 Khorassan and the classic nations of Europe, is exhibited 

 in the annexed plate. The figure No. 1, is a magnified 

 drawing of the gem, (No. 2,) placed below it. It is one 

 of a set of impressions sent to me by the late Edward 

 Conolly, who was killed in action in the Kohistan near 

 Kabul. The drawing is faithfully copied from his own, 

 which is accompanied by these remarks : — 



" As the original of this is very small, a drawing on a 

 larger scale is forwarded of the Inscription. We cannot 

 tell whether it be Syriac, or what ; the letters seem to be 

 — (illegible) and to bear no resemblance to Pehlevi. 

 The unavoidable scantiness of our marching libraries 

 must serve," he observes further on, " as excuse for 

 these meagre, and unimportant notes." 



I was discouraged from publishing a plate of the 

 impressions of the gems which accompanied the above, 

 from an idea that these would prove of little interest, 

 from the impossibility in most instances of drawing more 

 than conjectural inferences from their subjects. Looking 



Eber. Gems, No. 442. Abraxas : a figure of Mars upon his head ; I AQ below 

 him ; on the reverse I AQ ABPAX AS, inversed. 



Eber. Gem, No. 443. Abraxas : with the addition of stag's horns, of which Bayer 

 gives a solar allusion to seven stars below him : I AQ on tne shield ; the words 



(inversed) PAIN XIOIOIOX about him. (?) 



Eber. Gem, No. 444. Abraxas: lion-headed with a sword in place of the scourge : 

 on the reverse the word riTANTOPHKTA, (inversed) translated, "forti- 

 tudinis martice, et gig antics." 



Other Basilidean emblems occur on gems in this collection, but none but those of 

 Abraxas. Should gems be found of a similar character in Central Asia, these hints 

 may lead to their identification. 



