1842.] On the Gem and Coins described in Nos. 7 and 8. 143 



at them, however, as I often did, in the hope of chancing upon some plau- 

 sible theory regarding them, I remembered to have observed in a small 

 illustrated edition of Virgil, (Knapton, and Sandby, London, 1750, 

 2 vols, duod.), which is I believe rare, the representation of a gem, hav- 

 ing a subject almost similar to that of Conolly's, a hand holding an ear. 

 On referring to the book, I found the gem I was in search of, PI. VII. 

 Vol. I., the original being in the Florentine Museum.* The only very 

 marked difference observable between the gems is that the Oriental artist 

 has added to the lobe of the ear, what is apparently intended for a 

 massive ornament ; the relative position of the hands in the two gems 

 varies slightly, but there can be no doubt that the sentiment is identical. 

 The meaning of the sign cannot be better given than by extracting 

 Faber's Notes upon it, (Fabri Thesaurus, in voc. Auris.) 



Aurem vellere : mttttertt tXV\&%\XtXl \SS&X\\t\\ G. avertir re- 

 primander. Virg. eel 6.3. 



" — Cynthius aurem 



Vellit & admonuit ;" 

 Sen, 4 de Benef. 36. " Aurem nuhi pervellem," E(f) fcnU ttttt0 

 (liltter tra# <©8r &tt}Vtif*ttl G. Je men souviendrai en terns et 

 lieux. Tractum ab attestantibus qui attestanti imam auriculam tange- 

 bant, cum hoc verbo, " Memento." Propterea quod auris memoria 

 sacra sit, ut ad Virg. 1. c. Servius annotat. Plin. 11. 45 " Est in aure ima 

 memoriae locus quem tangentes attestantur." Ac vidisse se Muretus 

 1 Var. Sect. 12. 5, testatur veteres nummos sereos, in quibus viri duo 

 insculpti erant, quorum unus alteri aurem vellebat ; in orbem autem 

 scriptum erat. MNHMONEYE.— * (Fab. Thes. vol. i. p. 281.)" 



It is indeed a curious fact to find a symbol, which Virgil alludes to and 

 Pliny explains, represented on a gem found in Khorassan, and that with 

 a degree of graphic fidelity not unequal to what is displayed in one of 

 the precious relics of the Florentine Museum, yet illustrated by the 

 illegible characters of an unknown language! The most interesting 

 point is of course the occurrence of these characters in conjunction with 

 a sign to which the word they form must have distinct explanatory refer- 

 ence, and but one of two inferences can be drawn ; either that the word 

 MNHMONEYE occurs written in these characters on the gem, or 



* The note in the work I cite from is, " Gemma ex Museo Florent. Tom. 2. 

 Tab. 22. in qua manus aurem imam vellens, Spect. eel. 6. v. 3." 



