324 



ANTIQUITIES OF ATHENS. 



the Form of a mirror. A sistrum of similar shape is represented on 

 a cymbalum in the Pittur. Hercol. T. i. Tav. 15. 



Sigillarium. 



This is one of the Sigillaria of the ancient mythology of Greece, 

 symbolic of some deity respected by the early inhabitants of that 

 country, [adorare ca pro Diis. Arnob. 1. 1.) When they were of 

 small size, they were carried about ; and we find instances of this 

 superstitious custom frequently among the ancients. They were of 

 different dimensions ; and not always small images, as has been 

 supposed by some writers. See Cuper, Harp. 86. 



The original figure from which the engraving is made is of stone, 

 and is remarkable for its great antiquity ; it was found by the Earl of 

 Aberdeen in a tomb in Attica. From its stiff and inexpressive form, 

 (vvpfiepviKus rotg iron,) it appears to belong to an sera preceding the 

 time of Daedalus of Sicyon, who is said to have lived in the interval 

 between 700 and 600 B.C. The position of the arms plainly points 

 it out to be a representation of some deity ; in this manner 

 the Agathodaemon, and other Egyptian idols were depicted and 

 sculptured ; brachia decussatim composita. It may be a representation 

 of AQooMrq a goddess whose worship was familiar to the Greeks, 

 before even that of Jupiter. " Venus etiam ipso Jove antiquior sub 

 AfyoiiTvis nomine a Grcecis censebatur, ut docet SchoL ad 3 Argon. 

 Apollon." See Selden, de D. Syris. 



