REMARKS ON THE AMYCL2EAN MARBLES. 



457 



the temple. From the probable etymology of the term, it would ap- 

 pear to have a relation to distribution or regulated measure ; this con- 

 jecture, however, is uncertain, and is liable to objections. Possibly 

 you may be more fortunate, or are already better informed on the 

 subject. 



I remain very sincerely yours, 



Aberdeen. 



We may, with Lord Aberdeen, consider the marbles as offerings 

 made by the priestesses * Anthusa and Laoageta ; or as consecrated, 

 during the priesthood of these women. In the latter case they are pre- 

 sented as votive offerings by the KOIMHTPIAI, or ornatrices of some 

 deity. The office of a koo-^t^k of any goddess, was to attend to the 

 dress and ornaments of the statue ; the Specula and Pectines, both 

 of which are seen on the Amyclaean marbles, are mentioned by 

 Apuleius f, as carried by women who were employed in that character. 

 The word KOSMOrTAOKOS is used sometimes ; we find it in an in- 

 scription quoted by Spanheim, Ob. in H. in Pall. Callim. 



HPAKAEI BASIAEI 

 ANTONIO^ A1IEAET 

 3EBA KO^MOIIAOKOS 

 ANEOHKEN 



" To Hercules, King ; Antonius Freed-man, ornator of Augusta, 

 dedicated this." 



* Caylus considers the word 'KVocr-raTpja in the lower marble as signifying Sous-pretresse. 

 The name AATArHTA is probably written for AAOArHTA; as AATAIKH for AaoS/xw in 

 an inscription found at Smyrna. — See Boissonade in Greg, de Dial. Ed. Schaef. 179« 



f " Aliae mulieres qua? nitentibus speculis pone tergum reversis venienti deae obviura 

 commonstrarent obsequium, et qua? pectines eburneos ferentes." Lib. xi. — See Tertull. 

 de Jejun. c. xvi. Also Hesychius in v. 3$APAXHPi2, 



3 N 



