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240 Letter from the Author of " Nenia Britannica" 



barrow where these relics were found being an urn-deposit, may fairly apply to 

 an almost coeval date with the temple, and I venture to say this reason by 

 analogy may be sanctioned by this remark, that in all the earliest specimens of 

 fire-worship no animal form whatever is seen on any relics of coeval date with 

 these very antient remains of Stonehenge. The ruins of Persepolis are of much 

 posterior antiquity ; and if any credit can be given to fair unprejudiced enquiry 

 into the very interesting monument of Stonehenge, I should not hesitate declaring, 

 in the face of that ridicule too often attached by levity to these abstruse 

 enquiries, that the gold relic in question may be honestly applied as the para- 

 phernalia of a priest or priestess of the Mithraic order. The names of 

 some of our British kings imply their connection with the priesthood. 

 Belinus, for example, and I believe Csesar or Dio, I forget where, speaks 

 of Deoratucus as one also ; and as the barrows surrounding Stonehenge must 

 have a reference or connection to that very antient and interesting pile, and which 

 can by no means be applied to promiscuous interment of a people, who have 

 perished by the common course of mortality, they ought, therefore, to be con- 

 sidered as of a peculiar and distinct order. I am still on the Mithraic gold relic. 

 It certainly belonged to a priestess or prophetess, to whom the study of future 

 events was allotted. ' Euphages vero scrutantes, seriem et sublimia naturae pandere 

 conabantur' (Ammianus Marcellinus). Also Diodorus Siculus mentions them. 

 Strabo also. See Tacitus on the Custom of the German Nations. Genana, a 

 Celtic virgin, was worshipped as a goddess next in rank or honour to their cele- 

 brated Yaleda. I should be obliged to Mr. Tinney for his reference from Diodorus 

 Siculus to the temple in the Western Islands. I have him not, though I once 

 had, as also Stukeley's Avebury and Stonehenge which I parted with to White, 

 thinking that I had no farther use for him, which I now lament, wishing to 

 compare notes. It was a great pity this antiquary, who had a famous mind for 

 research, did not confine himself more to analogy and the spade than excursions 

 of fancy. I think D'Hankeville ' Sur les Arts and les Sciences ' is the best book 

 to be consulted for the Mithraic Bull, where the coincidence will be found between 

 these types of creation in the antient mythology of all the nations of the East. 

 I cannot further expand for the present ; Maurice will also produce a good col- 

 lection on the subject. Does Sir Kichard Hoare mean to go farther than the 

 description of Stonehenge ? if not, I will take it up in a brochure with a few 

 engravings which I have ; had I visited the spot a few years ago, I should have 

 found great help for my ' Nsenia,' which I should have arranged in a different 

 manner." 



