365 



It is remarkable enough, that, in this curious 

 monument, the planets and the decani, the last 

 of which only are figured in the Egyptian style 

 with heads or masks of animals, are found placed 

 in contrary directions. Though in the two zones, 

 which represent the Greek zodiac, four signs are 

 repeated under the same forms, we must not 

 thence conclude that the others were equally 

 identic. It were above all to be wished, that 

 the Twins, and Pan, or Capricorn, had been 

 preserved in the two zones ; for the sculptor 

 seems to have had the intention of uniting the 

 zodiacs of different nations, and the heterogene- 

 ous forms* given to the same asterisms among 

 the Chaldeans, the Egyptians, and the Greeks. 

 The Twins are represented by two figures, 

 which Mr. Bailly thought to be of different 

 sexes, one of which holds a club, and the other 

 a lyre. It is under this same form, that this sign 

 is described in the Astronomicon of Hyginus -f- ; 

 and thus that it is figured in the Sanscrit verses 

 of the poet Sripeti : " the couple, mithouna" 

 says this Hindoo writer, " is composed of a girl, 



* Eratosthenis Cataster., ed. Scbaubach., 1795, page 21, 

 Hygin. Poeticon Astr., lib. 2, c. 28 ; lib. 3, c. 27. (Auctores 

 Mythographi Latini, ed. van Stuveren, 1742, torn. 2, page 

 481—528). 



+ Lib. 3, c. 21. (Auct. Mythograph. torn. 2, page 523). 

 Du Choul, Discours de la Religion des Anciens Romains, 

 1556, page 180. Ideler, Sternnamen, s. 151. 



