Conclusion 



^75 



the a?iathemata^ or gifts from different individuals, 

 which were suspended on pillars, or placed in some 

 other conspicuous situation ; and intended as memo- 

 rials of some particular mercy or benefit received 

 from God. (Euseb. de Vita Const, lib. iii. c. 38 — 40. 

 Sozomen. Hist. Eccles. lib. iv. c. 25. Hieron. fep. 

 86, al. 26 ad Eustoch. Ep. 9. al. 13. ad Paulin.) 



Certain gifts of this kind, called e/cTUTrw/xara, con- 

 sisting of figurative or hieroglyphical representations 

 of the benefit commemorated, came into use pro- 

 bably about the middle of the fifth century. Such 

 offerings may be regarded as an imitation of the well- 

 known practice of suspending votive tablets, shields, 

 and the like in the heathen temples; but it is not 

 without precedent also in sacred history, i Sam. 

 vi. 4 1 



Every one — rich or poor, old or young, high or 

 low, gentle or simple — may help in the work, or may 



= Stephens on Common Prayer, vol. i., page 350. 



