[ 2 o 5 ] 
four farcophagus’s, adorned with very curious re- 
lievo’s. Two of them were of a large fize ; the other 
two of a fmaller. On the firft of the large ones was 
elegantly carved the Fight of the Giants, who are 
reprefented with thighs compofed of ferpents. The 
fecond appeared to me to exprefs the Combat of the 
Amazons and Thefeus. Of the two fmaller farco- 
phagus’s, one exhibited Bacchus in a chariot drawn 
by centaurs, and preceded by the whole chorus of 
the Bacchantes : the other feemed to be a battle (per- 
haps) between the Greeks and the Trojans ; as one 
part of the figures had long beards, tunics, and long 
breeches : all of them were of exquifite workman- 
fhip. 
There has been lately dug up here an admirable 
ffatue of Venus, with an elegant Cupid handing upon 
a dolphin j as alfo feveral curious infcriptions. 
I have communicated your extract of Mr. S win- 
ton’s moft learned conjedtures concerning a coin of 
Monefes *, a Parthian king, to Signor Corfini. He 
approved of the performance, and admired the judg- 
ment and acute penetration of the author : but ex- 
cepted a little to that part, where, in order to ai'cer- 
tain the epoch of the piece, he [Mr. Swinton] ex- 
preffes a doubt with regard to the Victory on the re- 
verfe of it; as there was no engagement that year be- 
tween the Romans and the Parthians. But when 
Monefes had ufurped the throne, difpoffeiTed the law- 
ful heirs, and plundered the neighbouring nations, 
it is no wonder, that he fhould flamp a Victory on his 
coin : which fymbol ought to be referred to feme 
* Philof. Tranfadl. Vol. L. Part I. p. 175. 
