[ 3 6 3 
But Sekien applies them all to the Dea Syria, or 
Mater Deorum ; whom St. Augujiin , as he obferves, 
takes for j'uno^ a:;d fais : Tot effe junones, qitct fun t 
fmulacra (i). Agreably to which notion we find 
feveral altars in Gruter inferibed Juncnibus , in the 
plural number (2). And Plutarch takes notice of 
t’ne worfhip paid to the Deum Matri at Enguium in 
Sicily (3); which Cicero feems to allude to, when 
he fais, Matris tnagnae fantim apud Enguinos eft (4.). 
I fhall only add further upon this head, that, as we 
meet with feveral inferiptions, which have on them 
the title of Matrcnae , to whom they are addreffed j 
Spon thinks, not improbably, that tliefc Matronae 
were the fame deities as the Matres , or Matrae , as 
they are l'ometimes writen, who were indifferently 
worfhiped by each of thofe titles, of which he has 
given a variety of instances (5). 
2. The two firft names of the perfon, who dedi- 
cated this altar, were doubtlefs Marcus Minucius ; 
but the third, as here abbreviated, is uncertain. 
Tho I apprehend, that the two firft letters in the 
ligature may be an. which, with the two following 
nr. may hand for Andegavus, or, as it is fometimes 
writen, Andecavus j as denoting the name of his coun- 
try, now called Anjou in France. 
( 1 ) Ubi fupra. 
(2) Pag. xxiv. 1, 2, 3, 4, tt alili. 
(3) In vit. Marcclli. 
(4) In l err. lib. JV. c. 44. 
(4) Ubi Jupra , pag. 124. 
3- This 
