[ 23 ] 
but their Ufe is not eafily determined at this Di- 
fiance of Time. 
The next to be noticed are fome Phoenician Seals, 
worth Attention on account of their Antiquity. 
ANTIQUITATES HRTRUSCiE. 
The four Repofitories under this Title, contain 
Hetrufcan Antiquities. They were a Nation that 
formerly flourifhed in that Part of Italy now called 
Tufcany. It is to be noted, that they were the firft 
People that cultivated the politer Arts in Europe , 
from whence they fpread even to Rome , which 
acknowledged itfelf much indebted to the Inhabi¬ 
tants of that Part of Italy on many Accounts. 
Firft to be remarked are fome Bronzes ; as a 
Figure of Mars , the Grd of War •, a Deus Aver.run¬ 
cus, the God who prefided over the Common Sew¬ 
ers ; a Head of Proferpine, &c. 
There are a great Number of VefTels of different 
Forms, made of a kind of fine pale red Earth ; 
fome of them are plain, but elegantly varnifhed ; 
others painted with Figures, Letters, and various 
Ornaments. They are of a better Shape and much 
handfomer than either the Egyptian , or thofe firft 
made of the Roman Terra Cotta , or Pot Earth, 
and were greatly efteemed and valued by the Ro¬ 
mans after they had fubdued the ancient Hetrufcans, 
Thefe Veffeis confift of Amphoras, or Vafes with two 
Handles, and Covers to them very curioufiy paint¬ 
ed and ornamented. The Ufe of them was to 
hold the different Kinds of Wine, Oyl, c dc. When 
full of Wine, the Romans ufed generally to bury 
them in the Ground for fome Years, in order to 
give it a higher Flavour; and they were very cu¬ 
rious and fuperftitious in their Manner of doing it. 
B 4 We 
