24 CYPRUS. 
most antient types of the Cyprian Venus'. A 
very considerable degree of illustration, with 
regard to the history of the idols discovered at 
Larneca, is afforded by the appearance of one 
of them, although little more of it remains than 
a mere torso. It belonged to an androgynous 
Figure, represented as holding, in its right 
hand, a lion's cub, pendent by the tail, upon 
the abdomen of the statue. We might in vain 
seek an explanation of this singular image, 
were it not for the immense erudition of Atha- 
nasius Kircher, whose persevering industry, 
notwithstanding all his visionary hypotheses, 
enabled him to collect, and to compare, the 
innumerable forms of Egyptian Deities. Ac- 
cordinor to the different authorities he has 
cited% the Momphta, or type of humid nature^, 
(that is to say, the passive principle,) was borne 
by Isis in her left hand, and generally repre- 
sented by a lion. In her right she carried the 
dog Anuhis\ Either of these symbols separately 
denoted the Magna Mater; and may thus be 
explained. The leonine figure, as employed 
(1) CUJUS NUMEN UNICUM, Mt'LTlFORMI SPECIE, RITU VARIO, NOMINE 
MULTUUGO, TOTUS VENERATUR ORBIS. 
(2) VxA. Kircher. (Ediji.^gi/jJt.tom. III. pp. 98, 184, 221, 323, 
504. Rom. 1654. 
(3) " Per Leonem, Momphta, humidae naturae prasses." Kirch, de 
Diis Averruncis, synt.M. 
(4) See the engravings in Kircher. QHdip. ^gypt. torn, 111. p. 502. 
Also torn. 11. pars 2. p. 259. 
