one with a star on his flank, probably Mnevis, the bull of Heliopolis; and another, of which a representation is here given, with the crescent, for Apis.
On the coins of Memphis of the 8th or 11th year, and on those of Alexandria, dated in the LIZ, or 17th year of Hadrian,[1] and also on those of the 19th year of his reign, Apis is represented advancing to an altar. These coins, which were struck on the occasion of the disturbances which took place consequent on the dispute about the bull Apis in Egypt, in the reign of Hadrian,[2] are of the same style as the altar already cited. The crescent was the white spot, the presence of which, on the right side, constituted the true Apis.[3] The bull is only found on the coins of Hadrian. The last appearance of the bull-god on works of ancient art is on the coins of Julian the Apostate.[4] The only dated monuments, however, on which he appears having a crescent, are those of the reign of Hadrian, Several other monuments, indeed, are known of an undetermined antiquity.[5] The Athenians received the Apis-worship at the time of Ptolemy. It appears to have been even introduced into Rome at the time of the Empire. Hence it probably wandered into Britain, introduced by its votaries, both fanatic and mendicant, who hovered around the legions of the Empire and the villages of the provinces. S. BIRCH.
The Committee desire to express their thanks to the Council of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, for their liberality in permitting the interesting relic, the subject of the foregoing memoir, and preserved in the Museum at Truro, to be brought to London by Dr. Barham, for the gratification of the Institute.
They would, at the same time, acknowledge their obligation to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, for calling attention to so remarkable a vestige of antiquity, which, through his suggestion, has been brought under their notice.
- ↑ Zoega Numi Aegyptii, 4to, Rom. 1787, pp. 139-148, Tab. vii. Apis lunulâ in latere conspicuus et disco inter cornua stat ante aram. Spanheim de Usu præstantur, viii. 654. Beger. Thes. Brand. III. 136. Tochon D'Annecy. Med. d. Nomes. 4to. Paris. 1822, 139. Lenormant Mus. Ant. Eg. Fo. Paris. 1841, p. 64. Apis appears also with a crescent on his side on the coins of Hadrianotheræ Bithyniæ. Eckhel. D.N.V. vi. 530.
- ↑ Ael Spartian, Vit. Hadrian.
- ↑ Plin. Hist. Nat., VIII. 46.
- ↑ Oisel. Sel. Num., 222-3. Mazzolen Num. Pisan. I., p. 224. Mionnet. M. R., t. ii. p. 294.
- ↑ Beside the instances already quoted in the Museum of the Louvre, Champ. Mus. Ch. X., and the British Museum, Nos. 1608, 1618-19, 1621-26. Also those of the Leyden Museum. Leemans Mon. Eg., Pl. XXII., No. 245; XXI., fig. 224, 216, 234-35, 244. Montfaucon, II., P. II., p. 310.
