γαλην λίμνην, και ευγαίνει από κατο άφου χαθη έως 500 πηχαις. The Kioh Bounari (many springs), which you pass going from Ak-khan, is two hours from Denizli; and its source is at the foot of a high mountain in the south-east; and descending from thence half a quarter of an hour, there is a small hill; and it is lost there, forming a large lake; but it reappears (re-issues) at the distance of five hundred pikes from the spot where it was lost." (p. 319.)

Whatever reflections may arise from the almost total disappearance of such interesting objects as the "Seven Churches of Asia," we must acknowlege ourselves highly gratified by the zeal which Mr. Arundell has evinced in seeking them, his ingenuity in describing those places where they once were situated, and his illustrations of their history by accurate references to the best authorities. His work, also, in other respects, claims notice from the classical antiquary and geographer; whilst the reader, who is neither the one nor the other, will find amusement in many of the anecdotes scattered through its pages. From the notice prefixed to this volume by the publisher, we learn that in transmitting his manuscript to England, the author was uncertain whether those friends, on whose decision he relied, might think it worthy of publication; and we are assured that no alterations have been made beyond a few trifling verbal corrections," because," as it is justly observed, " in a work of this nature, the traveller's expressions written on the spot are always the most valuable:" and it must strongly recommend the volume before us to mention that several notes have been added by that able scholar and antiquary, Col. Leake," in reference to his own researches on the geography of Asia Minor; the publication of which, as will be seen, gave rise in great measure to Mr. Arundell's journeys.” (Pref. p. iv.)

We e are perfectly aware that an author who sends his manuscript from a distant country to be published at home labors under numerous difficulties and disadvantages: he seldom finds the task performed by friends, however well qualified, in such a manner as it would have been by himself; and even while the manuscript is on its passage, works issue from the press, a perusal of which would be to him of considerable importance. Any defects or omissions which may be discovered in the present edition, our author will probably soon have an opportunity of supplying and correcting in a second. This volume is enriched with twenty-two plates of inscriptions, and a map well executed by J. and C. Walker, illustrating Mr. A.'s Journey and the situation of the Seven Churches.

NOTICE OF

An Essay on Ancient Coins, Medals, and Gems, &c. By the Rev. R. WALSH, LL.D. M.R.I.A. &c. London, 1828. 12mo. Howell and Stewart.

In the first edition of this work, the author had almost wholly restricted himself to a notice of such coins as were preserved in his own collection: he has now considerably enlarged his plan; and several cabinets having been thrown open to him, more particularly the fine collection of Lord Strangford, he has introduced much additional and curious matter, tending to illustrate the progress of Christianity in early ages, an interesting but neglected object of "the medallic science," as he styles it in his dedication to the accomplished nobleman above mentioned. The additions comprise some remarks on those Gnostic sects, "who," says Dr. W., "formed so distinguished and striking a feature in the early ages of the Christian church. It may be thought that I have given them an importance to which they are not entitled: but I am disposed to think that the early ecclesiastical writers were competent judges of the state of the Christian world when they wrote; and I have not attached more consequence to those extraordinary sectarians, than I am warranted to do by the writings of their contemporaries." (Advertisement.)

Of some remarks scattered through the learned and voluminous works of Bandurius, Du Cange, Vaillant, Taylor (in his edition of Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible), and others, our author has availed himself, and acknowleges his obligations; but he regrets that Christian coins have been so sparingly used in elucidating the spread and progress of Christianity. Coins, as he observes, are, like inscriptions on stone, more perinanent and unalterable memorials of facts than the writings of historians. "There is not now in existence a single manuscript that was actually written by the hand of any author who lived a few hundred years ago, except, perhaps, the mutilated fragments buried in Herculaneum or the Catacombs of Egypt; but there are many historical documents in metal and marble which have survived the lapse of more than two thousand years, and are as legible as when they were first published." (p. 1.)

The first medal described by our author exhibits on one side the head of Christ; on the other a Hebrew inscription, signi-. fying "the Messiah has reigned, he came in peace, and being

made the light of man, he lives." Medals of this class, although regarded with contempt by Joubert and Pinkerton, are esteemed by Dr. Walsh as worthy of attention, having probably been struck by the first Jewish converts to Christianity.

Among the early Gnostics who corrupted the purity of the gospel by an admixture of Pagan fancies in the Apostolic ages, we find some who "held that pleasure was the end and true blessedness of man," chiefly the sexual intercourse; and, what no less offended the other Christians of that time, they indulged without scruple in eating of all meats offered to idols. They imagined various deities on whom they bestowed extraordinary names, such as Barbelo, Jaldabaoth, Caulauchauch, and Meitram: a practice adopted from the contemporary heathens whom Lucian describes (in Nekuom.) παράμιγνυς ἅμα βαρβαρικὰ καὶ ἄσημα ονόματα καὶ πολυσύλλαβα ; “ningling with their rites barbarous and senseless words of many syllables." The names above given are perceived on many of the Gnostic amulets. A distinguished chief of this sect was Basilides, an Alexandrian, who florished about 120 years after Christ, formed a new race of angels with extraordinary names, and enjoined silence, like Pythagoras, to his disciples. The sect of Ophites declared that Christ was wisdom; and that wisdom was embodied in the serpent, which they accordingly worshipped. But we cannot more closely follow our learned author through his very curious account of the Gnostics: their amulets, however, must be noticed; which they composed of certain abstruse words and mysterious figures engraved on gems and stones of various qualities, and supposed to have the power of guarding those who wore them against some particular evil; and the immense number of such talismans found, not only in the East but in different countries of Europe, confirms the observation of Montfaucon, who says that nulla unquam superstitio latius manavit, ut ex ingenti numero lapillorum hujusmodi, qui quotidie eruuntur, arguere licet. Hæc superstitio late pervagata est per Gallias, Hispaniam, Italiam, cæterasque Europæ regiones," &c. (Supplem. tom. ii.)

It was Dr. Walsh's intention to give engravings of such gems. as have not been already made known through the plates of Kircher or of Montfaucon, although the latter has published three hundred. The first exhibited in this work is a beautiful chrysoprase from Lord Strangford's cabinet; on one side is a right line, crossed by three curved lines, a device common on the Gnostic gems, but not yet explained. This is surrounded by the legend ABPACAE IAS words of common use on

antiques of this class; Abrasax or Abraxas implying the Supreme Deity, and formed of letters comprising the mystic number 365. Abrasax was the same as Meithras, the sun of the Gentiles; and his mysteries were celebrated with Christian ceremonies. The word IAS is generally supposed to be a corruption of the Hebrew tétragrammaton M, Jehovah, that name to the letters of which such awful importance was attached by the Jews: but our author seems inclined to regard the as implying Jesus, and the A2 as the alpha and omega of the Revelations. On the other face of this gem is a serpent coiled into a knot, with a lion's head, from which nine rays appear to issue: various circumstances render it evident that among the Gnostics Christ was identified with the serpent. This creature is sometimes found combined with other figures: thus, on a bloodstone of Lord Strangford's collection, two serpents form: the legs of a human body, which is surmounted with a cock's head: the mystic word IAN here appears between the serpent-like feet. We next find a class of gems called ipaxóuoppo: these exhibit figures with the head of a hawk: the xuvópoppor have the heads of dogs. A gem (No. 10.) represents Mercury with his caduceus and other attributes, but having three legs. The letters AN seem to identify him with Anubis: and in the next gem, (No. 11.) Anubis and Mercury appear united in the form of a human body with two faces; the lower part of the body resembling a dog's; in one hand is a caduceus, in the other a club, the symbol of Anubis.

Our limits oblige us to pass over many interesting observations, and proceed to the gem, No. 18. which is "highly characteristic of the Gnostic sects as they were depicted by contemporary writers. It is a cornelian, but in the form of a seal-ring, and probably worn as such. It is in the collection of Dr. Adam Clarke, and was obtained by him from a soldier who brought it from Egypt on the return of the English army from that country. The surface is covered with Gnostic figures and characters, interspersed with priapi, phalli, and other emblems, which I do not undertake to explain. It is, however, a highly valuable relic, as confirming all the Christian historians have written on the obscenity of these impure and mysterious Christians, who, in the words of the apostle, 'crept in unawares, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.' (p. 69.)

On many other gems various devices are found, in which Grecian, Egyptian, and Christian emblems and inscriptions appear mingled together-sphinxes and apes with deities of Greece and Rome, having for legends words taken from the sacred Scriptures.

On one is Diana with her bow and crescent, and the legend гABPIHA. On another, Hercules striking the Nemean lion, accompanied by the Hebrew word AAONAI, Lord. Some ΑΔΩΝΑΙ, were evidently designed as amulets to protect the wearer from spiritual evils, as that with the words, ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ ΑΔΩΝΑΙ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΟΝΟΜΑ ΔΕΞΙΑΙ ΔΥΝΑΜΕΣ ΦΥΛΑΞΑΤΕ ΟΥΒΙΑΝ ΠΑΥΛΙΝΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΠΑΝΤΙ ΚΑΚΟΥ ΔΑΙMONOC: "Lord, Abrasax, holy name, propitious powers, protect Vivia Paulina from every evil spirit." A remarkable gem exhibits Apollo with a star or sun, and on the other side an inscription IECYC XPICTYC identifying Christ with Apollo and the Sun; and on many are seen 66 figures of monkeys as priapi, naked women in indecent attitudes, and other obscenities, indicating, as well as the one I have exhibited, (No. 18.) the gross and sensual indulgences of the people for whom they were fabricated, and coinciding in a remarkable degree with the opinions and practices of those polluted Christians, as they are represented by the early fathers of the church. These figures and many others will be found in Kircher and Montfaucon, particularly the latter." (p. 71.)

Our author now proceeds to examine some coins of Diocletian and Maximian, Constantine the Great, Constantius, Magnentius, Decentius, Julian the Apostate, Jovian, Gratianus, Theodosius the Great, Justinian, Focas, Justinian Rhinometus, Leo, Constantine, and Johannes Zemisces: but for his learned explanations of their devices and inscriptions we must refer our readers to the Essay itself, merely noticing that on a coin of Constantine the Great he would render the legend "CONSTANTINO PIO AUGUSTO BAPTISMATE NATO-To Constantine, the pious, august, born or regenerate in baptism:" and he explains the letters PLC on the exergue, by "Pecunia Londini cusa"-money coined at London. (p. 95.)

Dr. Walsh, already well known as the ingenious author of "A Journey from Constantinople to England," has dedicated this Essay to Lord Strangford, whose cabinet afforded him such valuable materials: and besides thirty-eight well-executed plates of gems and coins, the volume is embellished with a frontispiece representing the front of a Christian temple, erected by the Emperor Jovian, A.D. 304. in the island of Corfu.