O f

D r a g o n s ,
Ba s ilis ks ,
a n d t h e A r m s o f t h e
S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e
HELMUT NICK EL
Cur a t o r
o f
A r m s a n d
A r m o r ,
Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um
o f
A r t
FO R O TTFR IED NEUBECK ER
A MO NG THE HUND R ED S O F S EA LS t h a t ca m e t o t h e
Mus e um wit h t h e W.
Ge d n e y Be a t t y Be que s t
in
1941
t h e r e is a s ilv e r
s ig n e t r in g
t h a t
po s e s in t r ig uin g
ico n -
o g r a ph ica l que s t io n s .
Th is
r in g (Fig ur e i)
is
t h o ug h t
t o be
Byza n t in e , pr o ba bly
o f t h e f if t h o r s ixt h ce n -
t ur y.
Ca r v e d o n t h e r o un d be ze l o f t h is
r in g
is a s t a n d -
in g f ig ur e
in La t e R o m a n s ca le
a r m o r ,
a cco m pa n ie d
by
a n
in s cr ipt io n
in Gr e e k le t t e r s . Th e wa r r io r 's h e l-
m e t e d h e a d is s ur r o un d e d
by
a
h a lo ;
h e le a n s t o h is
r ig h t
wit h h is h a n d o n a n
upr ig h t
la n ce ,
wh ile t h e
le f t h a n d r e s t s o n t h e
t o p
o f h is s h ie ld s e t o n t h e
g r o un d .
Th is h e r o ic
po s e
is f a m ilia r f r o m
m a n y
s uch
r e pr e s e n t a t io n s
s in ce cla s s ica l t im e s . In
s t r ikin g
co n -
t r a s t t o t h e
quie t
s t a n ce o f t h e
wa r r io r ,
a
wild ly wig -
g lin g d r a g o n
is
h a n g in g
f r o m t h e
t ip
o f h is la n ce .
Be ca us e o f h is h a lo t h is wa r r io r h a s be e n id e n t if ie d
a s Th e o d o r e S t r a t e la t e s o f
He r a cle a ,
t h e
kn ig h t ly
s a in t wh o wa s cr e d it e d wit h
h a v in g
s la in a
d r a g o n .'
Ho we v e r ,
a s id e f r o m t h e
t h o r n y pr o ble m
t h a t t h e
wa r r io r is m o r e
like ly
t h e
o t h e r ,
e a r lie r
Th e o d o r e ,
S t .
Th e o d o r e Tir o o f
A m a s e a ,
wh o wa s t h e
pa t r o n
s a in t
o f t h e
Byza n t in e
a r m y, 2
t h e
d r a g o n s e e m in g ly
im -
pa le d
o n h is la n ce is n o t a
s pe cim e n
o f t h e
v ir g in -
d e v o ur in g m yt h ica l
m o n s t e r s ,
but a
d r a co ,
a
m ilit a r y
s t a n d a r d . Th e d r a co wa s a
d r a g o n -s h a pe d
ba t t le -
e n s ig n ,
co n s t r uct e d like a win d s o ck f r o m f a br ic a t -
t a ch e d t o a m e t a l h e a d wit h
o pe n ja ws , d e s ig n e d
t o
ca t ch t h e
win d ,
m a kin g
it billo wo ut a n d wr it h e like a
liv e
s e r pe n t .
Th e s e s t a n d a r d s we r e in t r o d uce d in t o
t h e R o m a n
a r m y by
S a r m a t ia n
ca v a lr y
a uxilia r ie s
f r o m t h e D a n ube
r e g io n s
o f D a cia a n d Pa n n o n ia
a f t e r A .D .
175.
In t h e t h ir d a n d f o ur t h ce n t ur ie s t h e
d r a co wa s ca r r ie d
by
La t e R o m a n a n d
Byza n t in e
ca v -
a lr y
un it s ,
a n d a t t im e s it wa s e v e n us e d a s t h e d is -
t in ct iv e
s ig n um
o f t h e co h o r t .3 Th e be a r e r s o f t h e
d r a co ,
t h e
d r a co n a r ii,
f o r m e d a
s pe cia l g r o up
wit h in
t h e cla s s o f
s t a n d a r d -be a r e r s ,
t h e
s ig n if e r s .
Be ca us e
t h e
r in g 's in s cr ipt io n ,
BPA THA A
("br a t ila "), a ppe a r s
t o be a n a r ch a ic Ba lka n -S la v ic d im in ut iv e f o r
"br o t h e r , "4
a n d
t a kin g
in t o co n s id e r a t io n t h a t t h e r e is
a
n e a r ly
id e n t ica l
g o ld r in g (be a r in g
t h e s a m e
in s cr ip-
t io n ) pr e s e r v e d
in t h e Vict o r ia a n d A lbe r t
Mus e um ,
Lo n d o n ,
it is
t e m pt in g
t o
s pe cula t e
t h a t t h e s e we r e
"cla s s
r in g s "
o f
d r a co n a r ii,
m o s t
like ly
o f t h e Ea s t R o -
m a n
m e r ce n a r y
un it s r e cr uit e d f r o m S la v ic t r ibe s
(Fig ur e 2).
Mo s t
in t r ig uin g ly,
a
v e r y
s im ila r m o t if -a
kn ig h t
a r m o r e d in
blue ,
s t a n d in g
o n a s m a ll r e d
d r a g o n
a n d
clut ch in g
in h is
r ig h t
h a n d a
g o ld e n
s t a f f a n d a
g r e e n
s n a ke -a ppe a r s n e a r ly
a t h o us a n d
ye a r s
la t e r ,
in t h e
f if t e e n t h
ce n t ur y,
a s h e r a ld ic
ch a r g e
in t h e
im a g in a r y
a r m s o f S e r v ius Tullius
(578-534 B.C.),
t h e s ixt h o f
t h e s e v e n
s e m ile g e n d a r y kin g s
o f R o m e
(Fig ur e 3).
Th e
o n ly
d if f e r e n ce in t h e
r e n d e r in g
o f t h is
kn ig h t
a s
co m pa r e d
t o t h e wa r r io r s o n t h e BPA THA A
r in g s
is
t h a t t h e
kn ig h t
h o ld s h is
g o ld e n
s h ie ld br a ce d a t t h e
r e a d y
a n d t h e r e is n o h a lo . Th e
s h a pe
o f t h e s h ie ld
a n d t h e
bo d y
a r m o r ,
wit h it s
ca r e f ully
d e t a ile d
pt e r -
yg e s (s h o uld e r s t r a ps ),
in d ica t e a co n s cio us e f f o r t t o
co py
a La t e R o m a n m o d e l. Th e
d r a g o n
un d e r t h e
kn ig h t 's
f e e t is
cle a r ly
a
m is in t e r pr e t a t io n
o f t h e
r o cky g r o un d upo n
wh ich t h e
s a in t ly
wa r r io r s o f
t h e
r in g s
s t a n d . Th e r e s e e m s t o be lit t le r o o m f o r
d o ubt t h a t t h e
a lle g e d
a r m s o f S e r v ius Tullius we r e
s t yle d
a f t e r s uch a d r a co n a r ius
r in g .
S in ce t h e f ie ld o f
25
? Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um o f A r t
1989
METR O PO LITA NMUS EUM
JO UR NA L24
Th e n o t e s f o r t h is a r t icle
be g in
o n
pa g e 33.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve, and extend access to
Metropolitan Museum Journal
www.jstor.org

1. S ilv e r
s ig n e t r in g ,
wit h
in s cr ipt io n
BPA THA A ,
Byza n -
t in e ,
pr o ba bly 5t h
o r 6t h
ce n t ur y.
Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um o f A r t ,
Be que s t
o f W.
Ge d n e y Be a t t y,
1941, 41.160.279
S e r v ius Tullius 's a r m s is
a r g e n t ,
in a ll
pr o ba bilit y
t h is
wa s a s ilv e r
r in g ,
but it wo uld be t o o m uch t o
h o pe
t h a t o ur s ilv e r
r in g
wa s t h e d ir e ct m o d e l.
Th e s e a r m o r ia l
be a r in g s
o f S e r v ius Tullius a r e
pa r t
o f a
s e r ie s ,
t h e a r m s o f t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f
R o m e ,
"wh o e xis t e d be f o r e t h e
Em pir e o r ig in a t e d "
(d ie g e we s s e n
s in d
zuv o r ,
e d z ke is e r t um b
uf f
e r s t un d ),
il-
2. Go ld
s ig n e t r in g ,
wit h
in s cr ipt io n
BPA THA A ,
Byza n -
t in e ,
pr o ba bly 5t h
o r 6t h
ce n t ur y.
Lo n d o n ,
Vict o r ia
a n d A lbe r t Mus e um ,
in v . n o . M
175 (ph o t o :
Vict o r ia
a n d A lbe r t
Mus e um )
O PPO S ITEPA GE:
4. Th e a r m s
pr o po s e d
f o r "t h e
Em pe r o r
wh o wo uld
r e co n que r
t h e
Ho ly S e pulch e r
a n d t h e
Ho ly
La n d
Je r us a le m , "
s ur r o un d e d
by
t h e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o
t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e
(a f t e r Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa p-
pe n buch , 1483;
f o lio
IIb)
lus t r a t e d o n f o lio
IIb
o f o n e o f t h e m o s t
im po r t a n t
r o lls o f a r m s o f t h e f if t e e n t h
ce n t ur y,
t h e
Wa ppe n buch
o f K o n r a d
Gr iin e n be r g , kn ig h t , pa t r icia n ,
a n d
m a yo r
o f
Co n s t a n ce ;
it wa s
co m ple t e d
in
1483 (Fig ur e 4).5
Th e in clus io n o f t h e a r m s o f t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e in
Gr in e n be r g 's Wa ppe n buch g r e w
o ut o f
t h e co n v ict io n
(s h a r e d by
m o s t m e d ie v a l
h e r a ld is t s )
t h a t
e v e r y
h is t o r ica l, biblica l,
o r
m yt h ica l pe r s o n a l-
it y-wh o by
t h e s t a n d a r d s o f m e d ie v a l
s o cie t y
wo uld
h a v e be e n e n t it le d t o a co a t o f
a r m s ,
a s f o r in s t a n ce
t h e
K n ig h t s
o f t h e R o un d Ta ble o r t h e Nin e Wo r -
t h ie s -s h o uld h a v e o n e
a s s ig n e d
f o r
pr o pr ie t y's
s a ke .
Th e r e f o r e ,
a h e r a ld
co m pilin g
a
co m pr e h e n s iv e
r o ll
o f a r m s wa s
pr a ct ica lly
f o r ce d t o f ill in
g a ps .
Fr o m
t h is h o r r o r v a cui d e r iv e d s o m e
v e r y pe culia r
cr e a t io n s ,
in clud in g
t h e a r m s o f
Je s us
Ch r is t ,
t h e
Vir g in Ma r y,
a n d t h e
Ho ly Tr in it y. In cid e n t a lly,
t h e a r m s a t t r ib-
ut e d t o t h e Twe lv e Ca e s a r s o f R o m e a r e in clud e d o n
f o lio III o f
Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa ppe n buch (Fig ur e 5).6
Th e
im a g in a r y
a r m s o f t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e
a r e
g r o upe d
a r o un d a n o t h e r
h ypo t h e t ica l
s h ie ld a n d
cr e s t ,
a
h ig h ly o r ig in a l a ug m e n t a t io n
o f t h e a r m s o f
3. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o S e r v ius Tullius ,
s ixt h
K in g
o f
R o m e ,
578-534
B.C.
(a f t e r Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa ppe n -
buch , 1483;
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
5e t z
,
Iz
Lt lC '
&
*
c ; 7
i, IIr
o &, r
27
:i I
JII
^'t , A e ^luJ^Uut f t l
1 I7
LE
I
C--ll z
\ *v
, --, -
.
!t ",
-
-'/
. t
,
' l
t
( .
\"
;
/ y^t t }
'
1
.;:
'-
. '1* . . . , , .-
C
28
A lt Pi%%( 1"" '1
/s t if f
101
*t s
II
cw{e a 41
o lqWIl1t v a kMt o
t h e
Ho ly
R o m a n
Em pir e :
a
s a ble ,
a
t r iple -h e a d e d
a n d -h a lo e d
e a g le
O r . Th e s e a r m s we r e
wa it in g
t o be
a wa r d e d t o t h e
e m pe r o r
"wh o will
r e co n que r
t h e
Ho ly S e pulch e r
a n d t h e
Ho ly
La n d
Je r us a le m ."
Th e
a ct ua l
im pe r ia l
a r m s a t
Gr iin e n be r g 's
t im e we r e
O r ,
a
d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble ,
a r m e d
g ule s .7
Th e s h ie ld s o f t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e a r e a s f o l-
lo ws :
1. R o m ulus
(R o m ullus
d e r
e r s t ): g ule s ,
t h e S h e -wo lf
s ucklin g
t h e
Twin s ,
R o m ulus a n d
R e m us ,
a r g e n t ;
2. Num a
Po m pilius (Num e n Po m pillius
d e r
a n d e r ):
O r ,
a ba s ilis k
v e r t ,
be a ke d a n d cr e s t e d
g ule s ,
d e v o ur -
in g
a
s co r pio n
s a ble ;
3.
Tullus Ho s t ilius
(Th ullus
h o s t lilius d e r
d r it ):
a r -
g e n t ,
a
s t a n d in g
wo m a n ,
ba r e f o o t in a s h o r t
g o wn
a zur e ,
h e r h a ir d o n e
up
in t wo co ils
O r ,
h o ld in g
in
e it h e r h a n d a s n a ke
v e r t ;
4.
A n cus Ma r cius
(A n c'
m a r t ius
d 'f ie r d ): a r g e n t ,
t h e
s h ie ld 's
uppe r pa r t
s h a d e d
a zur e , Fo r t un a ,
n ud e a n d
blin d f o ld e d ,
h o ld in g up
a
billo win g
s a il
a r g e n t ,
s t a n d in g
o n a
la r g e
f is h
v e r t ;
5.
Ta r quin ius
Pr is cus
(Ta r qv in in us lpr is t us
d e r a lt lis t
d e r f im f f t e ):
s a ble ,
a
win g e d Cupid , h o ld in g
a
lig h t e d
f ir e -ba s ke t ,
r id in g
a lio n
pa s s a n t
O r ;
6. S e r v ius Tullius
(S e r uius
t ulius lis t d e r
s e ch s t e ):
a r -
g e n t ,
a n a r m o r e d
kn ig h t
a zur e ,
wit h a s h ie ld
O r ,
h o ld in g
a s t a f f O r
t o g e t h e r
wit h a s n a ke v e r t in h is
r ig h t
h a n d ,
s t a n d in g
o n a
d r a g o n g ule s ;
7. Ta r quin ius S upe r bus (Ta r qv in ius s ubp'lo d e r
t a r -
quin ius
d e r
h o ch f e r t ig ):
a zur e ,
a n ud e m a n wit h a clo a k
v e r t
d r a pe d
o v e r h is
r ig h t
s h o uld e r ,
is s e a t e d o n a
s qua r e
ch e s t
O r ,
h o ld in g
in h is le f t h a n d a s h o r t
s wo r d
a r g e n t t o g e t h e r
wit h a la ur e l br a n ch
v e r t ,
a n d
in h is
r ig h t
a n in d is t in ct t o r ch like
o bje ct a r g e n t .
In t h e
pr e f a ce
t o h is
Wa ppe n buch Gr in e n be r g
t a ke s
ca r e t o
po in t
o ut t h a t h e d id e xt e n s iv e r e s e a r ch f o r
h is a r m o r ia l
illus t r a t io n s ; in d e e d ,
d ir e ct m o d e ls ca n
be f o un d f o r m o s t o f t h e s e f ict it io us a r m s o f t h e
S e v e n
K in g s
o f R o m e .
A s id e f r o m t h e a r m s o f S e r v ius
Tullius ,
wit h t h e ir
ch a r g e
ba s e d o n o n e o f t h e BPA THA A
r in g s , 8
t h e m o s t
o bv io us ca s e is t h e S h e -wo lf wit h t h e Twin s in t h e
s h ie ld o f t h e f ir s t
kin g ,
R o m ulus
(753-715 B.C.) (Fig -
5. Th e
ciph e r s
o f
Em pe r o r
Fr ie d r ich III
(1440-93),
a n d t h e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o t h e Twe lv e
Ca e s a r s ,
s ur -
r o un d in g
t h e a r m s
[
+
S PQR ]
o f t h e
Cit y
o f R o m e .
(a f t e r Gr un e n be r g 's Wa ppe n buch , 1483;
f o lio
III)
Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d
. ^
'
'
\S
t o R o m ulus ,
,
r CT
,
~
^K in g
o f R o m e ,
753-
z^
r
y~
715 B.C. (a f t e r
Gr i-
n e n be r g 's
Wa ppe n -
buch , 1483,
d e t a il o f
f o lio
IIb)
ur e
6).
Th e
s t o r y
o f R o m ulus a n d R e m us a n d t h e
f o un d in g
o f
R o m e ,
a s t o ld
by Liv y (I, 4),
wa s o f
co ur s e f a m ilia r t o
e v e r y
e d uca t e d
pe r s o n
in t h e
f if t e e n t h
ce n t ur y
a n d m a ke s t h e ch o ice o f t h is
ch a r g e
s e lf -e v id e n t .
Ho we v e r ,
t h e r e is a
po s s ibilit y
t h a t t h is
m o t if wa s n o t t a ke n
o n ly
f r o m
lit e r a r y
t r a d it io n .
Th e S h e -wo lf wit h t h e Twin s co uld be f o un d o n
co un t le s s wo r ks o f R o m a n
a r t ,
r a n g in g
f r o m a lt a r r e -
lie f s t o co in s . In m o s t o f t h e s e
r e pr e s e n t a t io n s
f r o m
cla s s ica l
a n t iquit y
t h e S h e -wo lf is
t ur n in g
h e r
h e a d ,
wa t ch in g
t h e
s ucklin g
in f a n t s
(Fig ur e s 7, 8).
Wit h t h e
7.
Im pr e s s io n
o f a n a lm a n d in e s e a ls t o n e ,
r e pr e s e n t in g
t h e S h e -wo lf wit h t h e Twin s , R o m a n , 2d
ce n t ur y
B.C.-A .D .
3d
ce n t ur y.
Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um o f
A r t ,
Be que s t
o f W.
Ge d n e y Be a t t y, 1941, 41. 160.693
8. R e v e r s e o f br o n ze
co in ,
r e pr e s e n t in g
t h e S h e -wo lf
wit h t h e
Twin s , R o m a n ,
2d -is t
ce n t ur y
B.C. Pr iv a t e
co lle ct io n
9. Th e
Ca pit o lin e lupa
wit h t h e Twin s . Br o n ze .
R o m e ,
Mus e o
Ca pit o lin o (ph o t o :
A lin a r i/A n d e r s o n )
i
-t Ih t
e xce pt io n
o f h e r
h e r a ld ica lly
r a is e d
t a il,
t h o ug h ,
t h e
f o r wa r d -f a cin g
s t a n ce o f t h e S h e -wo lf in R o m ulus 's
a r m s a n d t h e
po s it io n in g
o f t h e Twin s -o n e
s it t in g
up
a n d o n e
kn e e lin g -a r e
t h e s a m e a s in t h e br o n ze
g r o up
o n t h e
Ca pit o lin e
Hill
(Fig ur e 9). Ev id e n t ly
Gr iin e n be r g
t o o k t h e f a m e d
Ca pit o lin e lupa
a s h is
m o d e l;
it wa s t h e m o s t a ut h o r it a t iv e
r e pr e s e n t a t io n
h e co uld f in d .9
S im ila r ly,
t h e s e v e n t h a n d la s t
kin g , Ta r quin ius
S u-
/
A - .
10. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o
Ta r quin ius S upe r bus ,
s e v -
e n t h a n d la s t
K in g
o f
R o m e , 534-510
B.C.
(a f t e r
Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa ppe n buch , 1483;
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
11.
Ch a lce d o n y in t a g lio , r e pr e s e n t in g
D io m e d e s
s e izin g
t h e Pa lla d ium o f
Tr o y, by
D io s ko ur id e s ,
ca .
30
B.C.
Flo r e n ce , Mus e o Me d ice o
(a f t e r D a co s , Giulia n o ,
a n d
Pa n n ut i,
II t e s o r o d i
Lo r e n zo ,
f ig . 19)
pe r bus (534-510 B.c.),
h a s a m o s t
d is t in g uis h e d
wo r k
o f cla s s ica l a r t f o r t h e m o d e l o f h is s h ie ld bla zo n
(Fig -
ur e
io ).
Th is is t h e m uch a d m ir e d
in t a g lio by
D io s -
ko ur id e s ,
a bo ut
30
B.C.,
o f D io m e d e s
s e izin g
t h e
Pa lla d ium . It wa s f a m o us
e n o ug h
t o be
co pie d
in a n -
t iquit y.
In t h e f if t e e n t h
ce n t ur y
t h e r e we r e
a lr e a d y
f o ur
e xa m ple s
o f it in t h e co lle ct io n o f Ca r d in a l Pie -
t r o
Ba r bo ,
wh o wo uld be co m e
Po pe
Pa ul II. Th e
m o s t ce le br a t e d o f t h e s e
g e m s ,
t h e s o -ca lle d Nicco li
ch a lce d o n y,
wa s la t e r
a cquir e d by
Lo r e n zo il
Ma g n i-
f ico ,
a n d it be ca m e t h e m o d e l f o r o n e o f t h e r e lie f
m e d a llio n s in t h e co r t ile o f t h e Pa la zzo Me d ici-
R icca r d i
(Fig ur e s
i
1, 12).10
Th e f a ct t h a t
Gr iin e n be r g
r e pr e s e n t s
D io m e d e s wit h h is s wo r d in h is le f t h a n d
in d ica t e s t h a t h e m us t h a v e
co pie d
h is
d e s ig n d ir e ct ly
f r o m a n a ct ua l
g e m s t o n e
a n d n o t f r o m a n
im pr e s -
s io n .
S ur pr is in g ly,
t h e
ico n o g r a ph y
o f t h e
h ig h ly pr a is e d
Nicco li
ch a lce d o n y
wa s n o t
r e co g n ize d
in Gr un e n -
be r g 's
t im e ;
t h e
in v e n t o r y
o f t h e Ba r bo co lle ct io n ,
in
1457, s pe a ks o n ly
o f "a n ud e m a n
s it t in g ,
wit h a
s wo r d in h is
r ig h t
h a n d ,
a n d
[a f ig ur e
o f ]
t h e
g o d
Ma r s in h is le f t ."
A ppa r e n t ly, Gr iin e n be r g ,
o r
wh o e v e r
br o ug h t
t h is m o t if t o h is a t t e n t io n ,
s a win it
a
r e pr e s e n t a t io n
o f
Ta r quin ius 's us ur pa t io n
o f t h e
kin g 's
ch a ir in f r o n t o f t h e S e n a t e Ho us e
(Liv y
I, 47),
in s t e a d o f o n e o f t h e cr ucia l e v e n t s t h a t le d t o t h e
Fa ll o f
Tr o y.
12. R e lie f m e d a llio n ,
r e pr e s e n t in g
D io m e d e s
s e izin g
t h e Pa lla d ium ;
wo r ks h o p
o f D o n a t e llo . Flo r e n ce ,
Pa la zzo Me d ici-R icca r d i
(ph o t o :
A lin a r i)
30
-
.
~ -..
:-
- ..-
r
-
.q
:T. . - - r . -4
16
.
.g
?
I :.
? ?.,
1- . .
t y I
t It
I
n /
13. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o
Ta r quin ius
Pr is cus , f if t h
K in g
o f
R o m e , 616-578
B.C.
(a f t e r Gr un e n be r g 's
Wa ppe n buch , 1483;
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
14. Br o n ze
m e d a l,
r e pr e s e n t in g
Er o s
r id in g
a lio n a n d
ca r r yin g
a
lig h t e d
in ce n s e bur n e r o n a
po le , by
Gia n
Fr a n ce s co En zo la (a ct .
1456-78). Wa s h in g t o n ,
D .C.,
Na t io n a l
Ga lle r y
o f A r t
(ph o t o :
Na t io n a l
Ga lle r y
o f
A r t )
Th e un h e r a ld ic
po s t ur e
o f t h e lio n in t h e s h ie ld
ch a r g e
o f
Ta r quin ius
Pr is cus ,
t h e f if t h
kin g (616-578
B.C.) (Fig ur e 13),
a n d it s co lo r s ch e m e o f
lig h t -
co lo r e d
f ig ur e s
o n a d a r k
ba ckg r o un d s ug g e s t
t h a t it s
s o ur ce wa s a ca m e o
g e m
cut in
la ye r e d a g a t e .
If t h e r e
wa s s uch a
g e m ,
it s e e m s t o be
lo s t ;
but t h e m o t if is
f o un d o n a n
Ea r ly
R e n a is s a n ce m e d a l
by
Gia n Fr a n -
ce s co En zo la (a ct iv e
1456-78) (Fig ur e
14).1
Th e lit t le
Er o s
t a m in g
a lio n o r o t h e r wild be a s t is a n
a lle g o r y
f o r t h e Po we r o f Lo v e
(Fig ur e 15).12
Th e r e a s o n f o r
ch o o s in g
t h is d e v ice f o r
Ta r quin ius
Pr is cus is o b-
s cur e ;
it wa s
po s s ibly
a n a llus io n t o t h e d o m in a n t
pe r s o n a lit y
o f
Ta n a quil,
h is
wif e ,
wh o s t e e r e d h im
in t o t h e
kin g s h ip (Liv y
I,
33-35).
Blin d f o ld e d Fo r t un a wit h h e r
s a il,
a n d a s Fo r t un a
a ud a x
r e pr e s e n t e d
a s
s t a n d in g
o n a
d o lph in
s kim -
m in g
o v e r t h e
wa v e s ,
wa s a we ll-kn o wn
s ym bo l
f o r
br a v in g
a n d
o v e r co m in g
t h e
d a n g e r s
o f m a r it im e
t r a d e ,
a n d wa s t h e r e f o r e
v e r y a ppr o pr ia t e
f o r A n cus
Ma r cius
(640-616 B.C.),
t h e f o ur t h
kin g
a n d
by
t r a -
d it io n t h e f o un d e r o f t h e h a r bo r o f O s t ia
(Liv y
I,
33)
(Fig ur e 16). A g a in ,
t h e d ir e ct m o d e l f o r t h e s e a r m s
s e e m s t o h a v e be e n n o t a wo r k o f a r t f r o m cla s s ica l
a n t iquit y
but a
f if t e e n t h -ce n t ur y
m e d a l
(Fig ur e 17).S 1
O n t h e o t h e r
h a n d ,
it s e e m s t h a t a n cie n t Gr e e k
15. A lm a n d in e
r in g s t o n e , r e pr e s e n t in g
Er o s
r id in g
a
lio n ,
wh ich is
t e a r in g
a
g o a t 's
h e a d , R o m a n , un -
d a t e d . Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um o f
A r t , x.327
16. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o A n cus
Ma r cius ,
f o ur t h
K in g
o f
R o m e , 641-616
B.C.
(a f t e r Gr un e n be r g 's Wa ppe n -
buch ,
1483,
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
17. R e v e r s e o f br o n ze m e d a l o f Gia n o zzo d i Be r n a r d o
S a lv ia t i,
r e pr e s e n t in g
Fo r t un a a ud a x,
h o ld in g
a s a il
a n d
s t a n d in g
o n a
d o lph in ,
in t h e m a n n e r o f Nic-
co l6
Fio r e n t in o ,
la t e
15t h ce n t ur y. Wa s h in g t o n ,
D .C., Na t io n a l
Ga lle r y
o f A r t
(ph o t o :
Na t io n a l Ga l-
le r y
o f
A r t )
16
31
17
, s Ze r b f -
;r ^
;'
18. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o Tullus Ho s t ilius ,
t h ir d
K in g
o f
R o m e ,
673-641
B.C.
(a f t e r Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa ppe n -
buch ,
1483;
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
a n d R o m a n co in s we r e t h e
pr o t o t ype s
f o r t h e a r m s
o f t h e
r e m a in in g
t wo
kin g s ,
Tullus Ho s t ilius
(r ule d
672-641 B.C.)
a n d Num a
Po m pilius (715-672 B.C.).
Th e
e n ig m a t ic
f e m a le
f ig ur e h o ld in g
a
pa ir
o f
s n a ke s in h e r h a n d s o n Tullus Ho s t ilius 's s h ie ld
(Fig -
ur e
18)
s e e m s t o h a v e n o
r e a d ily
id e n t if ia ble m o d e l.
Th e m o t if wa s
pr o ba bly
in f lue n ce d
by
t h e
s t o r y
o f
t h e
yo ut h f ul
He r a kle s
s t r a n g lin g
t h e t wo
s e r pe n t s
He r a s e n t t o h is cr a d le in a f it o f
je a lo us y.
Mo r e
like ly,
h o we v e r ,
it wa s d e r iv e d f r o m t h e s n a ke
d e s ig n
o n co in s f ir s t m in t e d a t
Pe r g a m um
in t h e s e co n d ce n -
t ur y
B.C.
(Fig ur e s 19, 20).
Th e r ule r s o f
Pe r g a m um
cla im e d t o be d e s ce n d e d
f r o m bo t h
D io n ys o s
a n d He r a kle s . Th e r e f o r e a lid -
d e d
bo x,
f r o m wh ich a s n a ke is
cr a wlin g -a
m o t if
f r o m t h e
D io n ys ia n m ys t e r ie s -is
t o be f o un d o n t h e
o bv e r s e o f t h e ir
co in s ;
it wa s t h e
bo x, cis t a ,
t h a t
g a v e
t h e s e co in s t h e ir
po pula r
n a m e ,
cis t o ph o r i.
O n t h e r e -
v e r s e s a r e
pa ir s
o f s n a ke s e n t win e d a r o un d a
g o r yt us
22, 23. O bv e r s e
(h e a d
o f
Ja n us )
a n d r e v e r s e
(s h ip's
pr o w)
o f
co ppe r
a s ; R o m a n ,
5t h -4t h ce n t ur y
B.C.
Th e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um o f
A r t ,
Gif t o f Mr . a n d
Mr s .
Jo h n
v a n Be n s ch o t e n
Gr ig g s , 1946, 46.129.7
19, 20. O bv e r s e a n d r e v e r s e o f a
cis t o ph o r us , Pe r g a m um
m in t , 2d
ce n t ur y
B.C.Ne w
Yo r k,
A m e r ica n Num is -
m a t ic
S o cie t y (ph o t o :
A m e r ica n Num is m a t icS o ci-
e t y)
21. Te t r a d r a ch m
(cis t o ph o r us )
o f Ma r k
A n t h o n y,
R o m a n ,
ca .
40
B.C.
(a f t e r S yd e n h a m )
(quiv e r /bo wca s e )
a s a n a llus io n t o He r a kle s . In R o -
m a n t im e s t h e
g o r yt us
wa s
r e pla ce d by
t h e cis t a
it s e lf ,
s ur m o un t e d
by
e it h e r a s m a ll s t a t ue o r a
po r t r a it
bus t ,
s uch a s in t h e
cis t o ph o r us
o f Ma r k
A n t o n y (Fig -
ur e
21).'4
Th e f lut e d s ur f a ce o f t h e cis t a wit h a
h o o p
a r o un d it s m id d le co uld be
e a s ily m is in t e r pr e t e d
a s
t h e
ple a t s
o f a
s h o r t ,
be lt e d
g o wn .
Th e r e s e e m s t o be n o
r e a d y e xpla n a t io n wh y
t h e
f ig ur e
wit h t h e s n a ke s wa s
a s s ig n e d
t o Tullus Ho s t i-
lius ;
but f o r t h e ba s ilis k o f Num a
Po m pilius
s uch a n
e xpla n a t io n
ca n be f o un d in a n
e xt r a o r d in a r y
co m bi-
n a t io n o f
lit e r a r y
s o ur ce a n d
pict o r ia l pr o t o t ype .
Liv y (I, 19)
cr e d it s Num a wit h t h e
build in g
o f t h e
Te m ple
o f
Ja n us . Be g in n in g
wit h t h e a e s
g r a v e ,
t h e
v e r y
f ir s t co in o f
R o m e ,
ca s t a s a
o n e -po un d
d is k o f
br o n ze in t h e t h ir d
ce n t ur y
B.C.,
a
la r g e
n um be r o f
R o m a n co in s be a r t h e h e a d o f
Ja n us
o n t h e
o bv e r s e ,
a n d o n t h e r e v e r s e a r o s t r um
(s h ip's pr o w)
o r a n e n t ir e
wa r s h ip (Fig ur e s 22-25). A ppa r e n t ly Gr in e n be r g
24, 25. O bv e r s e
(f a ce s
o f t h e D io s cur i,
Ca s t o r a n d Po l-
lux,
jo in e d
a s
Ja n us h e a d )
a n d r e v e r s e
(t r ir e m e )
o f a
s ilv e r d e n a r ius ,
by
t h e
m o n e ye r
C. Fo n t e ius ,
R o -
m a n ,
ca .
114-113
B.C.
Lo n d o n ,
Br it is h Mus e um
(ph o t o :
Tr us t e e s o f t h e Br it is h
Mus e um )
If 4)
I'llU
wa s le d t o be lie v e t h a t s uch a co in wa s is s ue d
by
t h e
f o un d e r o f t h e
Ja n us t e m ple ,
Num a
Po m pilius ,
a n d
h e
quit e n a t ur a lly
a s s um e d t h a t t h e d e v ice o n t h e r e -
v e r s e m us t be h is co a t o f a r m s .
Th e
im a g e
o f t h e R o m a n
t r ir e m e ,
e s pe cia lly
o n a
s o m e wh a t wo r n
s pe cim e n ,
wo uld n o t be
e a s y
t o id e n -
t if y
a s a
s h ip,
e v e n f o r s o m e o n e
r e s id in g
in a
bus y
po r t
like Co n s t a n ce . A f t e r
a ll,
it lo o ke d
v e r y
d if f e r e n t
f r o m t h e cr a f t t h a t co uld be s e e n
d a ily cr o wd in g
h e r
h a r bo r a n d
d o t t in g
t h e blue wa t e r s o f t h e La ke o f
Co n s t a n ce wit h t h e ir s a ils .
Th us ,
it
a ppe a r s
t h a t Gr i-
n e n be r g ,
in a n h o n e s t
m is t a ke ,
t ur n e d t h is
im a g e up-
s id e d o wn -a n d s a wa ba s ilis k in it . Th is cr e a t ur e wa s
be lie v e d t o be t h e
kin g
o f t h e
s e r pe n t s ,
h a t ch e d f r o m
a r o o s t e r 's
e g g ,
in cuba t e d
by
a
t o a d ,
a n d s a id t o be s o
v e n o m o us t h a t it s m e r e
g la n ce
co uld kill
(Fig ur e s
26,
27).15
Th e
s h ip's
s t e r n ,
wit h it s d e co r a t iv e r o un d e l
s h ie ld a n d
t r a ilin g
s t r e a m e r s ,
be ca m e t h e cr e s t e d a n d
wa t t le d r o o s t e r 's h e a d o f t h e
ba s ilis k,
t h e
r ud d e r ,
ba n k o f
o a r s ,
a n d t h e r o s t r um we r e t ur n e d in t o it s
d r a g o n win g s ,
a n d t h e
s h ip's pr o w
in t o it s cur le d t a il.
Th e
s co r pio n
m us t h a v e be e n m a d e
up
f r o m t h e f is h -
t a il
t o p
o f t h e
s h ip's
s t e r n a n d o f blur r e d r e m n a n t s o f
t h e
in s cr ipt io n
t h a t e xt e n d s be t we e n s t e m a n d s t e r n .
It wo uld be
in t e r e s t in g
t o kn o w wh e t h e r a ll t h e s e
co in s a n d
g e m s
we r e in o n e co lle ct io n in t h e f if t e e n t h
ce n t ur y,
a n d wh o t h e
a n t iqua r ia n
wa s f r o m wh o m
K o n r a d
Gr iin e n be r g m ig h t
h a v e le a r n e d t h e ir
s ig n if -
ica n ce a s t h e
a lle g e d
a r m s o f t h e S e v e n
K in g s
o f
R o m e .
NO TES
1. R O MA NS &
ba r ba r ia n s , e xh .
ca t ., Mus e um o f Fin e A r t s
(Bo s t o n , 1976)
ca t . n o .
207,
ill.
2. Biblio t e ca S a n ct o r um XII
(R o m e , 1969) pp. 238-248.
Th e o -
d o r e
(t h e S o ld ie r )
Tir o wa s
m a r t yr e d
a t A m a s e a be t we e n
306
a n d
311.
He is f ir s t d o cum e n t e d in a s e r m o n
by
S t .
Gr e g o r y
o f
Nis s a
(d . 394),
a n d h e wa s m a d e
pa t r o n
s a in t o f t h e
Byza n t in e
a r m y by
Be lis a r ius
d ur in g
t h e Go t h ic Wa r s
(534-55).
A t t h e e n d
o f t h e n in t h
ce n t ur y
a
d uplica t io n
o ccur r e d : Th e o d o r e
(t h e
Ge n e r a l)
S t r a t e la t e s wa s
m a r t yr e d
a t
He r a cle a ,
a n d
pa r a lle l
m ir -
a cle s ,
s uch a s t h e
s la yin g
o f
d r a g o n s ,
we r e a t t r ibut e d t o h im .
3.
Gr a h a m
We bs t e r , Th e R o m a n
Im pe r ia l A r m y (Ne w Yo r k,
1969) p. 136.
4. Fo r t h e
in t e r pr e t a t io n
o f t h is wo r d I m us t t h a n k
m y
co l-
le a g ue
D r . Le o n id Ta r a s s uk.
26. Th e a r m s a t t r ibut e d t o Num a
Po m pilius ,
s e co n d
K in g
o f
R o m e ,
715-673
B.C.
(a f t e r Gr in e n be r g 's
Wa ppe n buch , 1483;
d e t a il o f f o lio
IIb)
27. R e v e r s e
(t r ir e m e )
o f d e n a r ius in
Fig ur e 25,
s h o wn
ups id e
d o wn
A CK NO WLED GMENTS
My
s in ce r e s t t h a n ks a r e d ue t o
m y
t e a ch e r a t t h e Fr e e
Un iv e r s it y,
Be r lin ,
O t t f r ie d
Ne ube cke r ,
wh o m o r e t h a n
t h ir t y ye a r s a g o
f ir s t in t r o d uce d m e t o t h e
f a s cin a t in g
wo r ld o f
Ph a n t a s ie wa ppe n
a n d t o wh o m I d e d ica t e t h is
e s s a y.
Fur t h e r m o r e I wo uld like t o t h a n k
m y
f r ie n d s a n d
co lle a g ue s
in t h e
Me t r o po lit a n
Mus e um S t ua r t W.
Pyh r r
a n d Le o n id
Ta r a s s uk,
a s we ll a s
Ge o r g e
S za bo ,
f o r m e r
cur a t o r o f t h e R o be r t Le h m a n Co lle ct io n ,
a n d Cla ud e
Bla ir ,
f o r m e r ly
o f t h e Vict o r ia a n d A lbe r t
Mus e um ,
Lo n -
d o n , f o r t h e ir kin d a n d
g e n e r o us h e lp
in
s h a r in g
in -
f o r m a t io n a n d
br in g in g
t o
m y
a t t e n t io n s o ur ce s t h a t
o t h e r wis e
m ig h t
h a v e
e s ca pe d m y
n o t ice .
5.
D e s K o n r a d
Gr iin e n be r g ,
R it t e r s un d
Bur g e r s
zu Co n s t e n z,
Wa p-
pe n buch ,
1483
R . Gr a f S t illf r ie d -A lca n t a r a a n d
A d o lph
M. Hil-
d e br a n d t , e d s .
(Go r lit z, 1875) pl. lib; O t t f r ie d Ne ube cke r , wit h
co n t r ibut io n s
by J.
P. Br o o ke -Lit t le ,
He r a ld r y:
S o ur ce s ,
S ym bo ls
a n d
Me a n in g (Ne w Yo r k, 1976)
p.
225,
ill. Th e S t illf r ie d -Hild e -
br a n d t
publica t io n
is a f a cs im ile e d it io n o f t h e
m a n us cr ipt
o n
pa pe r , f o r m e r ly
in t h e
libr a r y
o f t h e
g e n e a lo g ica l s o cie t y
"He r -
o ld , " Pr e us s is ch e s Ge h e im e s S t a a t s a r ch iv , Be r lin ;
it
d is a ppe a r e d
a t t h e e n d o f Wo r ld Wa r II a n d f o r
ye a r s
wa s
t h o ug h t
t o be
lo s t ,
but it wa s
e v e n t ua lly
f o un d in t h e D e ut s ch e s Ze n t r a la r ch iv ,
A bt .
Me r s e bur g .
Th e
pa pe r m a n us cr ipt
s e e m s t o h a v e be e n Gr iin e n -
be r g 's pe r s o n a l co py.
Th e illus t r a t io n in Ne ube cke r 's
He r a ld r y
is
t a ke n f r o m t h e
co n t e m po r a r y
d e luxe
co py
o n v e llum , Ba ye r -
is ch e
S t a a t s biblio t h e k, Mun ich ,
Cg m 145.
6. Th e n a m e s o f t h e Twe lv e Ca e s a r s a r e lis t e d
a cco r d in g
t o
33
lt ' a n p4 f t l^i\\
a l<t A ^
S ue t o n ius ; t h e ir a r m s a r e a s f o llo ws : I.
Julius
Ca e s a r
(pe r pa le ,
1.
O r , a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , 2.
a r g e n t ,
a
d r a g o n
s a ble ,
s pe win g
f la m e s
g ule s );
II. O ct a v ia n us
A ug us t us (pe r pa le ,
i. O r ,
a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , 2.
g ule s ,
a d o uble -h e a d e d lio n a r -
g e n t );
III. Tibe r ius
(O r ,
a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , o n it s
br e a s t a n e s cut ch e o n
a r g e n t , ch a r g e d
wit h a m o un t a in a zur e
[po s s ibly
a n a llus io n t o
Ca pr i
a n d it s Blue Gr o t t o , wh ich wa s
kn o wn a s a
le g e n d ,
but h a d n o t
ye t
be e n
r e d is co v e r e d ]);
IV.
Ga ius
Ca lig ula (pe r
f e s s , 1. O r , a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , 2.
v e r t , t wo cr o s s e d s wo r d s
g ule s ,
h ilt e d O r
[pe r h a ps
a n a llus io n
t o
Ca lig ula 's
t wo h it
lis t s ,
Th e S wo r d a n d Th e
D a g g e r ,
m e n -
t io n e d
by S ue t o n ius ]);
V. Cla ud ius
(O r ,
a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble );
VI. Ne r o
(a r g e n t ,
a n
e a g le
s a ble
[a ppa r e n t ly
t h e
a r g e n t
f ie ld a n d t h e
s in g le
h e a d o f t h e
e a g le
we r e m e a n t a s a ba s e m e n t s
f o r
Ne r o ,
a s t h e n o t o r io us
pe r s e cut o r
o f
Ch r is t ia n s ]);
VII.
Ga lba
(pe r
f e s s , 1.
O r ,
a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , 2.
r a yo n n y
o f
g ule s
a n d
a r g e n t [pr o ba bly
a n a llus io n t o S ue t o n ius 's
e xpla -
n a t io n o f t h e n a m e Ga lba , f r o m
r e s in -t o r ch e s ,
"g a lba n um "]);
VIII. O t h o
(pe r
be n d s in is t e r , i. O r , a n
e a g le
s a ble , 2. v e r t , a
s t a f f
g ule s
in be n d s in is t e r , e n t win e d
by
a s n a ke
a r g e n t );
IX.
A ulus Vit e llius
(pe r pa le ,
1.
O r , a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble , 2.
pe r
f e s s , in ch ie f
a r g e n t ,
a r o s e
g ule s ,
in ba s e
be n d y, g ule s ,
a n d
a r g e n t ,
wit h a ch ie f O r
[t h e f a m ily
a r m s o f
O r s in i]);
X.
Ve s pa -
s ia n us
(ba r r y, a r g e n t ,
a n d
g ule s ,
o v e r a ll a
pile
O r ,
ch a r g e d
wit h
a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le
s a ble
[a cco r d in g
t o S ue t o n ius , t h e
t r o o ps
o f
Pa n n o n ia , i.e .,
Hun g a r y,
we r e t h e f ir s t t o s we a r
a lle g ia n ce
t o
Ve s pa s ia n . Ba r r y
o f
g ule s
a n d
a r g e n t
a r e t h e a r m s o f Hun -
g a r y]);
XI. Tit us
(a zur e ,
t wo s t a r s
a r g e n t ,
a
pile
O r ,
ch a r g e d
wit h a d o uble -h e a d e d
e a g le s a ble );
XII. D o m it ia n
(s a ble ,
a n e s -
cut ch e o n
O r ,
ch a r g e d
wit h a n
e a g le
s a ble , f la n ke d
by
a
pa ir
o f
win g s O r ).
7.Jo h a n n
K a r l v o n
S ch r o e d e r ,
"D r e iko pf ig e R e ich s a d le r , "
D e r
He r o ld ,
n .s .
7, 5 (1970) pp. 106-112, ill.
8. S e r v ius Tullius wa s co n s id e r e d t o be t h e cr e a t o r o f t h e R o -
m a n
m ilit a r y o r g a n iza t io n (Liv y
I, 43),
a n d t h e r e f o r e t h is m a r -
t ia l d e v ice wo uld h a v e s e e m e d t o be m o s t
a ppr o pr ia t e
f o r h im .
9. Th e S h e -wo lf is
g e n e r a lly a cce pt e d
a s
be in g
Et r us ca n ;
t h e
Twin s a r e
t h o ug h t
t o h a v e be e n a d d e d in t h e R e n a is s a n ce .
Th e ir
a ppe a r a n ce
in
Gr iin e n be r g 's Wa ppe n buch
wo uld
g iv e
a
d a t e a n t e
que m .
o 1. Nico le
D a co s ,
A n t o n io
Giulia n o ,
a n d Ulr ico Pa n n ut i,
II
t e s o r o d i Lo r e n zo il
Ma g n if ico :
Le
g e m m e I,
e xh .
ca t .,
Mus e o Me d i-
ce o
(Flo r e n ce , 1972)
n o . 26, ill., a ls o
"A ppe n d ice
D o cum e n -
t a r ia , "
pp. 85, 86, 88, 160. Th e D io m e d e s
in t a g lio
f ir s t be ca m e
kn o wn a s t h e
pr ize po s s e s s io n
o f t h e Flo r e n t in e co lle ct o r Nic-
co lo Nicco li
(ca . 1364-1437),
wh o m a d e it a
s pe cia l po in t
t o
s in g le
it o ut in h is t e s t a m e n t
(Ja n . 22, 1437).
In
1457
it
a ppe a r s
[v a lue d
a t 80
d uca t s ]
in t h e
in v e n t o r y
o f Ca r d in a l Pie t r o Ba r bo ,
la t e r
Po pe
Pa ul II. It is m e n t io n e d in t h e "R ico r d i" o f Lo r e n zo
il
Ma g n if ico by
Ma r ch
1472.
Ma r ie -Lo uis e
Vo lle n we id e r , D ie
S t e in s ch n e id e kun s t un d ih r e K un s t le r in
s pa t r e publika n is ch e r
un d
a ug us t e is ch e r
Ze it
(Ba d e n -Ba d e n , 1966),
d o e s n o t m e n t io n t h e
Nicco li/Me d ici D io m e d e s a t a ll. Fo ur d is t in ct v e r s io n s o f t h e
m o t if o f D io m e d e s
le a pin g
a cr o s s t h e a lt a r in
s e izin g
t h e Pa lla -
d ium we r e f o un d in
in t a g lio s by
bo t h cla s s ica l a n d R e n a is s a n ce
a r t is t s , a n d in R e n a is s a n ce br o n ze m e d a ls . Th e Nicco li/Me d ici
in t a g lio
is o f t h e m o s t r e s t r a in e d
t ype ;
t h e m o s t a m bit io us v e r -
s io n , wh ich a ls o in clud e s t h e s e co n d
f ig ur e
o f
O d ys s e us ,
is
by
Fe lix
(Vo lle n we id e r , pl. 39, f ig s .
1, 2).
Th e Fe lix
g e m
wa s a ls o in
t h e Ba r bo co lle ct io n
(v a lue d
a t 1o o
d uca t s ).
S e e a ls o Mich a e l
Vicke r s ,
"Th e Fe lix Ge m in O xf o r d a n d
Ma n t e g n a 's Tr ium ph a l
Pr o g r a m m e ";
Clif f o r d M.
Br o wn ,
"A ppe n d ix:
Ca r d in a l Fr a n -
ce s co
Go n za g a 's
Co lle ct io n o f
A n t ique In t a g lio s
a n d Ca m e o s :
Que s t io n s o f
Pr o v e n a n ce , Id e n t if ica t io n a n d
D is pe r s a l, "
Ga ze t t e
d e s Be a ux-A r t s 101
(Ma r . 1973)
pp.
97-104, ill.; a n d Ur s ula We b-
s t e r a n d Er ika
S im o n ,
"D ie R e lie f m e d a illo n s im Ho f e d e s Pa -
la zzo Me d ici zu
Flo r e n z, "
Ja h r buch
d e r Be r lin e r Mus e e n
7 (1965)
pp. 15-91,
ill.
11.
Jo h n Po pe -He n n e s s y,
R e n a is s a n ce Br o n ze s
f r o m
t h e S a m ue l
H. K r e s s Co lle ct io n
(Lo n d o n , 1965),
n o . 66,
f ig .
62;
S e ym o ur
d e
R icci, Th e Gus t a v e
D r e yf us
Co lle ct io n :
R e lie f s
a n d
Pla que t t e s (O x-
f o r d , 1931)
n o s . 60
(pl. xx), 64 (pl. xxI).
12. D a co s -Giulia n o -Pa n n ut i, Te s o r o , I,
n o .
3 (pl. iv ), ca m e o ,
a t t r ibut e d t o Pr o t a r ch o s :
A ph r o d it e r id in g
a lio n , le d
by
Er o s ;
s e e a ls o
Vo lle n we id e r , S t e in s ch n e id e kun s t ,
pl.
12,
f ig .
i, ca m e o ,
s ig n e d by
Pr o t a r ch o s : Er o s
pla yin g
a
cit h a r a ,
r id in g
o n a lio n ,
in t h e Mus e o
Na zio n a le , Flo r e n ce ; a n d J. G.
Ja co bi, Be s ch r e ibun g
e in ig e r
d e r v o r n e h m s t e n
g e s ch n it t e n e n
S t e in e
m yt h o lo g is ch e n
In h a lt s
a us d e m Ca bin e t e d e s
He r zo g s
v o n O r le a n s
(Zur ich , 1796) pi.
Iv ,
"D ie Ma ch t d e r
Lie be , "
pp.
6o f f .
Ja co bi
a ls o m e n t io n s a n im -
pr e s s io n
o f a n
a n t ique in t a g lio (Lo h r co lle ct io n ),
wit h t h e lio n
h o ld in g
a
g o a t 's
h e a d in h is
pa ws ;
t h is co uld r e f e r t o o ur a lm a n -
d in e
r in g s t o n e ,
a cc. n o .
X.327.
13.
G. F. Hill, A
Co r pus o f
It a lia n Me d a ls
o f
t h e R e n a is s a n ce
Be f o r e
Ce llin i
(Lo n d o n , 1930)
n o .
1065, pl. 177 (t h e
S a lv ia t i
m e d a l).
S lig h t ly
clo s e r t h a n t h e Flo r e n t in e m e d a ls
m a y
be a R o m a n o n e ,
r e v e r s e o f a m e d a l o f Th o m a s Ba ko cz, Pr im a t e o f
Hun g a r y
(Hill, Co r pus ,
n o .
857, pl. 138);
a n d G. F. Hill a n d G. Po lla r d ,
R e n a is s a n ce Me d a ls
f r o m
t h e S a m ue l H. K r e s s Co lle ct io n a t Th e Na -
t io n a l
Ga lle r y o f
A r t
(Lo n d o n , 1967).
Me d a ls wit h Fo r t un a a ud a x
o n t h e r e v e r s e , in t h e m a n n e r o f Nicco lo
Fio r e n t in o ,
n o .
290:
A le s s a n d r o d i Gin o
Ve cch ie t t i,
n o .
294:
Gia n o zzo d i Be r n a r d o
S a lv ia t i.
14.
Wa r wick
Wr o t h ,
Ca t a lo g ue o f
t h e Gr e e k Co in s
o f Mys ia ,
Br it -
is h Mus e um
(Lo n d o n , 1892)
n o s .
86-125, pl. xxv I;
Ha r o ld Ma t -
t in g ly,
R o m a n Co in s
f r o m
t h e Ea r lie s t Tim e s t o t h e Fa ll
o f
t h e We s t e r n
Em pir e (Lo n d o n , 1928) pl.
v i,
f ig s . 15a , b;
Ed wa r d
S yd e n h a m ,
r e v .
by
G. C.
Ha in e s ,
Th e
Co in a g e o f
t h e R o m a n
R e public(Lo n d o n ,
1952)
n o .
1197, pl. 29;
a n d
J.
P. C. K e n t , R o m a n Co in s
(Ne w
Yo r k, 1978)
n o . i1 o .
15.
T. H.
Wh it e , Th e
Be s t ia r y:
A Bo o k
o f
Be a s t s
(Ne w Yo r k,
1960) pp. 168-169:
"Th e Ba s ilis k is t r a n s la t e d in Gr e e k a n d
La t in a s
'R e g ulus ' (a pr in ce ),
be ca us e it is t h e
kin g
o f
s e r pe n t s -
s o m uch
s o , t h a t
pe o ple
wh o s e e it r un f o r t h e ir liv e s .... Ev e n
if it lo o ks a t a
m a n , it
d e s t r o ys
h im . A t t h e m e r e
s ig h t
o f a ba s i-
lis k,
a n y
bir d wh ich is
f lyin g pa s t
ca n n o t
g e t
a cr o s s un h ur t , but ,
a lt h o ug h
it
m ig h t
be f a r f r o m t h e cr e a t ur e 's m o ut h , it
g e t s
f r iz-
zle d
up
a n d is d e v o ur e d .... Th e ba s ilis k, m o r e o v e r , like t h e
s co r pio n ,
a ls o
f r e que n t s
d e s e r t
pla ce s ...."
34