GODS, DEMI-GODS, HEROES, AND FABULOUS PERSONAGES OF ANTIQUITY : ALSO, OF THE IMAGES AND IDOLS ADORED IN THE PAGAN WORLD; TOGETHER WITH THEIR TEMPLES, PRIESTS, ALTARS, ORACLES, FASTS, FESTIVALS, GAMES, &c. AS WELL AS DESCRIPTIONS OF THEIR FIGURES, REPRESENTATIONS, AND SYMBOLS, COLLECTED FROM STATUES, PICTURES, COINS, AND OTHER REMAINS OF THE ANCIENTS. THE WHOLE designed to FACILITATE THE STUDY OF MYTHOLOGY, HISTORY, POETRY, PAINTING, STATUARY, MEDALS, &c. &c. AND COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES. RICHLY EMBELLISHED WITH CHARACTERISTIC PRINTS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: FRINTED BY AND FOR J. BELL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES, M.DCC.XC. PREFACE. ACCORDING to the original plan of publication these volumes would have been considerably increased in bulk, and consequently in expence; to remove therefore this objection, after some progress was made in the printing, so much of it as had passed under the press was cancelled for the sake of enlarging the page; notwithstanding which, however, the same number of subjects have been engraved as would have sufficed for volumes of double the size. To accommodate the work to ordinary use, it is so contrived, that those who choose may bind the whole in one volume; while others who prefer a form less bulky are provided with titles to preserve it in two. To the Engravings a list of authorities is annexed, that their genuineness may be placed beyond the reach of a doubt. On an impartial review of the whole, the publisher flatters himself that ARTISTS of EVERY PROFESSION, and SCHOLARS of all DenoOMINATIONS, may hence derive an abundance of information from the best of sources. British Library Strand, 23 April, 1790 JOHN BELL. |