DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3483#0032
INTRODUCTION.
27
with, both in land and sea affairs. Sylla, become haughty by
taking Jugurtha prisoner, had the humiliating event engraven on
the seal with which he constantly sealed his letters. This (says
Plutarch) touched Marius to the quick; so slight and frivolous
was the beginning of the enmity of those celebrated rivals,
which afterwards produced such implacable animosity, and
caused so much Roman blood to be shed. Scipio Africanus
bore on his seal the portrait of Syphax, whom he had conquered.
These instances sufficiently shew that engraved stones, however
various their subjects, served the ancients as seals.
The primitive christians, living among the Greeks and Romans,
retained the same customs; but regarding with horror every thing
that looked like paganism, and most of the subjects of seal-rings
forming some superstitious rite, they adopted seals of their own
invention, and by which they might be more easily recognised to
each other. Clemens of Alexandria exhorts them to engrave
symbols which should remind them of the mysteries of religion.
They used the monogram of Jesus, a dove, a fish, an anchor,
the ark of Noah, and the boat of St. Peter. These pious images
Avere not favourable to the arts; they had neither variety nor
imagination.
The christian religion having spread over Europe, the universe
was changed, and exhibited a new spectacle. Engraved gems
were not as heretofore used on almost every occasion. During
several ages they were used as seals to give, authenticity to pub-
lic acts. Princes had not.always artists near them, and often
adopted some ancient gem. Pepin sealed with an Indian Bac-
chus, and Charlemagne sometimes with a Jupiter Serapis;
heads which, probably, they imagined were those of St. Paul or
St. Peter.
27
with, both in land and sea affairs. Sylla, become haughty by
taking Jugurtha prisoner, had the humiliating event engraven on
the seal with which he constantly sealed his letters. This (says
Plutarch) touched Marius to the quick; so slight and frivolous
was the beginning of the enmity of those celebrated rivals,
which afterwards produced such implacable animosity, and
caused so much Roman blood to be shed. Scipio Africanus
bore on his seal the portrait of Syphax, whom he had conquered.
These instances sufficiently shew that engraved stones, however
various their subjects, served the ancients as seals.
The primitive christians, living among the Greeks and Romans,
retained the same customs; but regarding with horror every thing
that looked like paganism, and most of the subjects of seal-rings
forming some superstitious rite, they adopted seals of their own
invention, and by which they might be more easily recognised to
each other. Clemens of Alexandria exhorts them to engrave
symbols which should remind them of the mysteries of religion.
They used the monogram of Jesus, a dove, a fish, an anchor,
the ark of Noah, and the boat of St. Peter. These pious images
Avere not favourable to the arts; they had neither variety nor
imagination.
The christian religion having spread over Europe, the universe
was changed, and exhibited a new spectacle. Engraved gems
were not as heretofore used on almost every occasion. During
several ages they were used as seals to give, authenticity to pub-
lic acts. Princes had not.always artists near them, and often
adopted some ancient gem. Pepin sealed with an Indian Bac-
chus, and Charlemagne sometimes with a Jupiter Serapis;
heads which, probably, they imagined were those of St. Paul or
St. Peter.