49
the other orders of Iobates, he inspired this prince
with considerable regard towards him. Iobates
Avas persuaded, that this young hero was enabled
to escape all the dangers, to which he was ex-
posed, by the purity of his mind. He gave him
his daughter Cassandra in marriage, and bestowed
upon him a part of his dominions.
This Plate represents Cassandra and Belle-
rophon upon the point of being conducted to the
nuptial couch. Bellerophon, crowned with the
myrtle sacred to Venus, is in the act of presenting
a vase to his bride, that she may smell the
perfume, which he has used, or which is intended
for her. A divinity, adored by the ancients
under the name of the Genius of Fecundity, and
who presides at the birth of mortals, is seen
washing the feet of Cassandra, and fulfilling that
office, which is usually allotted to a youthful
relation of the bride.
The Nymphagdgue, or, as the Romans call her,
the Pronuba, holds in her hands a fillet, with
which the hair of the bride was commonly bound,
when she was conducted to the bed; and cus-
tom preserved this function to the mother. It is
observable, that the tunic of Cassandra is orna-
the other orders of Iobates, he inspired this prince
with considerable regard towards him. Iobates
Avas persuaded, that this young hero was enabled
to escape all the dangers, to which he was ex-
posed, by the purity of his mind. He gave him
his daughter Cassandra in marriage, and bestowed
upon him a part of his dominions.
This Plate represents Cassandra and Belle-
rophon upon the point of being conducted to the
nuptial couch. Bellerophon, crowned with the
myrtle sacred to Venus, is in the act of presenting
a vase to his bride, that she may smell the
perfume, which he has used, or which is intended
for her. A divinity, adored by the ancients
under the name of the Genius of Fecundity, and
who presides at the birth of mortals, is seen
washing the feet of Cassandra, and fulfilling that
office, which is usually allotted to a youthful
relation of the bride.
The Nymphagdgue, or, as the Romans call her,
the Pronuba, holds in her hands a fillet, with
which the hair of the bride was commonly bound,
when she was conducted to the bed; and cus-
tom preserved this function to the mother. It is
observable, that the tunic of Cassandra is orna-