According to Aristotle’s opinion on Physiognomy, he whose nose is curved
from the root of the forehead, and strongly marked like the beak of an
eagle, must be a brave man. It was also observed by Polemon and
Adamantius, that such a nose denotes courage; and Albert, upon the
authority of Loxus, conveys the same idea. Noses thus formed are
commonly distinguished by the term Aquiline, or Roman, and seem to bear
the character of something royal or majestic; for the eagle, whose bill
is so formed, is the king of birds: from this it may be inferred that
an aquiline nose denotes a dignified mind, capable of magnificent
conceptions. Cyrus, according to Xenophon and Plutarch, possessed such a
nose, and the Persians held them in such high estimation, that they
granted royal honours to none but those possessed of aquiline noses, and
to that custom they still adhere. They loved Cyrus above all other
princes, and admired his magnanimity and courage. I have noticed on a
medal, in the collection of my brother Porta, the antiquarian, that
Artaxerxes, the descendant of Cyrus, and a king of Persia, had a very
crooked and prominent nose. This prince proved the greatness of his
mind on many occasions, insomuch that for a trifling present, or some
inconsiderable service which he had received from some peasants, he not
only gave a great quantity of gold and silver, but cities, and even
whole provinces, as a compensation. Demetrius, son of a Syrian king, was
surnamed Grypus, by the Greeks, on account of his nose, as is mentioned
by Justin. Dares, the Phrygian, says, that Neoptolemus, son of Achilles,
had a nose of the same shape. According to Suetoneus, that of Sergius
Galba, (who is represented as a very liberal and magnificent prince) was
curved in the same manner. Plato relates, in his Eutyphron, that Miletus
Pittheus had a Roman nose with an elevation on the centre, and it was
he that displayed such wonderful generosity respecting an accusation to
which he was summoned to appear. George Scanderbeg, whose physiognomy
indicated a matchless hero, and who stood unrivalled in courage and
liberality, had a gentle and agreeable eminence on his aquiline nose.
Junius says, that the great Sforza’s was elevated on its centre, and he
was invincible in courage. It is believed that Mahomet, the second
emperor of the Turks, who was a great warrior, had a nose so curved that
it seemed to touch his upper lip. John Assimbe, surnamed Ussumcassam,
had an aquiline nose, large eyes, and a gay countenance; he was very
liberal and merciful, possessed an heroic generosity in war, and a great
desire of glory. It is certain, that Ishmael Sophy, king of Persia, had
a nose of the above description, with eyes remarkably quick and
brilliant, and his manners exhibited the greatest liberality, courage
and ambition. His greatest delight was to be amid the dangers and
chances of war, where his invincible courage and noble heroism were
always conspicuous and successful. Selim, the son of Bajazet, who for
liberality could vie with Alexander the Great, had an arched nose.
Lastly, the face of Soliman, the son of Selim, who was a great warrior,
and beloved by all his subjects for his munificence, had a Roman nose.
We have here represented the head of the eagle, whose curved bill can be
compared to the nose of Sergius Galba, being both of the same shape.