Before the first pilaster let the visitor notice at once a small
seated statue of Cybele or Fortune, from Athens, presented to the
nation by J.S. Gaskoin, Esq. Other remarkable objects to be examined
before the visitor fixes his attention upon the contents of the case
deposited here, are a bust of Demosthenes; a sepulchral altar or
cippus, ornamented with sphinxes, etc.; and a sepulchral stêle,
inscribed with the name of the son of Artemidorus, who is reclining
upon a couch, and crowning himself. Over the case are deposited the
end of a sarcophagus ornamented with a Bacchus reclining on a satyr; a
bust of Julius Cæsar; a sepulchral cippus; and a Greek stêle. On the
case are a head found near Rome, probably of Mercury: and the bust of
a Muse crowned with a laurel wreath.
Having examined these objects, the visitor should occupy himself with
the contents of the case. Here are some beautiful specimens of Greek
art--some mere fragments, others in a wonderful state of preservation.
Here are one of those funeral masks anciently used to cover the face
of a corpse; the votive mask of a bearded satyr; a votive patera with
bas-reliefs representing Silenus and a satyr, another with the head of
a bearded Bacchus, and a panther; various heads of Hercules; a Venus
attended by two Cupids; a bust of Vitellius; a head of Vulcan; a bust
of Caracalla; a head of Juno; a head of the daughter of Titus, Julia;
a mutilated figure, about the neck of which a scarabaeus is suspended;
the torso of a satyr; a variety of fragments, here an arm holding a
butterfly--there two lions' paws--there a gladiator's foot--there the
fragment of a serpent. Having noticed these scraps of ancient art, the
visitor may direct his attention to the lower shelf, where he will
observe some beautiful busts. These include one supposed to be of
Sappho; a Minerva with a Corinthian helmet found at Rome; Bacchus;
Apollo; a Parian marble bust of Diana from Rome; a queenly Juno
wearing the splendone; terminal busts, joined back to back, of
Hercules and Omphale. The upper shelf now remains for inspection. Here
are three sepulchral tablets, and the fronts of two sarcophagi. The
tablet from Crete, within a wreath, contains an inscription
descriptive of honour conferred by the inhabitants of Crete upon an
individual named Alexander, the gift to him being a golden crown.
Having noticed the gay Cupids enacting Bacchanalians upon the first
front of a sarcophagus, the visitor should pass on at once to the