speak very often of sacred pomp, processions, and solemn festivals, in honour of their gods, I thought it incumbent on me to give some idea of them for once, by describing one of the most celebrated solemnities that was ever known. Plutarch, who is perpetually mentioning triumphs among the Romans, has the approbation of his readers for his particular description of that of Paulus Emilius, which was one of the most magnificent. But if the account I shall now give should appear unseasonable, or too prolix, it may be passed over, without interrupting the series of this history; for I declare before hand, that the relation will be something tedious.

"This pompous solemnity continued a whole day, and was conducted through the circus of Alexandria. It was divided into several parts, and formed a variety of separate processions. Beside those of the king's father and mother, the gods had each of them a distinct cavalcade, adorned with the ornaments relating to their history.

Atheneus has only related the particulars of that of Bacchus, by which a judgment may be formed of the magnificence of the rest.

The procession began with a troop of Sileni, some habited in purple, others in robes of a deep red; their employment was to keep off the crowd, and make way. Next the Sileni, came a band of satyrs composed of twenty in two ranks, each carrying a gilded lamp.

These were succeeded by the victories, with golden wings, carrying vases nine feet high, steaming with kindled perfumes, partly gilt, and partly adorned with

"Athen. 1. v. p. 197-203.

the leaves of ivy. Their habits were embroidered with the figures of animals, and every part of them glittered with gold.

After these came a double altar, nine feet in height, and covered with a luxuriant foliage of ivy, intermixed with ornaments of gold. It was also beautified with a golden crown, composed of vine leaves, and adorned on all sides with certain white fillets.

An hundred and twenty youths advanced next, clothed in purple vests; each of them supporting a golden vase of incense, myrrh, and saffron.

They were followed by forty satyrs, wearing crowns of gold, which represented the leaves of ivy; and in the right hand of each was another crown of the same metal, adorned with vine leaves. Their habits were diversified with a variety of colours.

In the rear of these marched two Sileni, arrayed in purple mantles, and white drawers; one of them wore a kind of hat, and carried a golden caduceus in his hand; the other had a trumpet. Between these two was a man, six feet in height, masked and habited like a tragedian. He also carried a golden cornucopia, and was distinguished by the appellation of the Year.

This person preceded a very amiable woman, as tall as himself, dressed in a magnificent manner, and glittering all over with gold. She held, in one hand, a crown composed of the leaves of the peach tree, and in the other a branch of palm. She was called Penteteris."

This word signifies the space of five years, because, at the expiration of every fourth year, the feast of Bacchus was celebrated at the beginning of the next, which was the fifth.

The next in the procession were the genii of the four seasons, wearing ornaments by which they were distinguished, and supporting two golden vases of odours, adorned with ivy leaves. In the midst of

them was a square altar of gold.

A band of satyrs then appeared, wearing golden crowns fashioned like the leaves of ivy, and arrayed in red habits. Some bore vessels filled with wine, others carried drinking cups.

Immediately after these were seen Philiscus, the poet and priest of Bacchus, attended by comedians, musicians, dancers, and other persons of that class.

Two tripods were carried next, as prizes for the victors at the athletic combats and exercises. One of these tripods, being thirteen and a half feet in height, was intended for the youths; the other, which was eighteen feet high, was designed for the men.

An extraordinary large chariot followed these. It had four wheels," was twenty one feet in length, and twelve in breadth, and was drawn by one hundred and eighty men. In this chariot was a figure representing Bacchus, fifteen feet in height, and in the attitude of performing libations with a large cup of gold. He was arrayed in a robe of brocaded purple, which flowed down to his feet. Over this was a transparent vest of a saffron colour, and above that a large purple mantle embroidered with gold, before him was a great vessel of gold, formed in the Laconic manner, and

All chariots in general, of which mention will be made in the sequel of this relation, had also four wheels.

containing fifteen measures, called metretes.* This was accompanied with a golden tripod, on which were placed a golden vase of odours, with two cups of the same metal, full of cinnamon and saffron. Bacchus was seated in a shade of ivy and vine leaves, intermixed with the foliage of fruit trees; and from these hung several crowns, fillets, and thyrsi, with timbrels, ribands, and a variety of satiric, comic, and tragic masks. In the same chariot were the priests and priestesses of that deity, with the ct! er ministers and interpreters, of mysteries, dancers of all classes, and women bearing vans.

These were followed by the Bacchantes, who marched with their hair dishevelled, and wore crowns composed, some of serpents, others of branches of the yew, the vine, or the ivy. Some of these women carried knives in their hands, others grasped serpents.

After these advanced another chariot, twelve feet in breadth, and drawn by sixty men. In this was the statue of Nyssa, or Nysa, sitting, twelve feet high, and clothed with a yellow vest embroidered with geld, over which was another Laconic habit. The statue rose by the aid of some machines that were not touched by any person, and after it had poured milk out of a golden cup, it resumed its former seat. Its left hand held a thyrsus adorned with ribands, and wore a golden crown, on the top of which were represented various leaves of ivy, with clusters of grapes,

* This word is frequently used in the present description: it is the name of a Greek measure, which corresponds most with the Roman amphora, but was somewhat larger. It contained nine gallons.

▾ Mystica Vaunus Iacchi. Virg.

* She is thought to have been the nurse of Bacchus.

composed of gems. It was covered with a deep shade, formed by a blended foliage, and a gilded lamp hung at each corner of the chariot.

After this came another chariot, thirty six feet in length, and twenty four in breadth, and drawn by three hundred men. On this was placed a wine press also, thirty six feet long, and twenty two and a half broad; this was full of the produce of the vintage. Sixty satyrs trod the grapes, to the sound of the flute, and sung such airs as corresponded with the action in which they were employed. Silenus was the chief of the band, and streams of wine flowed from the chariot throughout the whole progress.

Another chariot of the same.magnitude, was drawn by six hundred men. This carried a fat of a prodigious size, made of leopard skins sewed together. The vessel contained three thousand measures, and shed a constant effusion of wine during the procession.

This chariot was followed by one hundred and twenty crowned satyrs and Sileni, carrying pots, flaggons, and large cups, all of gold.

This troop was immediately succeeded by a silver fat, containing six hundred metretes, and placed on a chariot drawn by the same number of men. The vessel was adorned with chased work, and the rim, together with the two handles and the base, were embellished with the figures of animals. The middle part of it was encompassed with a golden crown adorned with jewels.

Next appeared two silver bowls, eighteen feet in diameter, and nine in height. The upper part of their