proceeding from the mouths of the two steeds on the British “altar”. In the latter case the centre is a vase or demijohn, in the former the centre is a Maid or Virgin. Without a doubt this Ber virgin is Beroë or Berith, the pherepolis of Beyrout: in Fig. 278 the two serpents are associated with a phare, fire, or pyre; from the mouth of the British “Jupiters,” illustrated in Figs. 274 and 275, the same two serpentine flames or S’s are emerging.
The word Ber, as has been seen, is equivalent to Vir, and in all probability the word virgin originally carried the same meaning as burgeon. That old Lydgate, the monk of Bery, knew all about Vera and how she made the buds to burgeon is obvious from his lines:—
Mightie Flora Goddesse of fresh flowers
Which clothed hath the soyle in lustie greene,
Made buds spring with her sweet showers
By influence of the sunne-shine
To doe pleasaunce of intent full cleane,
Unto the States which now sit here
Hath Vere down sent her own daughter deare.