“Not alone for ourselves were we born, and of our
birth our country claims for itself a part, our parents
a part, our friends a part” (vendicat for vindicat).

On the reverse of the stone, which is not shown, is the inscription—

MORTIS MORES OMNIBUS ÆQUALES.

This is one of those peculiar maxims so often found in the Latin language, as it is employed in epitaphs. The simplest manner in which it can be translated is as follows:

“The{manners}of Deathequal for all.”
{customs}{are}
{usage }{is }
{law }

Death is here personified, as was Peace, Justice, Concord, etc., by the Romans.

Maxwell Sommerville.


CONTENTS.

PAGE
[ENGRAVED GEMS]11
[EGYPT]16
[PERSIA AND BABYLON]22
[THE ETRUSCANS—ETRURIA]36
[PHŒNICIA]43
[GREECE]48
[ROMAN]55
[ABRAXAS]58
[EARLY CHRISTIANS]65
[BYZANTINE]68
[MEDIÆVAL]76
[RENAISSANCE]80
[SUCCEEDING DECLINES AND REVIVALS]86
[SOME TYPES OF REMARKABLE GEMS]89
[RELIGION ON STONES]98
[HISTORIC CAMEOS]104
[ANIMALS AND BIRDS]112
[ANTIQUE PASTES]116
[MYTHOLOGICAL]121
[CHINESE, BURMESE, AND SIAMESE]123
[AZTEC OR MEXICAN]127
[RETROSPECTIVE]129