Sir,—The accompanying woodcut, taken from Gesenii Monumenta Phœnicia, Tab. 23, fig. 59, has induced me to send you a description of the remaining figures of the precious fragment, and the history written underneath them.
The upper part of the stone contained, probably, the infant Jesus and his mother Mary. Immediately beneath her feet is the figure here described; and below it is an ox at his manger; and underneath the feet of the ox, an ancient writing, of which the following is the meaning.
"The illuminated star (spica Virginis) of Virgo led the Magi slowly to the inn filled within, and in the court-yard, with crowds of people. Arriving at the mean cattle-stable, the Magi were." The names of the three chiefs of the Magi in the place of the erasions? From a Mukatteb inscription I get the name of one of them, viz. "Nathan Hafi, the Grandfather."
Now what can the three legs, with the man's head in the middle denote, but the three chiefs of the Magi? And how is it that the people of Mona adopted it as their peculiar coat of arms, if a portion of that sect did not establish themselves, after the nativity, in the isle of Mona? The passage in Matt. ii. 12, does not militate against the idea.
Let us now take that most valuable auxiliary, Etymology, in order that we may further elucidate the subject.
Mannin, the Isle of Man, Mana, or Mona, may be thus divided, Man-n-in. Persian, māna, a sect of the Magi. Sanscrit, māna, to investigate, seek or desire knowledge, to give knowledge, to respect, revere, worship. A. Saxon mont-ige, Mona insula; monige, monitiæ; monigean, monere, to teach, instruct, &c. Gaelic, man-ach, a monk.
And lastly, let us not despise tradition, however absurd it may at first sight appear.
Among a few legends, I have been told one, probably imperfectly, by a lady; viz. "A man was thrown from the top of a mountain in Mona; and was afterwards, sometimes seen as a sheep in the plain below, sometimes as a goat." Will any person of Mannin veg veen do me the favour of giving the complete legend; with any other legend respecting the peopling of their island? It may throw more light on the peculiar occupation of the Magi.
Your's truly,
T. R. Brown.