4

H1ST0KY OY MALTA.

this consists in a head, out of which issue three legs, withthe feet so disposed as to form the extremity of the threeangles of a triangle. There is likewise a statue of Hercules(PI. IV. fig. 4) of white marble, in high preservation. Thegod leans upon his club, and is crowned with poplars. Thisstatue, most probably, decorated a temple near the port ofMarsa-Sirocco.

Many medals still remain, some of which bear on oneside the effigy of Juno (PI. I. fig. 1), and on the reverse eithera tripod of different shapes, or a lyre with the word Melitaion.There are others in bronze more curious, and of a largersize: these have the figure of an Isis or Juno, the head-dresscomposed of numerous small triangles (PI. I. fig. 2), with theflower or double fruit of the lotus on the top of the head, at theback of which is the word Melitaion, and in front either an earof corn to mark the fruitfulness of the island, or a caduceushung round with a double vestment, the symbol of the com-merce of the inhabitants, and their excellent method of manu-facturing cotton. There is also a small coin struck from one ofthese medals, stamped with a head, to distinguish it from somefalse money coined about that time. On the reverse of thesemedals is a Genius crouched, with wings on the shoulders andheels; he wears a mitre on his head, and holds a scourge in eachhand (PI. I. fig. 3). This is the Genius of Commerce, of whichhis attitude and attributes are the emblem— Power, Dispatch,and Confidence.