APHRODITE (VENUS). On the coins of Eryx, in Sicily, the goddess of love is seated fully draped, with Eros (Cupid) as a youth (not a child, as in Roman art) standing before her, and with a dove in her hand. On Imperial coins of Cnidu, the famous naked Aphrodite by Praxiteles was represented. As the goddess of heaven (_Aphrodite Urania_), she sits upon the globe (Fig. 46 _a_), her head surmounted by the morning star, and holding in her hand a sceptre. On the reverse of the same coin (Fig. 46 _b_) are seen the sun, the moon, and the five planets. CYBELE. “The mother of the gods” wears a turreted crown. Sometimes she rides upon a lion, at other times she is seated on a throne between two lions. The rabbit is also symbolical of her worship, as an earth goddess. ISIS. This Egyptian goddess is recognised by her peculiar head-dress, consisting of a globe or disc flanked by two cow’s horns and surmounted by two ostrich feathers. In her hand she often holds the sistrum (a musical instrument). As Isis Pharia (a sea goddess) she holds a sail. [Illustration: Fig. 47. Nike (Victory).] [Illustration: Fig. 48. Nike (Victory).] NIKE (VICTORY). (Figs. 47, 48). This divinity is almost always winged, and often flying (_see Frontispiece_). She usually carries a wreath; and on coins of Alexander the Great a sort of mast with a cross-yard (the stand for a trophy of arms). Sometimes she is nailing armour to a trophy (Fig. 48). § SYMBOLS. In addition to the principal type, whether of the obverse or of the reverse, there is generally to be seen on the coins of Greek states a subordinate adjunct device, which occupies some vacant space in the field of the coin. These additions to the main type are of two kinds:-- (1) Symbols connected more or less directly with the main type: such as the sacred olive branch on the coins of Athens, and the club and bow on Fig. 24. (2) Symbols having no connection whatever with the principal type; such as the small animal on Fig. 7. The symbols of the 1st class are naturally limited in number and more or less constant accompaniments of the main type, to which they were intended to give greater precision and definiteness of meaning. Those of the 2nd class, on the other hand, might be varied very frequently on coins of one and the same series. There can be no doubt that such symbols were the distinctive badges or signets of one of the magistrates or moneyers under whose authority the coinage was issued. The frequency with which these personal symbols were varied corresponds with the duration of the term of office of the magistrate in question, whether annual or other.