Presuming that the majority of my readers would understand the Latin inscription from an engraved stone, which decorates the cover of this book, I have not given any translation. By request I add the following explanation: NON SOLVM NO|BIS NATI SVMVS|ORTVSQVE NOSTRI|PARTEM PATRIA SI|BI VENDICAT PARTEM|PARENTES PARTEM AMICI| “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: {manners} {customs} {are} “The {usage } of Death {is } equal for all.” {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 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Protogenis, a Comedian of the Second Century, with a Mask, Playing the Character of Meleager, the “Wild Boar Hunter,” Engraved in His Time 11 Vestal Virgins Guarding the Palladium, the Sacred Effigy of Minerva 15