The _Romans_ pretend that they know nothing of this Image at present, yet they shew you an Image cut in Stone, which to this Day stands in the Eastern Part of the Temple of _Fortune_, before the Statue of _Minerva_. The Statue is carv’d in a War-like Posture, brandishing, as in Battle, a Spear, dress’d in a long Garment, not representing the Statue of _Minerva_, as she is figured by the _Greeks_, but as described by the _Ægyptians_. The Inhabitants tell you, that _Constantine_ order’d this Statue, which was placed in the _Forum_, call’d by his own Name, to be bury’d under Ground. The Authorities that the _Placoton_ and the _Forum_ of _Constantine_ are the same Place ought to be regarded, because it is impossible to come to the Knowledge of four of the _Wards_ without them; for the third _Ward_ contains the Tribunal of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_; the sixth reaches from the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, to the Stairs against _Sycæ_, where is erected the Pillar of _Constantine_. The seventh extends itself with continual _Portico’s_ from the Right Hand Side of the Pillar of _Constantine_ to the _Forum_ of _Theodosius_, and the eighth contains part of the _Forum_ of _Constantine_. When I was ask’d by some Gentlemen who were curious that way, how _Constantine_ came by that _Palladium_, I answer’d, that I was at an Uncertainty as to that. For _Zonaras_’s Opinion of its being brought from _Troy_ did not look very probable, since _Troy_ was destroy’d so many Ages before it; and _Strabo_ is hard put to it to trace out the Place of its Situation. The Story of its being brought from ancient _Rome_ seems very improbable, since it was often destroy’d by Fire, and the Inhabitants were entirely ignorant where it originally stood. Yet the _Latin_ Historians tell us, that _Diomedes_ presented it to _Æneas_, that it was kept for some time at _Lavinium_, and that it was afterwards removed to _Rome_, and set up in the Temple of _Vesta_. The _Greek_ Historians are of another Opinion. Among these, _Pausanias_, who wrote in the Time of _Adrian_, tells us, that it was held the most sacred of any Thing in _Athens_, that it fell down from Heaven, that it was consecrated by the Advice of all the Senators, and placed in the Citadel of _Athens_. There has been some Dispute, whether it was made of Wood or Brass, and whether it was a Figure or a Shield. Some say, that it was a sacred Shield, such as they had at _Rome_. _Dion_ and _Diodorus_ think otherwise, and tell us, that it was an Image made of Wood, three Cubits high, that it fell from Heaven into _Pessinus_, a City of _Phrygia_, holding in her right Hand a Spear, in her left a Spindle and a Distaff. To me it seems to have been the Image of _Pallas_, whose Statue, whenever it was placed, was call’d the _Palladium_. _Procopius_ asserts, that the Statue which the _Romans_ shew in the Temple of _Minerva_, is not cut after the _Grecian_ Manner. For they carve her, as was mention’d before, in a