her Hand, on which was figured _Medusa_ with Snakes and Adders entwin’d round her Neck; for in this Manner the ancient Statuaries usually carv’d _Minerva_. On the East Side of it was placed the Statue of an _Amphitrite_, one of the _Syrens_, having her Temples encircled with Crabs Claws. The _unknown_ Author of the History of _Constantinople_ says, that on the same Side of the _Forum_ were placed the Statues of several _Syrens_, which were call’d by some Sea-Horses; three of which, he tells you, were remaining in his Time, at a Place in the Suburbs call’d St. _Mamas_. On the North Side of the _Forum_ was erected upon a lofty Pillar a Figure of that Cross which _Constantine_ saw in the Heavens. This is confirm’d by the Authority of most Historians, but principally by _Eusebius_, who although he is not express as to his setting it up in the _Forum_ of _Constantine_, yet as his Authority is not to be disputed, when he asserts, that he set it up in _Old Rome_ in the Heart of the City, ’tis reasonable to believe that he did so at _Constantinople_, since the same Writer assures us, that he set up a true Representation of the same Cross in all his finest buildings, and in the most remarkable Places of _Constantinople_. In Memory of which, as _Sozomen_ writes, _Constantine_ chang’d the most famous and most honourable War-like Standard among the _Romans_, which was always bore before their Princes, and to which the Soldiers were obliged by Law to pay divine Adoration, into the Ensign of the Cross, to bring them off from their heathenish Rites, and idolatrous Worship. _Prudentius_, upon this Occasion, has the following Lines: Christ_’s radiant Form upon the Standard rose, Emboss’d with sparkling Gems, and burnish’d Gold, Which o’er the Purple Ground-work cast a Light. No dreadful Shields hung on the blazon’d Flag_; Christ_’s awful Name alone was there inscrib’d. While on its Top, sure Sign of Victory, The Cross triumphant blaz’d in costly Stones._ _Eusebius_ writes, that he saw the same Expression of the _Christian_ Standard in his Time. _There was_, says he, _a tall Spear which was transvers’d near the Top with a short piece of Wood, in the Figure of a Cross at the Top of which was a Crown made of precious Stones, and curiously wrought with Gold, in the Middle of which were embroider’d the two initial Letters of_ Jesus Christ, _with the_ Greek _Letter_ X, _in the Form of a Cross. The Ensign or Standard was fix’d to the transverse Part of the Spear._ From this Description of _Eusebius_, the Difference between what was then called the _Labarum_ and _Syparum_ seems to be this; that the _Labarum_ signifies only a longer Piece of Wood transversed near the Top with a short Piece, and that the _Syparum_ is the Veil, or Flag, which falls down from the transverse Part. The Religion of the old _Romans_ was purely military, they worshipp’d their Standards, and swore by them; which Custom was abolish’d, upon the introducing the Christian Standard.