The connection of the twelve zodiacal signs with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve stones of the Breastplate is remarked by Josephus, and the Targum upon Canticles also links them together. Wilson in “Lights and Shadows of Northern Mythology” draws attention to the life-sized white marble figure of Aaron robed, wearing the Breastplate showing a sign of the Zodiac sculptured on each of the twelve precious stones, which figure is placed on the right side of the High Altar in S. Pietro, Piazza Bianchi, Genoa. The Matsebah of Babylon are black pillar stones on which in three elemental divisions are sculptured the twelve zodiacal signs by which the twelve Assyrian gods are symbolized, and the twelve lions on either side of the steps leading to Solomon’s throne represent the Sun in its progress through the signs of Heaven. Josephus mentions that he had seen the remains of an ancient pillar of stone on which Seth, foreseeing the great Flood, had engraved the elements of Astrology which “Adam had received from the Creator.” “Moses was willing,” writes Josephus, “that the power of the Breastplate should be known not only to the Hebrews but to all the world. When God was present the stone on the right shoulder of the High Priest (the stone symbolizing the soul’s descent) shone with a brilliancy not natural to it. This has appeared a wonderful thing to such as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy as to despise Divine Revelation. Yet will I mention what is more wonderful than this: for God declared beforehand by those twelve stones which the High Priest bare on his breast and which were inserted into his Breastplate, when they should be victorious in battle: for so great a splendour shone forth from them before the army began to march that all the people were sensible of God’s being present for their assistance. Whence it came to pass that those Greeks who had a veneration for our laws, because they could not possibly contradict this called the Breastplate ‘the Oracle.’ Now this Breastplate left off shining 200 years before I composed this book, God having been displeased at the transgression of the laws.” Father Kircher in “Oedipus Egyptianus” gives an engraving of the Tabernacle with the Sun, Moon, and Planets in the centre and Ephraim with a bull, Menasses with two infants, Benjamin with a Centaur, Dan with a scorpion, Gad with a ram, Assehr with scales, Simeon with fishes, Reuben with a water-bearer, Zebulon with a fish-goat, Issachar with a lobster, and Judah with a lion. The standards of the twelve tribes were given in the middle ages as follows: