A Description of the Antiquities and Curiosities in Wilton-House. [Enlarged from the Author's New Description of the Pictures [&C.] at Wilton] (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1769 edition. Excerpt: ...Ceres, at her Arrival kissed him, and by Virtue of that Kiss only, restored him to Health; not content with with doing this, she takes Care of his Education, and designs to make him immortal; to this End she nourished him by Day with her own divine Milk, and by Night puts him under hot Embers, in order to burn away all that was terrestrial in his Body. The Infant grew so fast, that his Father and Mother Metanira were curious to fee what was done to the Child; Metanira seeing Ceres just going to put the Child into the Fire, cryed out, and interrupted the Goddess in her Designs; then she declared who she was, gave Triptolemus a Chariot drawn by two Dragons, and sent him through the World to teach Mankind Agriculture, and gave him Corn for that Purpose. The Eleujinians, who were the first that applied themselves to Agriculture, instituted a Feast in Memory of it; and the Goddess herself regulated the Ceremonies, and appointed the four principal Men of the Town, Triptolemus, Diodes, Eumolpus, and Celeus to preside over them; and this Institution of the Rites called Eleufinia, is the Thing represented on the Tomb of Epaphroditus. Ceres appears here sitting, and like an old Woman, but her Age takes nothing from the Majesty proper for a Goddess. Her Head-dress ends in a Peek, something raised before; and half her Head is covered with a Veil, the usual Dress of the Goddesses and Empresses. The Stone, on which she sits, represents that on which Celeus found her sitting, and oppressed with Grief. The Serpent is frequently pictured with Ceres, the Goddess holds a crooked Staff in her Hand that is a Sceptre, and which we find represented longer, and more strait in other antient Monuments. The four Persons about Ceres, are Celeus and his Family. He...