Underside of silver vase, Hildesheim Treasure.

Roman Vase

Underside of silver vase, Hildesheim Treasure.

Semicircular panel in Court of Mattei Palace, Rome, with rinceaux and rosettes.

Roman Panel

Semicircular panel in Court of Mattei Palace, Rome, with rinceaux and rosettes.

Detail from the border of a silver platter.

Silver Platter

Detail from the border of a silver platter.

Fragment from the Forum of Trajan in Latern Museum.

Band Pattern

Fragment from the Forum of Trajan in Latern Museum.

Scroll detail from the so-called Florentine Tablet in the Uffizi Museum.

Florentine Tablet

Scroll detail from the so-called Florentine Tablet in the Uffizi Museum.

Detail from the so-called Florentine Tablet in the Uffizi Museum.

Florentine Tablet

Detail from the so-called Florentine Tablet in the Uffizi Museum.

Enriched ove fdrom the Temple of Vespasian.

Ove

Enriched ove fdrom the Temple of Vespasian.

Pilaster fragment in Villa Medici, Rome.

Pilaster Fragment

Pilaster fragment in Villa Medici, Rome.

Oak leaf and rosette band.

Band Pattern

Oak leaf and rosette band.

Pilaster fragment with double rinceau, in Palazzo Fano, Rome.

Pilaster Fragment

Pilaster fragment with double rinceau, in Palazzo Fano, Rome.

Cinerary urn in the British Museum.

Urn

Cinerary urn in the British Museum.

Silver krater from Hildesheim.

Silver Krater

Silver krater from Hildesheim.

Silver patera from Hildesheim.

Silver Patera

Silver patera from Hildesheim.

Marble hydria from Pompeii.

Roman Vase

Marble hydria from Pompeii.

Cinerary chest and urn in the Vatican Museum.

Cinerary Chest and Urn

Cinerary chest and urn in the Vatican Museum.

Bronze tripod in the Berlin Museum.

Bronze Tripod

Bronze tripod in the Berlin Museum.

Bronze tripod in the Naples Museum.

Bronze Tripod

Bronze tripod in the Naples Museum.

Candelabrum on a triangular pedistal in Vatican Museum.

Candelabrum

Candelabrum on a triangular pedistal in Vatican Museum.

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Table Leg

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Table Leg

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Table Leg

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Table Leg

Marble table leg from the Vatican Museum.

Pompeiian molding.

Pompeiian Molding

Pompeiian molding.

Pompeiian molding.

Pompeiian Molding

Pompeiian molding.

Pompeiian molding.

Pompeiian Molding

Pompeiian molding.

Carved Pompeiian rinceau.

Pompeiian Rinceau

Carved Pompeiian rinceau.

Sarcophagus end, Ravenna, Italy.

Early Christian Sarcophagus

Sarcophagus end, Ravenna, Italy.

The head of Medusa from center of an antique patera, Roman.

Medusa Head

The head of Medusa from center of an antique patera, Roman.

Head of Minerva, Roman goddess of war, medicine, wisdom, and the arts.

Minerva

Head of Minerva, Roman goddess of war, medicine, wisdom, and the arts.

Head of Mars, Roman god of war.

Mars

Head of Mars, Roman god of war.

Roman Renaissance uppercase alphabet, 1547, specimen beek of John of Yciar, Durango, Biscaya.

Roman Renaissance Alphabet

Roman Renaissance uppercase alphabet, 1547, specimen beek of John of Yciar, Durango, Biscaya.

Roman Renaissance lowercase alphabet, 1553, specimen book of Wolfgang Fugger, Nurenberg.

Roman Renaissance Alphabet

Roman Renaissance lowercase alphabet, 1553, specimen book of Wolfgang Fugger, Nurenberg.

A five-leaved ornament, in circular and other divisions of the windows of ancient churches, and also on panels. It is a rosette of five equal leaves.

Cinquefoil

A five-leaved ornament, in circular and other divisions of the windows of ancient churches, and also…

"Mortar practice- rear view of 13-inch mortar, with its usual complement of seven gunners. The mortar is one of the most ancient forms of cannon, being used as early as 1495 by Charles VIII at the siege of Naples. In 1478 the first attempt was made to project hollow shot filled with powder; but owing to their clumsy make the accidents were so frequent as to cause their discontinuance. In 1634 a French mechanic overcame the difficulty, and mortars were revived in the French service. Our illustrations represent a 13-inch mortar, the largest in general practice, weight 17,000 pounds, exclusive of the carriage. The number of men required to work one of these guns is seven, for all of whom there is distinct and adequate occupation. Mortars are not used in hand-to-hand encounters, their value consisting in pitching shells into camps and towns, or shelling fortifications erected on elevations, against which cannons are of no avail." —Leslie, 1896

Mortar Practice - Rear View

"Mortar practice- rear view of 13-inch mortar, with its usual complement of seven gunners. The mortar…

A Spanish caravel. The vessels furnished by Isabella were only <em>caravels</em>, light coasting ships, without decks, and furnished with cars like the ancient gallys.

spanish caravel

A Spanish caravel. The vessels furnished by Isabella were only caravels, light coasting ships,…

View of Palos. The pile of buildings in this view, standing upon the bluff, is the ancient Church of St. George.

Palos

View of Palos. The pile of buildings in this view, standing upon the bluff, is the ancient Church of…

Virtual representation, 1775. 1. One String Jack, Deliver your property. 2. Begar, just so in France. 3. Te Deum. 4. I give you that man's money for my use. 5. I will not be robbed. 6. I shall be wounded with you. 7. I am blinded. 8. The French Roman Catholic town of Quebec. 9. The English Protestant town of Boston.

Representation of 1775

Virtual representation, 1775. 1. One String Jack, Deliver your property. 2. Begar, just so in France.…

Also known as the Superb Menura, the lyre bird is noted for its distinctive tail feathers. The male of this species has a pair which curve upwards in an "S" shape, giving it a resemblence to the ancient musical instrument it draws its name from.

Lyre Bird

Also known as the Superb Menura, the lyre bird is noted for its distinctive tail feathers. The male…

Found throughout Africa, the sacred (or white) ibis was revered by the ancient Egyptians.

Sacred Ibis

Found throughout Africa, the sacred (or white) ibis was revered by the ancient Egyptians.

Site of Wintermoot's Fort. This view is from the ancient bed of the Susquehanna, looking west. The building, formerly the property of Colonel Jenkins, and now owned by Mr. David Goodwin, is upon the site of old Fort Wintermoot, which was destroyed at the time of the invasion in 1778. It is upon the ancient bank of the river, here from fifteen to twenty feeth high, and about sixty rods from the stream in its present channel.

Wintermoot's Fort

Site of Wintermoot's Fort. This view is from the ancient bed of the Susquehanna, looking west. The building,…

Queen Esther's Rock. This view is near the ancient river bank, looking westward. The rock is a sort of conglomerate, a large proportion of which is quartz. Some of it is of a reddish color, which the credulous believe to be stains of blood still remaining. The rock projects only about eighteen inches off the ground, and its size is denoted by the figure standing beside it. In the distance, on the left, is seen the monument which has been erected to the memory of those who fell on the occasion. This scene includes a portion of the battle-ground. The little village of Troy also occupies a part of the field of conflict.

Queen Esther's Rock

Queen Esther's Rock. This view is near the ancient river bank, looking westward. The rock is a sort…

Ancient chair.

Ancient Chair

Ancient chair.

"The Old South. This venerable and venerated edifice, that stood through all the storms of the Revolution, and yet remains, stands on the corner of Washington and Milk Streets. It is of brick, and was erected in 1729-30, upon the site of an edifice built by the Pedo-baptists in 1669. The ancient church was of cedar, two stories high, with a steeple, gallery, and pews. The 'Old South' was the famous gathering-place of the people during the excitements of 1773. The British troops occupied it as a circus for the drill of cavalry in 1775, after removing all the wood-work within, except the eastern gallery and the pulpit and sounding-board. The British officers felt no compunctions in thus desecrating a Presbyterian chapel. It was repaired in 1782, and remains a fine model of our early church architecture. This view is from Washington Street."&mdash;Lossing, 1851

Old South

"The Old South. This venerable and venerated edifice, that stood through all the storms of the Revolution,…

"Clark's House, Lexington. This building was standing when I visited Lexington in 1848. It was built by Thomas Hancock, Esq., of Boston, as a parsonage for his father, the Reverend John Hancock, of Lexington, about 130 years ago. Mr. Hancock was a minister at Lexington fifty-two years, and was succeeded by the Reverend Jonas Clark, the occupant of the house at the time of the skirmish at Lexington. Mr. Clark lived in the house fifty-two years. The room in which the two patriots, Samuel Adams and John Hancock, were sleeping on the night before the skirmish at Lexington, is retained in its original condition. The wainscoting is of Carolina pine, and the sides of the room are covered with a heavy paper, with dark figures, pasted upon the boards in rectangular pieces about fourteen inches square. In an adjoining room is one of those ancient fire-places, ornamented with pictorial tiles, so rarely found in New England."&mdash;Lossing, 1851

Clark's House

"Clark's House, Lexington. This building was standing when I visited Lexington in 1848. It was built…

"The New England flag. This is copied from an old Dutch work, preserved in the library of the New York Historical Society, containing pictures of the flags of all nations. In the original, a divided sphere, representing the earth, is in the quarter where I have placed the pine-tree. I have made the alteration in the device, because in the flag raised upon the bastion of the redoubt on Breed's Hill, the pine-tree occupied the place of the sphere, the more ancient device. The question has been unsettled respecting the flag used on that occasion, as contemporary writers are silent on the subject. An intelligent old lady (Mrs. Manning) whom I saw between the Brandywine and Kennet Square, in Pennsylvania, informed me that her father, who was in the battle, assisted in hoisting the standard, and she had heard him speak of it as a 'noble flag.' The ground was blue, and one corner was quartered by the red cross of St. George, in one section of which was the pine-tree. This was the New England flag, as given in the sketch. Doubtless there were many other flags belonging to the several regiments."—Lossing, 1851

New England Flag

"The New England flag. This is copied from an old Dutch work, preserved in the library of the New York…

"Ancient Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. This view is from the church-yard, looking southwest. The porch seen on the right fronts upon the highway, and is a modern addition, the ancient entrance being on the south side. This is believed to be the oldest church in existence in this state, having been erected, according to inscription upon a stone tablet upon its front, by Vredryck Flypsen (Frederic Philips) and Catharine his wife, in 1699. It is built of brick and stone, the former having been imported from Holland for the express purpose. The old flag-shaped vane, with the initials of the founder cut out of it, yet turns upon its steeple, and in the little tower hangs the ancient bell, bearing this inscription: 'Si. Deus. Pro. Nobis. Quis. Contra. Nos. 1685.' The pulpit and communion-table were imported from Holland; the latter alone has escaped the ruthless hand of modern improvement."—Lossing, 1851

Sleepy Hollow Church

"Ancient Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. This view is from the church-yard, looking southwest. The porch…

"The Walnut Street Prison. This edifice was erected in 1774, and taken down in 1836. The beautiful new Athenaeum occupies a portion of the ground on Sixth Street, and the remainder is covered by elegant dwellings. It is a singular fact that the architect who constructed it was the first person incarcerated in it. He was a Whig, and, having incurred the displeasure of the British, he was locked up in that prison. The <em>Public Ledger</em> of June 26th, 1837, gives an account of an armorial drawing, representing, in bold relief, a cuirass, casque, gorget, and Roman battle-ax, with radiating spears, which was made upon an arch of one of the second story cells, by Marshall, an English engraver, who was confined there for many years for counterfeiting the notes of the United States Bank. He was the son of the notorious 'Bag and Hatchet Woman,' of St. Giles's, London, who followed the British army in its Continental campaigns, and gathered spoils from the slain and wounded on the field of battle. Those who were dead, were readily plundered, and the wounded as readily dispatched. This woman and son were master-spirits in the purlieus of St. Giles's, among robbers and counterfeiters. The gang were at length betrayed, and the parent and child fled to this country, bringing with them considerable wealth in money and jewels. They lived in splendid style in Philadelphia, riding in a gorgeous cream-colored phaeton, drawn by richly-caparisoned horses, driven tandem. Their means were soon exhausted, when the son married, and commenced business as an engraver. He counterfeited notes of the United States Bank, was detected, and in 1803 was sentenced to eighteen years' confinement and hard labor in the Walnut Street Prison, then the State Penitentiary. While he was in prison, his mother, who had wondered away from Philadelphia in poverty and destitution, was executed in another state for a foul murder and arson."—Lossing, 1851

Walnut Street Prison

"The Walnut Street Prison. This edifice was erected in 1774, and taken down in 1836. The beautiful new…

"Battle-ground at Monmouth. This view is from the orchard, upon the site of Wayne's position when Monckton fell. The old house on the left is the ancient parsonage, occupied, at the time of the battle, by a man named Freeman. Beyond the house, extending right and left, is the place of the morass, now fine meadow land, with a clear stream running through it; and in the extreme distance are seen the slopes and elevations whereon the second division of the American army, under Washington, was drawn up. Upon the rising ground on the extreme right, the British grenadiers were stationed; and two figures in the open field, about fifty yards distant from our point of view, denote the spot where Monckton was killed."&mdash;Lossing, 1851

Monmouth Battle-Ground

"Battle-ground at Monmouth. This view is from the orchard, upon the site of Wayne's position when Monckton…

"The Pen-Fish or Common Calamary, <em>L. vulgaris</em>, is the best-known species of the genus; the body is somewhat pellucid, of a greenish hue, changeable to dirty brown; the eyes are large and lustrous, of an emerald green, phosphoric, and fiery in a high degree. It is common in the european seas, and was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. [Shown with a quill pen]" &mdash; Goodrich, 1859

Common calamari

"The Pen-Fish or Common Calamary, L. vulgaris, is the best-known species of the genus; the…

"Key of the Bastile. This key of the old Paris prison known as the Bastile, was sent by La Fayette to Washington after the destruction of that edifice by the infuriated populace on the 14th of July, 1789. This was the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was originally a royal place, built by Charles the Fifth of France in 1369. It was afterward used as a state prison, like the Tower of London, and became the scene of dreadful sufferings and frightful crimes. When the mob gained possession of it in 1789, they took the governor and other officers to the Place de Greve, where they first cut off their hands and then their heads. With the key, La Fayette sent a plaster model of the old building. The model, somewhat defaced from long exposure in the Alexandria museum, is among the collections of the National Institute, while the key retains its ancient position at Mount Vernon. It is of wrought iron, seven inches long. La Fayette, in his letter to Washington which accompanied the key and picture, dated 'Paris, March 17th, 1789,' said, 'Give me leave, my dear general, to present you with a picture of the Bastile, just as it appeared a few days after I had ordered its demolition, with the main key of this fortress of despotism. It is a tribute which I owe as a son to my adopted father; as an aid-de-camp to my general; as a missionary liberty to its patriarch.'"—Lossing, 1851

Bastile Key

"Key of the Bastile. This key of the old Paris prison known as the Bastile, was sent by La Fayette to…

"Distant view of Jamestown Island. This view is from the north side of what was once a marsh, but now a deep bay, four hundred yards wide. On the left is seen the remains of a bridge, destroyed by a gale and high tide a few years ago; and beyond is the James River. Near the point of the island, toward the end of the bridge, are the remains of an ancient church. Mr. Coke resided upon the island when the tempest occurred which destroyed the bridge. The island was submerged, and for three days himself and family were prisoners. It was in winter, and he was obliged to cut the branches of ornamental trees that were close to his house, for fuel. I was gravely informed by a man on the beach, while making the sketch, that Pocahontas crossed at that very spot '<em>in her skiff</em>,' when she went to warn the Jamestown settlers of threatened danger. The dear child had no need of a skiff, had such a thing existed in America, for I was told by Mr. Coke that his father-in-law well remembered when a marsh, so narrow and firm that a person might cross it upon a fence rail, was where the deep water at the ruined bridge now is. Every year the current of James River is changing its margins in this region, and within a few years Jamestown Island, made so only by a marsh on the land side, will have a navigable channel around it. Already a large portion of it, whereon the ancient town was erected, has been washed away; and I was informed that a cypress-tree, now many yards from the shore stood at the end of a carriage-way to the wharf, sixty yards from the water's edge, only sixteen years ago. The destructive flood is gradually approaching the old church tower, and if the hand of man shall not arrest its sure progress, that too will be swept away, and not a vestige of Jamestown will remain. Virginians, look to it, and let a wall of masonry along the river margin attest your reverence for the most interesting historical relic within your borders! Some remains of the old fort may be seen at low water, several yards from the shore."&mdash;Lossing, 1851

Jamestown Island

"Distant view of Jamestown Island. This view is from the north side of what was once a marsh, but now…

"A tray strewn with dust or sand, used in ancient times for calculating. A contrivance for calculating, consisting of beads or balls strung on wires or rods set in a frame."—Wright, 1902

Abacus

"A tray strewn with dust or sand, used in ancient times for calculating. A contrivance for calculating,…

"In architecture the slab or plinth which forms the upper member of the capital of a column or pillar, and upon which rests, in classic styles, the lower surface of the achitrave."—Wright, 1902

Abacus

"In architecture the slab or plinth which forms the upper member of the capital of a column or pillar,…

"This is a view from the lawn, looking south. It is a frame building with a brick foundation. At the time of the siege it belonged in fee to Governor Nelson, but its occupant, a widow Moore, had a life interest in it, and it was known as Moore's house. The narrow piazza in front is a modern addition. This house is upon the Temple Farm, so called from the fact that vestiges of a small temple or church, and the remains of an ancient settlement, are there seen, about a mile and a half south of Yorktown. Around the temple was a wall, and within are several tomb-stones. One of these bear the name of Major William Gooch, and the date of his death, 1655."&mdash;Lossing, 1851

Moore's House

"This is a view from the lawn, looking south. It is a frame building with a brick foundation. At the…

Development of the alphabet.

Alphabet

Development of the alphabet.

Roman standard Bearer

Bearer

Roman standard Bearer

Roman Foot Soldier during the Conquest of Italy

Foot Soldier

Roman Foot Soldier during the Conquest of Italy

A Roman war ship.

War Ship

A Roman war ship.

"Roman aqueduct near Nimes, in France."&mdash;Colby, 1899

Aqueduct

"Roman aqueduct near Nimes, in France."—Colby, 1899

Ancient Roman plow

Plow

Ancient Roman plow