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CONCERNYNG the vse of makyng Images,* 1.1 from whence it came auc∣tours diffre and vary. For Macrobius citeth one Epi¦cadus that sayeth it beganne of a su∣persticion of Hercules,* 1.2 whiche accor∣dyng to the nomber of his cōpanions
whom he lost in his voiage into farre countrees: When he came home into Italy made Images of thē & cast thē doune at ye bridge Sublicius into Ti∣bre, to thentent they should de caried into theyr natiue coūtries, thinkyng that to be a iust pa••entacion for their funerals. Neuerthelesse he taketh it that they came rather of ye custome of the Archadians,* 1.3 which as Diodorus writeth, in their wāderyng abrode re¦pared into Italy, & builded a chapel to Pluto & an alter to Saturne, where they pacified Pluto wt the heades of men, & burned the bodies to Saturne. For so they expounded their oracle.* 1.4
Et capita inferno et patri trāsmit∣tite lumen, Geue heades to Pluto the god in∣fernal, And Saturne his father the fire lu∣stral.¶The sacrifices that were offred to Saturne were named Saturnalia, Af∣ter Hercules as he passed through I∣taly, when he had cōquered & subdu∣ed Ger••on, aduertised thē to chaūge that vnlucky sacrifice into fortunate oblacions, and taught them to make Images of lytle boones and to offer
thē to Pluto: And to light tapers of waxe in honoure of Saturne. Lactan∣tius sayeth,* 1.5 Prometheus made fyrst Images of soft clay, & taught ye way to make statues: Some say, as Dio∣dorus writeth, that the Ethiopians foūd the fyrst vse of Images, & of thē the Egyptiens learned. Notwithstā∣dyng I fynd that Images were long afore that tyme: For Rachel when her husbande fled out of Mesopota∣mia, from Laban his father in lawe, dyd steale away her fathers goddes, and therfore it appeareth that Ima∣gery is of an auncient beginnyng. And some there be yt thynke men toke occasyon of God to make Images, whiche willyng to shewe to ye grosse wyttes of men some perceiueraūce of him selfe, toke on him the shap of mā, as Abraham sawe him & Iacob also. And the scripture semeth in sundrye places to attribute to him handes, feete, eyes and eares, whiche be par∣tes and mēbres of men. And by this meanes men gathered ye maner of ma¦king ymages of God, bicause to kepe him in freshe memory. And this is the true original of Imagery. Spurius
Cassius made in Rome ye image of Ce¦res of brasse.* 1.6 Afterwarde were made statues of men to excite & encourage valiant heartes to high enterprises. And for yt cause ye Atheniens set vp ye Images of Armodius & Aristogitō that slewe & expulsed the tyrannes. Leontinus Gorgias made him selfe an Image of pure gold not hollowe fyrst and set it at Delphos ye .lxxviii. olympiade.* 1.7 Pharnaces caused one to be made of siluer like him selfe, whi∣che Pōpeie in his triumph remoued. In Italy M. Attilius Clabrio made the fyrst statue of gold on horsebacke in remembraūce of his father:* 1.8 There were also images made of brasse, yuo¦ry, woode, & marble. The maner of ye Romaynes was to set vp their Ima∣ges couered, but the Grecians vsed to forme thē naked, & the Romaynes al∣so had a rite to brēne encense, & light tapers afore them. In this art many were very expert, as Plinie reherseth But Phidias of Athens passed thē al. In Rome the kyndered & familye of the Macrians were accustomed to were on thē the image of Alexander ye great grauen:* 1.9 as mē in gold or syluer
women in calles & tynges: because it was reported, that he should acheue wel in al affayres whiche did bere on him Alexāders Images either in gold or syluer.* 1.10 And therfore Augustus Caesar ••sed long the Image of him in sealyng his letters.
Images.
Hercules.
The Archa∣dians maner.
An oracle.
Prometheus made ymages
Ceres ymage of brasse▪
Leontinus gorgias made him selfe an ymage of golde.
M. Attilius made the first ymage in Rome of golde.
Phidias.
Augustus seale.