INSCRIPTIO,
An Inscription. The Ancients ingrav'd on Pillars the prin∣ciples of Sciences, or the History of the World. Porphyrius mentions Inscriptions kept by the Inhabitants of Crete, wherein the Ce∣remony of the Sacrifices of the Corybantes were described. Euhemerus, as Lactantius reports, had written an History of Jupiter and the other Gods, collected out of the Titles and Inscriptions, which were in the Temples, and principally in the Temple of Jupiter Tri∣philianus, where, by the Inscription of a golden Column it was declared, that that Pillar was erected by the God himself. Pli∣ny assures us, that the Babylonian Astrologers made use of Bricks to keep their observati∣ons, and hard and solid Matters to preserve Arts and Sciences.
This was for a long time practised; for Arimnestus, Pythagoras's Son, as Porphyrius re∣lates, dedicated to Juno's Temple a brass Plate, whereon was engrav'd the Sciences that were improved by him: Arimnestus, says Malchus, being returned home, fix'd in the Temple of Juno a brass Table, as an Offer∣ing consecrated by him to posterity; this Monument was two Cubits diameter, and there were seven Sciences writ upon it.
Pythagoras and Plato, according to the opi∣nion of the Learned, learnt Philosophy by the Inscriptions of Egypt, ingraven on Mer∣cury's Pillars.
Livy tells us, that Hannibal dedicated an Altar with a long Discourse, ingraven in the Greek and Punick Language, wherein he de∣scrib'd his fortunate Atchievements.
The Inscriptions reported by Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus shews sufficiently, that the first way of instructing People, and transmit∣ting Histories and Sciences to posterity, was by Inscriptions. And this particularly ap∣pears by Plato's Dialogue intitled Hyparchus, wherein he says, that the Son of Pisistratus, called by the same name, did engrave on Stone Pillars, Preceps useful for Husbandmen.
Pliny assures us, that the first publick Mo∣numents were made with Plates of Lead; and the Treaties of Confederacy made be∣tween the Romans and the Jews was written upon Plates of Brass; that, says he, the Jews might have something to put them in mind of the Peace and Confederacy concluded with the Romans. Tacitus reports, that the Messenians in their dispute with the Lacedaemo∣nians concerning the Temple of Diana Lime∣netida produc'd the old division of Peloponnessus, made amongst the posterity of Hercules, and proved, that the Field where the Temple was built fell to their Kings share; and that the