HON'ORS. Greece, in the heroic times, rendered to all her great generals and captains some liberal reward as a proof of the public approbation and respect. This was sometimes offered in the shape of a of gold, or of a silver tripod, or sou., other valuable article either of util ity or of more ornament. Similar re wards were conceded to the victorious Roman leader in the shape of a triumph or ovation. Nor was it to military merit alone that the ancients decreed honors : the Fine Arts were made objects of national regard and encouragement. Philosophy, eloquence, painting, poetry, music, sculp ture, architecture, were each enabled to aspire to the highest distinctions. The Lacedmmonians, even although their edu cation was decidedly warlike, erected statues to the poet Tyrtmus. At the cel ebrated public games in Sparta, prizes were distributed to the most successful amongst the poets and musicians. Athens erected statues to Solon, to Socrates, and an infinity of others. To Homer temples were raised ; and various poets and art ists received crowns. prerogatives, and often the rights of citizenship. The Athe nians inscribed upon the front of their temples the names of the able architects who had designed them. The town of Pergamus purchased with the public funds a palace for the reception of the works of Apelles. The Eleans, for whom Phidias executed the statue of Jupiter Olympus, in honor for the memory of the artist, and in respect for the surpass ing beauty of his work, erected, in favor of his descendants, a lucrative office, of which the only duty consisted in taking care of, and keeping free from blemish, that celebrated piece of art. In the times
of the republic, by the Romans, amongst whom the use of arms constituted the chief, nay, almost the only species of merit, few testimonies of esteem were awarded to the practisers of the Fine Arts. They affixed no honorable distinctions to the successful architect, painter, or sculp tor, inasmuch as these peaceful avoca tions were, for the most part, cultivated either by slaves or freedmen. It was not until the reign of Augustus Cesar that the Arts were duly honored. On the re vival of intellectual energy, after the darkness of the middle ages. the Arts were liberally encouraged. Michael Angelo was high in favor with the fierce Julius II. Raphael was greatly beloved by Leo X. ; and the emperor Maximilian became the warm patron of Albert Darer, whom he ennobled. Leonardo do Vinci died in the arms of Francis I. Rubcns enjoyed the highest consideration, and was entrusted with important negotia tions both by Philip IV. of Spain and Charles II. of England. Even the stern Henry VIII. was a mild and kind master to Holhein ; and the illustrious name of Medici will at once recall the zeal of that princely family for the cultivation of the Fine Arts. •