APAMEAN MEDAL, a medal struck at Apamea, in the time of Philip the elder,* bearing a curious device, and an inscription no less remarkable. On one side of this medal is the head of the emperor, crowned with laurel, surrounded with the usual inscription, AYT, K. IOYA. 01A111110Z AYr, that is Imperator, Cxsar, Julius Plzilififius, Augustus. On the reverse is the figure of a square chest, floating upon the water : the lid stands open, and two human figures are seen in it, the one male and the other female, as appears by their dress. Two figures also appear before the chest, apparently the same as those within, only they are lifting up their hands as in the act of adoration. On the open lid, sits a bird, resembling a pigeon ; and another appears as if flying towards the chest, carrying a small branch in its claws. Round the edge of the medal is this inscription, En. M. AYP. AAEZEANAP, and then, as the corner of the chest interferes with the circular inscription, the remainder is placed at the bottom, thus, OY. B. AMU. AlIAMESZN. which may be thus interpreted, Sub III. Aur. Alexandra II. Pontif. Afiamensium. But the most remarkable part of the inscription, and that which has chiefly excited con troversy, is found on the side of the chest itself. Im mediately under the male figure, are inscribed in legible characters, the three letters, NS2E, Noe. It is easy to see that this device and inscription will be considered as a memorial of the general deluge. There could not be the smallest doubt on the subject, were we certain that the three mysterious letters on the side of the chest are intended for the name of the patriarch Noah. They who hold this opinion support it by the following arguments : The city of Apamea, where the medal was struck, was anciently called Cibotos, (see the preceding article) which literally signifies the ark. The river Marsyas also, on which it stood, was called Cibotos. In the neighbourhood were the mountains of Celnx, upon which the ark was supposed to have rested ; and the whole region to which these medals are ascribed, is re plete with memorials of the same kind. Apamea also was celebrated for its religious rites, and remained for a long time subject to a singular kind of priestly govern ment ; the name of the ruling high-priest was inscribed on the reverse of their coins, round the peculiar device which we have already mentioned, and which appears to have been common to them all ; for there are coins struck at Apamea, in the reign of SCVCrus, with the same figures, but with different inscriptions ; from which it is probable, that they have a reference to some mysteries in their religion. If this be admitted, they point clearly
to the source from which they have been derived.
Antiquaries have differed chiefly about the three let ters, NOE, on the side of the chest. Some have main tained that they have no reference whatever to the name of the patriarch, but that they are merely the continua tion of the imperfect ALEXANDR, round the edge, placed on the chest for want of room, in a reverse man ner, making Alexandreon, the name of the people by whom the medal was struck. This supposition, how ever, cannot be admitted ; the name of the people, Alia meon, is written at full length at the bottom; and, had it been intended for a reversed reading, the form of the letters would have been inverted, thus, Nog. This is uniformly the case in such readings, and therefore this supposition falls to the ground. But, farther, (say they who consider these letters as representing the name of the second parent of the human race), come of this in scription what will, or supposing it never to have been there, yet still the device on the coin has an evident re ference to the diluvian history ; still we have the ark floating upon the waters ; Noah and his wife within it ; the same persons leaving it, and returning thanks to God for their deliverance ; the dove and the olive branch, fs:c. For farther particulars respecting this curious sub ject, see Octay. Falconerii Dissertatio de ?unimo .4pa mensi—ad Pelrum Seguinum ; Paris, 1684. Bryant's Vindication of the Apamean Medal, 5th -vol. Myth. Fa bees Hone Mosaicre, vol. i. A figure of this medal may be seen in Bryant's Mythology, vol. v. p. 289. (g)