ebooks Religion and Science in the Mirror of Buddhism by Francisca Cho; Richard K. Squier in History

Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810 edition. Excerpt: ... point of size; more on an equality with their divine partners than in the casts and plates. What the Arabic 5* can mean on a Hindu coin; No. 16. I cannot say. The four remaining coins; Nos. 18. to 21. of Plate 104. all relate; I think; to Vishicu; his two commonest attributes being; especially on 1Q. and 20. discernible. The originals of 18. and 1Q. are not at this moment within my reach; and are not; I judge; so perfect in their features as some of the others. But little has hitherto been brought to light on the subject of ancient Hindu coinage; and this is no place for such discussion. Bartolomeo says; Voyage; p. 85. that " the oldest Indian coins have no inscription; but only the representation of a cow; an elephant; the lingam; or some deity. Anq.uetil du Perron; however; asserts; that he saw some with writing on them; which; as he pretends; were coined before the period of Vikramaditya; but I never had an opportunity of seeing any of this kind." Until the conquest of Mysore; such coins have not; I believe; been seen by Europeans: except such as were then developed; I never had either an opportunity of seeing any. There can be little doubt of most of the coins represented in Plate 104. (I except; of course; No. 16. put in merely as comparative;) having been struck as early as the age of Vikramaditya. Our last Plate (105.) still remains unnoticed. It is taken.from a vase; fully as elegant as the plate indicates; of gilt copper; that had been long unclaimed and kicked about at the India house; but is now appropriately ornamenting its museum: its contents may be a quart; and it is certainly a very beautiful specimen of Hindu workmanship; and highly creditable to their skill. Sesha; or Naga; or Vasoky; five-headed; with Vishnu...