324 Correspondence.
namt would be a very appropriate inscription for a lamp or street light. The Romans used dark lanterns. There is an old Roman picture of a Cupid with a dark lantern, reproduced in my Einiscan- Roman Legends. It is probable that the Romans placed a terra- cotta lamp in the lantern.
If any archaeologist who is familiar with Roman lamps can in- form me whether this name of Vibilia ever occurs on them in any form, or if any folklorist is acquainted with a spirit who guides the lost traveller, I would be very grateful to him for any information on the subject.
Charles Godfrey Leland.
April 22,rd, 1900.
The MS. of Arnobius reads Upibilia^ so that Vibilia rests on conjecture only. Inscriptions on Roman lamps are dealt with in Birch's Ancient Pottery, part iv., chapter 2. They are generally trade marks — the maker's name, shop, factory, &c. ; sometimes invocations, or acclamations ; rarely anything else. Often they are shortened.
Thus viBVLE may be —
(i) Vocative of Vibidus ; but no such name is known.
(2) Part of the maker's name, (?) Vibiilanus with blunder-
ing pronunciation.
(3) Two abbreviated words if the last letter be misread :
\\v,v\.aniis Yecit.
W. H. D. Rouse.
