380 ST. MARK’S REST

of the death by which he should afterwards glorify God. And here we may probably trace the original error-if, indeed, to be called an error-by which the myth concerning Perseus was introduced into the story of our soldiersaint of the East. From the fifth century to the fifteenth, mythologists nearly all give, and usually with approval, an interpretation of the word “gorgon” which makes it identical in meaning and derivation with “George.” When comparatively learned persons, taught too in this special subject, accepted such an opinion and insisted upon it, we cannot be surprised if their contemporaries, uneducated or educated only in the Christian mysteries, took readily a similar view, especially when we consider the wild confusion in medićval minds concerning the spelling of classical names. Now just as into the legend of St. Hippolytus there was introduced a long episode manifestly derived from some disarranged and misunderstood series of paintings or sculptures concerning the fate of the Greek Hippolytus,-and this is by no means a singular example, the name inscribed on the work of art being taken as evidence that it referred to the only bearer of that name and then thought of-so, in all probability, it came about with St. George. People at Lydda far on into Christian times would know vaguely, and continue to tell the story, how long ago under that familiar cliff the dragon was slain and the royal maid released. Then some ruined fresco or vase painting of the event would exist, half forgotten, with the names of the characters written after Greek fashion near them in the usual superbly errant caligraphy. The Gorgon’s name could scarcely fail to be prominent in a series of pictures from Perseus’ history, or in this scene as an explanation of the head in his hand. A Christian pilgrim, or hermit, his heart full of the great saint, whose name as “Triumphant” filled the East, would, when he had spelt out the lettering, at once exclaim, “Ah, here is recorded another of my patron’s victories.” The probability of this is enhanced by the appearance in St. George’s story of names whose

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