| RefNo | MS/790/141 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Edmund Prideaux, Aix, [France], to [Martin Folkes] |
| Creator | Prideaux; Edmund (1693-1745); artist and antiquarian |
| Recipient | Folkes; Martin (1690 - 1754); antiquary and natural philosopher |
| Date | 29 August 1739 |
| Description | Prideaux reports that he is not yet in Italy. He spent longer than planned at Nismes [Nimes] enjoying the antiquities, some of which he describes. He describes the Tuscan amphitheatre including its state of completeness, history and current use as a place of play and rendezvous. He also descibes the "Maison Quarree" [Maison Carée] converted into a church, which he was shown by Father Commaitre and drew from a window in the old convent. He descibes a further building, outside the town walls, supposed to be a temple of Diana where baths have recently been excavated and most of the antiquarian finds taken to the house of the Bishop, including coins, inscriptions and medals. He has been offered medals of Domitian, Nerva, Trajan, Antoninus Pius and Faustina for sale but at too high a price. He has bought one bearing the arms of the colony of Nismes; a crocodile under a palm tree. There are four crocodiles hanging in the town hall as a curiosity. He describes a further curiosity; the Pont du Gard a well preserved Roman arched bridge. Has not copied inscriptions at Nismes or Lyon as he believes they are all recorded already. Sends regards to the Folkes family from himself and Humphrey [Prideaux]. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8378 | Folkes; Martin (1690 - 1754); antiquary and natural philosopher | 1690 - 1754 |