FONT

(Lat. fons.) In Architecture and Sculpture, a ve el generally of stone or marble for containing the water of baptism in the Christian church. Some of the early fonts are extremely beautiful, and wrought with extraordinary richne of decoration. The singular inscription which is frequently found on the walls of baptisteries occurs also occasionally on ancient fonts — NI^ON ANOIMHMATA MH MONAN 0-*IN; which reads equally forwards or backwards, admonishing the reader to cleanse himself from evil deeds not le than use the outward ceremony of baptism. [s. 473]