Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 1): Zeus god of the bright sky (Cambridge, 1914)

Sequence of the Mountain-cults 119

on the terrace adjoining the Akropolis. True, it was an altar on a
colossal scale (fig. 87)1. A substructure, measuring about 100 feet

Fig. 87.

square by about 18 feet in height, was mounted by means of a
broad staircase and adorned all round with a frieze, which repre-
sented in high relief the battle of
the Gods and the Giants. The sub-
structure was topped by an Ionic
colonnade, the back wall of which
was decorated with a smaller frieze
depicting scenes from the mythical
history of the town. Above all rose
the actual altar of burnt offering,
which, to judge from our only repre-
sentation of it, a Pergamene coin
struck by Septimius Severus (fig. 88)2,
was protected by a soaring balda-
chin ; the adjoining colonnades were
surmounted by statues of deities, and the flight of steps was

the great altar was dedicated is not attested by the extant blocks of the votive inscription.
M. Frankel in Pergamon viii no. 69 supposes that the altar was that of Zeus and Athena
Nikephoros; A. Bruckner in the Jahrb. d. kais. deutsch. arch. Inst. 1904 xix Arch. Anz.
p. 218 ff., that it was dedicated to all the gods. But it is commonly regarded as the altar
of Zeus alone.

1 Pergamon iii. 1 pi. 19. Ground-plan ib. pi. 15. Elevation of west side ib. pi. 18.

2 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Mysia p. 152 pi. 30, 7. That this coin shows the great altar
was first recognised by A. Heron de Villefosse in the Comptes rendus de PAcad, des inscr.
et belles-lettres 1901 p. 823 ff. figs, and in the Rev. Num. 1902 p. 234 ff. See also Jahrb.
d. kais. deutsch. arch. Inst. 1902 xvii Arch. Anz. p. 12 fig., Am. /ourn. Arch. 1902 vi.
461, Pergamon iii. 1. 4 f. fig., 65 f., Head Hist, num? p. 536.

Fig. 88.