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

Triptolemos

Passing from the sixth century to the fifth, or at least from
black-figured to red-figured vases, we find Triptolemos invariably
depicted as a beardless youth, not a bearded man. His seat is al-
ways winged and sometimes, especially on the later1 vases, furnished
with snakes. In the great majority of cases the scene represented
is that of Triptolemos starting on his long journey. Demeter for

Fig. 161.

the most part fills him ophidic, that he may pour a libation before
he goes. Two vases, out of many, will serve as illustrations. A

skins, wearing a mask and with bells round his neck, and in his hand a broom of the kind
used for sweeping out ovens, goes round collecting food and presents. He is addressed
as king and escorted with music. With him is a boy carrying a wooden bottle and a cup,
who gives wine to each householder, receiving in return a gift. They are accompanied by
boys dressed as girls. The king then mounts a two-wheeled cart and is drawn to the
church. Here two bands are formed of married and unmarried men respectively, and
each tries to make the king throw upon themselves the seed which he holds in his hands.
This he finally casts on the ground in front of the church. He

is then thrown into the river, stripped of his skin clothes (dXoyvfx-
vos), and then resumes his usual dress' (R. M. Dawkins in the
Journ. Hell. Stud. 1906 xxvi. 201 f.).

1 Cp. an electrum slater of Kyzikos c. 450—400 B.C., which
shows the hero with his corn-ears drawn by two winged snakes
{Brit. Mm. Cat. Coins Mysie p. 26 pi. 6, 9, Babelon Monn. gr.

rom. ii. 1. 1425 f. pi. 175, 1, W. Greenwell in the Num. Chron.
Third Series 1887 vii. 53 f. no. 16 pi. r, 17). I figure a specimen
in the McClean collection, Cambridge (fig. 160).