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

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https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14695#0309

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236 The Solar Wheel in Greece

reverse is probably, as E. Babelon surmised, that of Bes1; and the
bust of Bes too is a known type on autonomous silver coins of
Gaza2. Further, there was at Gaza an image of Io the moon-
goddess with a cow beside it3. And Iao, the supposed sun-god,
was early represented as a golden calf4. Is it not permissible to
think that the inhabitants of Gaza imported the cult of the Jewish
deity as a pendant to that of their own Io ? Certainly their
Cretan ancestors had worshipped the sun and the moon as a bull
and a cow respectively5. Nor need we be surprised at their

Fig. 176. Fig. 177.

borrowing the type of Triptolemos' throne, wheeled and winged.
Triptolemos, according to Argive tradition, was the son of Trochtlos,
the 'Wheel'-man6; and Trochilos in turn was the son of Kallithea7,
another name of Io8. Moreover, Triptolemos is said to have gone
eastwards in quest of Io, taking with him a company of Argives,
who founded Tarsos in Kilikia9, lone10 or Iopolis on Mount Silpion

1 E. Babelon Les Perses Ache'me'nides Paris 1893 p. lxvi. E. J. Pilcher's contention
(supra p. 232 n. 1) that this is the promontory near Tripolis called to tov Qeov irpoawirov
(Strab. 754, 755, Eustath. in Dionys. per. 914) or Theuprosopon (Mela 1. 67) is ingenious,
but unconvincing.

2 Babelon Monn.gr. roni. ii. 2. 6571!". pi. 124, 8 f., 18 ff., Head Hist, num.'2 p. 805.

3 Steph. Byz. s. vv. Tdfa, 'loviov, Eustath. in Dionys. per. 92. On imperial coins of
Gaza representing €IC0 (fig. 175) see Eckhel op. cit. iii. 449 ff., Rasche op. cit. iii.
1331 ff., Suppl. ii. ii98ff., Head Hist, num.2 p. 805, Stark op. cit. p. 585 ff. These
coins (figs. 176, 177) often show the Tyche of Gaza with a bull or cow or cow's head at
her feet (Eckhel id. iii. 450, Rasche ib. iii. 1333f., Suppl. ii. 1199^, Head id., Stark id.
p. 585 f. pi. 1, 4)—a type inspired, as Eckhel pointed out, by the image of Io.

4 B. Stade op. cit. p. i2of. 5 Infra ch. i § 6 (g) xi.

6 Supra pp. 212, 225 f. 7 Schol. Arat. phaen. 161.

8 Infra ch. i § 6 (g) viii. 9 Strab. 673, 750.

10 Liban. or. 11. 44ff. (i. 451 ff. Foerster), cp. Steph. Byz. s.v. 'Iuj^tj. Liban.tr. ii. 51
 
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