DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14695#0374
3 00
The Lycian Symbol
variable number of lines curving either to the left or to the right,
but never straight. Of these lines there are usually three1 (fig. 224),
sometimes four2 (fig. 225), occasionally two3 (fig. 226), and in a
single exceptional case but one4 (fig. 227). The symbol in question
Fig. 224. Fig. 225. Fig. 226. Fig. 227.
is now and again subjected to further complications. An example
in the Paris collection5 (fig. 228) has the ring with three radiating
lines mounted on a round shield or disk from behind which appear
four similar lines curving alternately to left and right. Or, again,
Fig. 228. Fig. 229. Fig. 230.
animal forms are introduced. One branch may end in the head of
a monster6 (fig. 229), or snake7 (fig. 230); or all the branches may
be furnished with the heads of cocks8 (fig. 231), or of swans or
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. Corns Lycia etc. pp. xxviif. 6 ff. pis. 2 ff., Babelon Monn. gr. rom.
ii. 1. 493 ff., 509 ff., pis. 21, 20 ff., 22, 1 ff., Head Hist, num? p. 688 ff.
2 Brit. Mus. Cat. Corns Lycia etc. p. 18 ff. pi. 5, 4 ff., p. 25 pi. 6, 13.
3 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 23 pi. 6, 7, p. 24 pi. 6, 8, 9, 11, p. 26 pi. 6, 16,
p. 28 pi. 7, 10, Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 2. 225^ pi. 95, 12 ff., 303f.pl. 101, 18.
Sometimes this type appears as S with an appendage like a handle affixed to its centre
{id. ib. ii. 2. 201 f. pi. 93, 13 f.).
4 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 25 pi. 6, 13. The supposed hook (apirrj) on a
silver coin of Arpi in Apulia (Garrucci Mon. It. ant. p. 112 pi. 93, 8, Brit. Mus. Cat.
Coins Italy p. 130, Head Hist, num.2 p. 44, Anson Num. Gr. vi pi. 13, 759) closely
resembles this form of the Lycian symbol.
5 Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 1. 501 ff. pi. 22, 17.
6 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 12 pi. 3, 14, Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 2.
233 f. pi. 96, 1, Head Hist, num? p. 690.
7 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 18 pi. 5, 3, Head Hist, num.2 p. 690
(' serpent').
8 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 9 pi. 3, 1—4, Babelon Monn.gr. rom. ii. U
497 ff., pi. 22, 8—10, Head Hist, num? p. 689 f.
The Lycian Symbol
variable number of lines curving either to the left or to the right,
but never straight. Of these lines there are usually three1 (fig. 224),
sometimes four2 (fig. 225), occasionally two3 (fig. 226), and in a
single exceptional case but one4 (fig. 227). The symbol in question
Fig. 224. Fig. 225. Fig. 226. Fig. 227.
is now and again subjected to further complications. An example
in the Paris collection5 (fig. 228) has the ring with three radiating
lines mounted on a round shield or disk from behind which appear
four similar lines curving alternately to left and right. Or, again,
Fig. 228. Fig. 229. Fig. 230.
animal forms are introduced. One branch may end in the head of
a monster6 (fig. 229), or snake7 (fig. 230); or all the branches may
be furnished with the heads of cocks8 (fig. 231), or of swans or
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. Corns Lycia etc. pp. xxviif. 6 ff. pis. 2 ff., Babelon Monn. gr. rom.
ii. 1. 493 ff., 509 ff., pis. 21, 20 ff., 22, 1 ff., Head Hist, num? p. 688 ff.
2 Brit. Mus. Cat. Corns Lycia etc. p. 18 ff. pi. 5, 4 ff., p. 25 pi. 6, 13.
3 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 23 pi. 6, 7, p. 24 pi. 6, 8, 9, 11, p. 26 pi. 6, 16,
p. 28 pi. 7, 10, Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 2. 225^ pi. 95, 12 ff., 303f.pl. 101, 18.
Sometimes this type appears as S with an appendage like a handle affixed to its centre
{id. ib. ii. 2. 201 f. pi. 93, 13 f.).
4 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 25 pi. 6, 13. The supposed hook (apirrj) on a
silver coin of Arpi in Apulia (Garrucci Mon. It. ant. p. 112 pi. 93, 8, Brit. Mus. Cat.
Coins Italy p. 130, Head Hist, num.2 p. 44, Anson Num. Gr. vi pi. 13, 759) closely
resembles this form of the Lycian symbol.
5 Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 1. 501 ff. pi. 22, 17.
6 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 12 pi. 3, 14, Babelon Monn. gr. rom. ii. 2.
233 f. pi. 96, 1, Head Hist, num? p. 690.
7 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 18 pi. 5, 3, Head Hist, num.2 p. 690
(' serpent').
8 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Lycia etc. p. 9 pi. 3, 1—4, Babelon Monn.gr. rom. ii. U
497 ff., pi. 22, 8—10, Head Hist, num? p. 689 f.