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

592 The Bull and the Sun in Syria

goddess whom the Greeks described as 'Nature or the Cause
that made out of moisture the first principles and seeds of

seated on the (paXXol raised for Dionysos, and notes that on the right of the temple at
Hierapolis is seated a small bronze figure of a man with a large aidoiov. However that
may be, the Syrian climbs his <pa\\6s, as an Arab or an Egyptian climbs a date-palm.
On the top he erects a hut and receives offerings. A man standing below shouts up the
name of each donor. He, up aloft, invokes a blessing upon the latter and, during his
prayer, beats a vessel of bronze, which makes a great clanging reverberation. He keeps
a sleepless vigil; for, should he sleep, a scorpion would climb up and attack him (ib. 16
and 28 f.). [In the Jakrb. d. kais. deutsch. arch. Inst. 1912 xxvii Arch. Anz. pp. 13—16
R. Hartmann attempts to show that a bronze statuette at Stuttgart represents this
(pa\\o/3&Tr]s—an improbable view. The vevpocriraaTa in question may, I think, be
illustrated from a black-figured kylix at Florence published by H. Heydemann Mittheil-
ungen aus den Antikensammlungen in Oder- und Mittelitalien Halle 1879 P* 95 no* 5°
(Preuss in the Archiv fur Anthropologic N. F. 1903 i. 129 ff. figs., A. Dieterich Mutter
Erde Leipzig and Berlin 1905 p. 107 ff. figs.) and Milani Stud, e mat. di arch, c num.
1902 ii. 78 ff. figs. 262 a, 262 b : cp. Hdt. 2. 48, Flout, de Is. et Os. 12, 36. F. Cuniont
—E. Cumont Voyage d'exploration archiologique dans le Pont et la petite Armenie ii. 337
figure cylinders of enamelled terra cotta, c. -50111 high, found at Erzingian and thought
by the Turks to be (paXXoi used in the cult of the Syrian goddess. On the beaten gong
see the Journ. Hell. Stud. 1902 xxii. 5—28.]

Outside the temple is a large bronze altar and countless bronze statues of kings and
priests, including Semiramis, who claimed divine honours, Helene, Hekabe, Andromache,
Paris, Hektor, Achilles, Nireus son of Aglai'a, Philomele and Prokne as women, Tereus
as a bird, Semiramis again, Kombabos, Stratonike, Alexander, Sardanapallos. In the
courtyard great bulls, horses, eagles, bears, and lions roam about: they are all sacred and
harm no man (ib. 39—41).

Numerous priests slay victims, or bear libations, or are 'fire-bearers,' or wait beside
the altar: more than 300 of them come to the sacrifice. All wear white garments and a
felt cap, except the chief priest, who alone wears a purple robe and a golden tiara.
Besides, there are other sacred persons—flute-players, pipers, eunuchs and frenzied
women (who dote upon them: ib. 22). All come to the sacrifice, which takes place
twice a day. During the sacrifice to Zeus they keep silence; during that to Hera they
sing, play the flute, and shake rattles (ib. 42—44).

Near the temple is a lake containing sacred fish of various kinds. The large ones have
separate names and come when called. One of them is decked with gold, having a golden
object attached to his fin. The lake is said to be over 200 fathoms in depth. In the
midst of it is a stone altar, thought by many to be floating on the water. It is always
wreathed and perfumed: many persons under a vow swim to it daily and bring the
wreaths. Important festivals are held here, known as ' Descents to the Lake,' because
all the deities come down to the lake. Hera arrives first to save the fish; for, if Zeus
saw them before her, they would all perish. He too comes to look at them; but she
blocks the way and implores him to depart. On the occasion of their greatest festivals
[cp. supra p. 584 n. 1] they go down to the sea. Each man returns bearing a vessel of
water sealed with wax. A sacred 'cock,' living on the lake, receives the vessels, inspects
their seals, and earns many mnai for himself by unfastening them. The men then take the
vessels to the temple, pour their libations, offer sacrifices, and so return home (ib. 45—48).

The greatest festival known to the writer is, however, celebrated at the beginning of
spring and named the ' Pyre' or the ' Torch.' They cut down great trees and erect them
in the courtyard. On these they hang live goats, sheep, etc. together with birds,
garments, and objects in gold or silver. When ail is ready, they bear the deities round
the trees, which they fire and consume on the spot. This festival is attended by a multi-
tude from Syria and the surrounding districts: all who come bring with them their own
deities and images of the same. On certain specified days the crowd assembles in the