The Dioskouroi as Stars
Now several Spartan reliefs of the second century B.C. show the
Dioskouroi standing on either side of a pillar-like female figure1,
which has been interpreted as an archaic image of Helene2. It is
Fig. 560. Fig. 561.
Fig. 562. Fig. 563.
therefore probable that the pillar on our mirrors too is the aniconic
form of the same goddess, whose star is here seen flanked by her
brothers.
1 A. Conze and A. Michaelis in the Ann. d. Inst. 1861 xxxiii. 39 f. pi. D, 1 and 2,
A. Furtwangler in Roscher Lex. Myth. i. 1167 fig., M. N. Tod and A. J. B. Wace
A Catalogue of the Sparta Museum Oxford 1906 p. 158 nos. 201—203 figs. 38 f.
2 A. Conze and A. Mich'aelis loc. at., A. Furtwangler loc. fit.
C. 49
Now several Spartan reliefs of the second century B.C. show the
Dioskouroi standing on either side of a pillar-like female figure1,
which has been interpreted as an archaic image of Helene2. It is
Fig. 560. Fig. 561.
Fig. 562. Fig. 563.
therefore probable that the pillar on our mirrors too is the aniconic
form of the same goddess, whose star is here seen flanked by her
brothers.
1 A. Conze and A. Michaelis in the Ann. d. Inst. 1861 xxxiii. 39 f. pi. D, 1 and 2,
A. Furtwangler in Roscher Lex. Myth. i. 1167 fig., M. N. Tod and A. J. B. Wace
A Catalogue of the Sparta Museum Oxford 1906 p. 158 nos. 201—203 figs. 38 f.
2 A. Conze and A. Mich'aelis loc. at., A. Furtwangler loc. fit.
C. 49