DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14696#0696
The axe carried by priests and priestesses 621
and perforated, the handle prolonged above it so that it could be
grasped at either end. The other man, who is seemingly nude,
stands at a little distance facing the axe-bearer with a gesture of
respect. What these various figures signify, we cannot tell. But it is
reasonable to suppose that the personage carrying the two-handled
axe is a priest, who holds out the weapon of his god for the ap-
proaching worshipper to clasp, much as Ahasuerus held out to
Esther the golden sceptre1.
A glandular sardonyx from the Vaphio tomb (fig. 519)3, now in
the Central Museum at Athens3, has incised upon it a beardless
man in a long robe, who raises his right hand in the attitude of
adoration and supports on his left shoulder an axe crescentic and
holed as before. G. Perrot and C. Chipiez4 took him to be perhaps
a man sacrificing. A. Furtwangler5 suggested that he might be
meant for a priest, or for a god, possibly Zeus. And L. A. Milani6
declares that he is an armed deity comparable with the Hittite
sceptre and ring on the rock-cut reliefs of Bavian (Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de V Art ii. 636 ft.
fig. 310) and Maltai (id. ii. 642 ff. fig. 313) is misleading.
1 Esther 4. 11, 5. 2, 8. 4.
2 Ch. Tsountas '"Epewcu iv rrj AaKwvLKy /ecu 6 rd(pos tov Bacpeiov' in the E</>. 'Apx-
1889 p. 167 pi. 10, 26, Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de VArt vi. 847 fig. 431, 4 ( = my fig. 519),
849, 977, Furtwangler Ant. Gemmen i pi. 2, 47, ii. 13.
3 Stais Coll. Mycinienne : Athbtes p. 152 no. 1798.
4 Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de VArt vi. 977.
5 Furtwangler Ant. Gemmen ii. 13.
6 Milani Stud, e mat. di arch, e num. 1902 ii. 8 fig. 109.
and perforated, the handle prolonged above it so that it could be
grasped at either end. The other man, who is seemingly nude,
stands at a little distance facing the axe-bearer with a gesture of
respect. What these various figures signify, we cannot tell. But it is
reasonable to suppose that the personage carrying the two-handled
axe is a priest, who holds out the weapon of his god for the ap-
proaching worshipper to clasp, much as Ahasuerus held out to
Esther the golden sceptre1.
A glandular sardonyx from the Vaphio tomb (fig. 519)3, now in
the Central Museum at Athens3, has incised upon it a beardless
man in a long robe, who raises his right hand in the attitude of
adoration and supports on his left shoulder an axe crescentic and
holed as before. G. Perrot and C. Chipiez4 took him to be perhaps
a man sacrificing. A. Furtwangler5 suggested that he might be
meant for a priest, or for a god, possibly Zeus. And L. A. Milani6
declares that he is an armed deity comparable with the Hittite
sceptre and ring on the rock-cut reliefs of Bavian (Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de V Art ii. 636 ft.
fig. 310) and Maltai (id. ii. 642 ff. fig. 313) is misleading.
1 Esther 4. 11, 5. 2, 8. 4.
2 Ch. Tsountas '"Epewcu iv rrj AaKwvLKy /ecu 6 rd(pos tov Bacpeiov' in the E</>. 'Apx-
1889 p. 167 pi. 10, 26, Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de VArt vi. 847 fig. 431, 4 ( = my fig. 519),
849, 977, Furtwangler Ant. Gemmen i pi. 2, 47, ii. 13.
3 Stais Coll. Mycinienne : Athbtes p. 152 no. 1798.
4 Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de VArt vi. 977.
5 Furtwangler Ant. Gemmen ii. 13.
6 Milani Stud, e mat. di arch, e num. 1902 ii. 8 fig. 109.