Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 2,1): Zeus god of the dark sky (thunder and lightning): Text and notes (Cambridge, 1925)

Superstitious practices with axes 701

of magic dealt in hatchets {secures). He adds elsewhere1 that the
Magi in their axe-divination (axinomantia) set fire to a piece of jet
{lapis Gagates) and, if this was not consumed, announced that the

Fig- 634.

wishes of the worshipper would come true. The connexion between
the axe and the burnt jet is not indicated and leaves room for con-
jecture2. J. Dalechamps3 in 1587 said that the jet was placed on a
red-hot hatchet—an assertion roundly rebuked by Salmasius4. as

of the Society of Biblical Archeology 1898 xx. 140—144 argues that Austanou, Ostane'
was, to begin with, one of the cynocephalous deities forming the ogdoad of Hermopolis,
that he was subsequently confounded with Thoth, that he acquired importance during the
Ptolemaic period, and that Ostanes the god then gave rise to Ostanes the priest of
Memphis, who according to Hermetic tradition initiated Demokritos of Abdera into the
mysteries (Synes. ad Dioscorum comment, in Democr. in M. Berthelot Collection des
anciens alchimistes grecs Paris 1888 Texte grec p. 57, 7 ff. = H. Diels Die Fragmente der
Vorsokratiker'i Berlin 1912 ii. 130 f.). Maspero further contends that ' Ostanes devient un
Perse par la vertu de son nom, et par suite un mage, un chaldeen, d'ou la variante qui lui
donne une origme babylonienne.' F. Granger in The Journal of Theological Studies 1904
v. 398 f. carries the matter from Greece into Italy and makes it probable 'that Pliny
depends upon Democritus for his mention of Ostanes.'

1 Plin. nat. hist. 36. 142.

2 On the virtues of jet in general see G. F. Kunz The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
Philadelphia & London 1913 pp. 91 f., 263 f., id. The Magic of Jewels and Charms
Philadelphia & London 1915 pp. 146 f., 352, 386. Burnt jet in particular had prophy-
lactic, curative, and detective powers (Plin. nat. hist. 36. 141 f. Gagates lapis...cum
uritur, odorem sulpureum reddit...fugat serpentes (cp. Nik. ther. 37 with schol. ad loc.)
ita recreatque volvae strangulationes. deprendit sonticum morbum et virginitatem suffitus).

3 On Plin. nat. hist. 36. 142 : 'Axinomantiam. Ea fit gagati imposito securi candenti.'
See also M. Delrio cited infra p. 702 n. 4.

4 C. Salmasius Plinianae exercitationes in Caii Iulii Solini Polyhistora Parisiis 1629
i. 252 E f. (' scribe : in earn quam vocant causiinomantiam ').