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)

764 Modifications in the shape

must needs be the All-wise. And what of the All-terrible? His
eagle is relegated to a position near to, yet apart from, himself:
it is retained for suitable service. But the thunderbolt, once the
outstanding feature in the Zeus-cult of Tarentum1, has wholly
vanished. In its stead we discern, however darkly, the workings
of divine Providence.

(/3) Modifications in the shape of the thunderbolt.

Modifications maybe noted, not only in the use of the thunder-
bolt, but also in its shape. P. Jacobsthal2 in a monograph devoted
to the subject distinguishes two varieties of ancient oriental repre-

Fig. 715. Fig. 716.

sentation. Lightning in Mesopotamian art is either bipartite or tri-
partite. The bipartite sort, which is the commoner and probably the

1 Supra p. 29 ff.

2 P. Jacobsthal Der Blitz in der orientalischen und griechischen Kunst Berlin 1906
pp. 1—60 with 4 pis. R. Engelmann, reviewing this work in the Berl. philol. Woch.
Juli 13, 1907 p. 877 f., draws attention to an unpublished collection of lightning-shapes
in a Vatican manuscript (cod. Ottobon. 3100 fol. 135—173 Raccolta. di. varij. ful-
mini j] delineati. da. gioie. marmi || e. medaglie).