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)

780

Modifications in the shape

became extremely popular in Hellenistic1 and Roman times {supra
i. 607 fig. 478, ii. 750 fig. 689, pi. xxxiv).

These three modifications of the lotos—flames, wings, and spiral
twist—are all to be found on the wonderful series of silver coins
struck by the temple-mints at Olympia (pi. xxxvi)2. The coins in
question form the subject of an important monograph by C. T.
Seltman, who has devoted a special section to their treatment of the
thunderbolt3. It appears that the basis of the Olympian design was,
from first to last, the duplicated lotos. Flame-lines, commencing as
a detail on coins issued from c. 510 B.C. by the mint of Zeus
(pi. xxxvi, 1 ff.), end by becoming the principal feature on coins
issued from c. 421 B.C. by the mint of Hera (pi. xxxvi, 11 f.).
Wings, which begin as a mere feathering of the calyx (pi. xxxvi, 1),
develop into pinions of various shapes and sizes. The thunderbolt is,
in fact, transformed before our eyes into a winged creature instinct
with a life of its own. Now it spreads its glorious vanes like a

1 E.g. on an Apulian kratir at Naples (Heydemann Vasensamml. ATeapel p. 591 ff.
no. 3256, E. Braun in the Ann. d. Inst. 1836 viii. 99 ff., Mon. d. Inst, ii pis. 30—32,
Overbeck Gr. Kunstmyth. Zeus p. 182 ff. (n), Atlas pi. 1, 26 (Zeus only), C. Robert Die
Marathonschlacht in der Poikile und weiteres iiber Polygnot Halle 1895 p. 36 ff. (omitting
restorations), Reinach Rep. Vases i. 98—100).

- The arrangement of the coins on pi. xxxvi is not primarily chronological, but typo-
logical: nos. 1—4 = flower + flame + wings ; nos. 5, 6 = two exceptional forms; nos. 7,
8 = closing wings; no. 9 = flower + flame, without wings; no. 10 = flower + wings, with
flame reduced to a minimum; nos. 11, 12= flames increased to a maximum. The
specimens figured are the following :

1 McLean collection = Seltman no. 14, a pi. r, K/U of Series ii (c. 510—c. 471 B.C.).

2 McLean collection = Seltman no. 131, a pi. 4, BK 75 of Series xiii (c. 432—

C. 421 B.C.).

3 McLean collection = Seltman no. 124, c pi. 4, BH /3% of Series xii (c. 452—

C. 432 B.C.).

4 McLean collection, cp. Seltman p. 57 pi. 8, 7 of Series x (c. 452—c. 432 B.C.).

5 McLean collection = Seltman no. 143, a pi. 5, BP yv of Series xv [c. 421 —

C. 365 B.C.).

6 McLean collection, cp. Seltman p. 32 f. pi. 8, 35 of Series xxv (<:. 191 B.C. —).

7 McLean collection = Seltman no. 154, c pi. 5, BT2 y<p of Series xvii (c. 421—

C. 365 B.C.).

8 British Museum = Seltman no. 172, e pi. 5, BX 89 of Series xviii (c. 421 —

C. 365 B.C.).

9 McLean collection = Seltman no. 164, a pi. 5, BV 5f of Series xviii (c. 421—

C. 365 B.C.).

10 McLean electrotype of specimen at Vienna = Seltman no. 141, c pi. 5, BO y\ of

Series xv (c. 421—c. 365 B.C.).
ir Leake collection — Seltman no. 242, a pi. 9, EA 77a of Series xxvi (c. 421 —

C. 385 B.C.).

12 McLean collection = Seltman no. 266, a pi. 9, EH t)ir of Series xxvii [c. 421 —
c. 385 B.C.).

:J C. T. Seltman 'The Temple Coins of Olympia' in Nomisma 1913 viii. 23—65
pis. 1—4, ib. 1914 ix. 1—33 pis. 5—8, ib. 1921 xi. 75—117 pis. 9 —12.