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

The Mountain-cults of Zeus 937

' Studi illustrativi sui bronzi arcaici trovati nelP antro di Zeus Ideo ' ib. pp. 769—904 with
a few figs., A. L. Frothingham ' Early Bronzes recently discovered on Mount Ida in Krete'
in the Am.Joum. Arch. 1888 iv. 431—449 with figs. 13—16 and pis. 16—20, H. Thiersch
' Altkretisches Kuretengerat' in the Jahrb. d. kais. deutsch. arch. Inst. 1913 xxviii Arch.
Anz. pp. 47—53 with fig. 1).

The Cave comprises three well-marked divisions : (a) the entry; {b) chamber I, the
sanctum; (c) chamber II, the sanctum sanctorum.

(a) On the south side of the entry is a great fallen rock shaped into an altar, the top of
which forms an oblong mass (4"8om long, i"95m broad, o-88m high) with a wide step all
round it (c. r'45111 broad, c. 3m high). Beside it are fragments split off from the parent
block and forming deep crannies and cavities, in which many small votive offerings came
to light. On the north side are limestone bases of bronze statues etc. formerly erected on

Fig. 836.

the stair-like rocky slope (cp. Theophr. hist. pi. 3. 3. 4 cited supra). Immediately in
front of the Cave numerous objects in bronze, silver, and gold were unearthed.

(b) The sanctum, entered through a broad yawning aperture (9'50™ high), forms a
wide hall (25™ to 31111 across) with rocky walls showing no trace of artificial niches.
Snow-drrfts have carried down into it a thick bed of earth and stones. This contains
patches of black carbonised matter, and has yielded the bulk of the articles in plate-
bronze.

(c) The sanctum sanctorum is a smaller chamber (22™ long, 8m broad, over 4'50m
high), opening out of the sanctum but almost entirely dark. The floor is covered to
a depth of several feet with a layer of ashes and charcoal, in which were found fragments
of animal-bones half-burnt, several ox-skulls with horns attached, and many terra-cotta
lamps.

Below the Cave, on the western edge of the A^a-plain, are the foundations of a
Roman house once occupied by the custodians of the sanctuary.