Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 3,1): Zeus god of the dark sky (earthquake, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorits): Text and notes (Cambridge, 1940)

Zeus and the Earthquakes 29

Philippoi (fig. 6). Above we see the gaol and the gaoler about to
kill himself; below, the earth cracking as a gigantic nude bearded
figure emerges breast-high with scowling forehead and uplifted fists .
In the Second Part of Goethe's Faust (1827—1832) an earthquake
suddenly disturbs the peace of the upper Peneios. Seismos, 'rumbling
and grumbling down below,' groans out:

Heave again with straining muscle,

With the shoulders shove and hustle,

So our way to light we justle,

Where before us all must fly2.
He is however conscious that he makes the mountains picturesque,
and claims that by so doing he benefits the very gods :

Apollo now dwells blithely yonder,

With the blest Muses' choir. 'Twas I

For Jove himself, with all his bolts of thunder,

That heaved the regal chair on high3.
Less intelligent, but more intense, and quite refreshingly direct
is the attitude of the modern Greek peasant in regions where the
earthquake is no theme for artistic representation4 or academic
interest. Natives of Zakynthos, when the shock is felt, will cry out
in deprecation 'My God, cease thine anger!5' And the inhabitants
of Arachova on Mount Parnassos fancy that God in rage and fury
'rolls his eyes and is minded to ruin the world, only the Blessed
Virgin beseeches him and stays his wrath6.'

1 E. Miintz Les tapisseries de Raphael au Vatican Paris 1897 p. 20 fig. ( = my fig. 6).
P- Oppe Raphael London 1909 p. 160 f. pi. 115, 1. The cartoons are now in the South
Kensington Museum, the tapestries themselves in the Vatican.

2 Goethe's Faust trans. A. G. Latham London 1908 Part ii. 138.

s lb. Part ii. 139. See further F. Piper Mythologie und Symbolik der christlichen
Kunst Weimar 1851 i. 2. 481—489 ('Erdbeben').

4 A small marble frieze found on the base of a lararium in the house of the auctioneer
L. Caecilius Iucundus at Pompeii (J. Overbeck—A. Mau Pompeji* Leipzig 1884 p. 69 f.
%• 31 =my fig. 7, C. Weichardt Pompeji vor der Zcrstoerung Leipzig s.a. 81 f. fig- 102)
has a relief representing the north side of the Forum. We see the facade of the temple of
lupiter, flanked by two equestrian statues, with a commemorative arch to the left and an
altar etc. to the right. The slanting forms of the temple and arch have been supposed to
show the dire effects produced by the earthquake of 63 A.D. (M. Neumayr Erdgeschichtc
Leipzig 1886 i. 139 cited by C. Weichardt op. cit. p. 82 n.*, W. H. Hobbs Earthquakes
New York 1907 p. 9 fig. 3), but are of course merely due to a careless craftsman who
«ood too far towards the right in carving the relief (J. Overbeck—A. Mau op. cit.1 p. 7°
'ein unglucklicher Versuch, die perspectivische Verschiebung wiederzugeben' does him
tQo much honour).

5 B. Schmidt Das Volksltben der Neugriechen Leipzig 1871 i. 34 l">v> vd^e ri>v
°Pyq crovl).

6 Id. ib. i. 34 n. 1 (yovpXtvti to. pana tov kt) SiK' va X«-^V ™iv K6ff/iov, dXV V UwayM
Tov" ""opaKoXci kt) Tav' t'v ovpyr) t). .

D. H. Kerler Die Patronate der Heiligen Ulm 1905 p. 86 f. gives a list of saints