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 Clouds in Art

43

of northern India, whose reign ended in 78 a.d.1, appears either half-
emergent from a pile of clouds (fig. 16)2 or sitting cross-legged
upon them as on comfortable cushions (fig. 17)3. Kanishka, his
successor from 78 a.d. onwards4, raises his head proudly above a
thick mass of clouds (fig. 1S)5. Huvishka, who probably followed
Kanishka on the throne c. 111 —129 a.d.6, repeats the types of V'ima
Kadphises and either emerges half his height above the clouds
(figs. 19, 20)7 or sits cross-legged on the top of them (fig. 21)8.

Finally, in mediaeval times, the cloud-stratum was stylised into
the nebuly of ecclesiastical9 and heraldic10 art.

FiS- '6- Fie. 17. Fie. 1

F'g- '9- Fig. 20. Fig. 21.

1 E. J. Rapson in The Cambridge History of India Cambridge 1922 i. 581 ft, cp.
L- D. Barnett Antiquities of India London 1913 p. 43. V. A. Smith I^he Early History
of India* rev. by S. M. Edwardes Oxford 1924 p. 271 makes Kadphises ii reign c. 78—

c 1 10 a.d.

2 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Greek and Scythic Kings p. 1241". pi. 25, 8 and 9 ( = my
%• 16), L. D. Barnett op. cit. p. 213 f. pi. 5) t,

Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Greek and Scythic Kings p. 124 pi. 25, 7 ( = my fig. 17),
■ J. Brown The Coins of India Calcutta 1922 p. 35 pi. 4, 3 ('the king seated cross-legged
°n a couch').

* E.J. Rapson loc. cit. V. A. Smith op. cit* pp. 274, 286 makes Kanishka succeed
Kadphises ii and reign c. 120—c. 160 a.d. L. D. Barnett op. cit. p. 42 had placed
Kanishka's reign 58—c. 34 b.c.

and° Brit- M"s. Cat. Coins Greek and Scythic Kings p. 132 pi. 26, 16 ( = my fig. 18)

11 Supra ii. 791 n. 2. V. A. Smith op. cit* p. 286fT. dates Huvishka's reign c. 160—
c- 182 a.d. L. D. Barnett op. cit. p. 42 had placed it c. 25 b.c.—c. 2 a.d.

Bnt. Mus. Cat. Coins Greek and Scythic Kings p. 136 ff. pi. 27, 9 ( = my fig. 19),
"> 16, pi. 28, 9, V. A. Smith op. cit.* p. 76 coin-pi. figs. 4, 5. Fig. 20 is from a specimen
ln my collection.

Bnt. Mus. Cat. Coins Greek and Scythic Kings p. 145 pi. 28, 10 ( = my fig. 21).
Supra ii. 137 n. o pi. viiL

O. Barron in The Encyclopedia Brilannica" Cambridge 1910 xiii. 317, A. C. Fox-
avies A complete Guide to Heraldry London 1925 pp. 79 f., 91 f. fig. 47, G, H, 94.