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)

The snake of Athena

765

The scene recalls an early passage in the Ion1:
To earth-born Erichthonios Zeus' daughter
Assigned as watchful guards a pair of snakes,
And bade the Aglaurid maidens keep their trust.
Wherefore Erechtheus' sons in Athens still
Are wont to rear their babes 'mid snakes of gold.

The sequel makes it clear that the last couplet alludes to prophyl-
actic snakes hung round the necks of infants {^perideraia'2^). For the
mutual recognition of mother and son at the close of the play turns
largely on the preservation and production of such a gaud3:

Ion Is there aught else,—or canst thou guess but once?

Kreousa Snakes all of gold, the custom of my race.

Ion Athena's gift, and used by her command?

Kreousa Copied from Erichthonios of yore.

Ion How is the trinket used and worn? Explain.

Kreousa As necklace for a new-born babe, my child.

Ion The snakes are here !

f%- 555- Fig. 556. Fig. 5

S9/-

^° necklace of the sort, so far as I know, has come down to us.
"guiform bracelets (figs. 555, 556, 557)4, ear-rings (fig. 558)5,finger-

, Fllr- Ion 10 ff. s Supra ii. 699.

< f;ur- /o» 1426 ff. trans. A. W. Verrall (adapted),
of Wo specimens in my collection will serve: Fig. 555 is a slender bronze bracelet,
cn,„ ,<nown provenance but exquisite Greek workmanship, representing a single snake

kJ6'6 from lleacl to tail.
Each f ^ 'S a th'ck silver brac,-let' one °ra Pair found in a fourth-century grave at Sinope.

facelet ends in two snake-heads (a^ia^aiva) with neck-markings roughly rendered.
Ponii 'S an armlct of solid gold, one of a pair from Pompeii (Roux—Barre Here, et

a sitifri I5ronzes 3c s^rie P- '9° f- PL 92' 1 =niy fig- 557 (scale 4)>- Each elastic sP'ral is
6 p° snake with garnets serving as eyes and a thin metal tongue inserted in the mouth.
'S- 558 is a bronze ear-ring in my collection. It was found in Syria together