Cook, Arthur B.: Zeus: a study in ancient religion (Band 3,2): Zeus god of the dark sky (earthquake, clouds, wind, dew, rain, meteorits) (Cambridge, 1940)

Floating Islands ioii

Similar figures are found on gems of imperial date, either alone as on
a specimen in my collection (fig. 820: scale f), or else with
a palm-branch (Furtwangler Geschnitt. Steine Berlin p. 284
no. 7668 pi. 57 cornelian, no. 7669 cornelian) or a hydria con-
taining a palm-branch {id. ib. p. 284 no. 7670 pi. 57 sardonyx)
before them. The palm-branch is here apparently a later substitute
for the original reed-plant.

Important confirmation of this hypothesis is afforded by terra-
cotta plaques of Hellenistic date found at Praisos in eastern Fig. 820.
Crete. They show a girl with short chiton and spread kdlathos, who
is dancing in front of 'a tall, bending plant, apparently a reed' (E. S. Forster in

Fig. 821.

the Ann. Brit. Sch. At/i. 1904—1905 xi. 255 with fig. 17 = my fig. 821 (height -23'"),
cp. F. Halbherr in the Am. Journ. Arch. 1901 v. 390 pi. 12, 5).

In this connexion it may be noted that some would see a phallic significance