DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0608
554 CAVE OF PAN.
The goddess is generally represented in a sitting posture, with her
son Oros in her arms, whom she is nurturing at her breast. She
was the divinity of the Nile: and as she presided over the liquid
element, her statue is appropriately situated in the Nymphaeum.
The statue in this cave is so much damaged, that it is difficult to
ascertain whether Oros formed a part of it. It is not improbable
that this figure of Isis was sculptured in the early period of her
worship in Attica; and that the other parts of the cave were long
after decorated by Archedamos. Small statues of the ./Egyptian
goddess are frequently found in Attica, and particularly in sepul-
chres. She is also often represented on bas-reliefs of a style not
denoting high antiquity; and although she Avas venerated under
the name of Demeter, she was, at the same time, honoured under
her own appellation.1 The two names, however, came at last
to be considered as two distinct divinities, although Herodotus2
clearly affirms that the iEgyptian Isis was the same as the Attic
Demeter.
Near the statue some indefinite object is seen sculptured on the
rock; which, from its bad state of preservation, is incomprehensible
to common observers; but Dr. Chandler imagines it to be an Ithy-
phallus,3 the s}rmbol of Bacchus. This, however, I can scarcely con-
ceive, on account of its magnitude, which is but little inferior to Isis
herself, who is represented about the natural proportion.
Melampus, according to Herodotus,4 introduced the Phallic wor-
ship into Greece from iEgypt. The only monument however of
this kind, which I have seen in Greece, is an Ithyphallic terminal
figure at Libadea. They are much more common in Italy. Near
the Ithyphallus of Dr. Chandler is a niche, which once no doubt
contained the statue of Pan. Under it is inscribed, I1ANOE. Above
1 Pausan. b. 10. c. 32. °- B. 2. c. 59.
3 See Harpocration, Lex. p. 196. * B. 2 c. 49.
The goddess is generally represented in a sitting posture, with her
son Oros in her arms, whom she is nurturing at her breast. She
was the divinity of the Nile: and as she presided over the liquid
element, her statue is appropriately situated in the Nymphaeum.
The statue in this cave is so much damaged, that it is difficult to
ascertain whether Oros formed a part of it. It is not improbable
that this figure of Isis was sculptured in the early period of her
worship in Attica; and that the other parts of the cave were long
after decorated by Archedamos. Small statues of the ./Egyptian
goddess are frequently found in Attica, and particularly in sepul-
chres. She is also often represented on bas-reliefs of a style not
denoting high antiquity; and although she Avas venerated under
the name of Demeter, she was, at the same time, honoured under
her own appellation.1 The two names, however, came at last
to be considered as two distinct divinities, although Herodotus2
clearly affirms that the iEgyptian Isis was the same as the Attic
Demeter.
Near the statue some indefinite object is seen sculptured on the
rock; which, from its bad state of preservation, is incomprehensible
to common observers; but Dr. Chandler imagines it to be an Ithy-
phallus,3 the s}rmbol of Bacchus. This, however, I can scarcely con-
ceive, on account of its magnitude, which is but little inferior to Isis
herself, who is represented about the natural proportion.
Melampus, according to Herodotus,4 introduced the Phallic wor-
ship into Greece from iEgypt. The only monument however of
this kind, which I have seen in Greece, is an Ithyphallic terminal
figure at Libadea. They are much more common in Italy. Near
the Ithyphallus of Dr. Chandler is a niche, which once no doubt
contained the statue of Pan. Under it is inscribed, I1ANOE. Above
1 Pausan. b. 10. c. 32. °- B. 2. c. 59.
3 See Harpocration, Lex. p. 196. * B. 2 c. 49.