DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8944#0043
MYCENAEAN TREE AND Pi LEAR CULT.
141
single altar, so that if we have not here a single divinity in a triple form we
have at least to do with avv^w^oi. The doves certainly recall the Cartha-
ginian and Libyan shrines of Tanit, whose pillar idol is so often three times
repeated—in that case, however, in a single shrine.
The trimorphic or triune conception of divinity seems to represent a
very early element in Greek religion, of which many survivals, such as the
triple Hekate, may be noted in later times. The most interesting of these
survivals is to be found in the later cult of Minyan Orchomenos, where,
down to Pausanias's time, the images of the Graces, which were contained
in the most ancient sanctuary of the place and received the greatest
veneration, were three natural stones, which were said to have fallen
from heaven. It was only in his own time that this group of primitive
baetylic pillars was supplemented by artistically carved images.1
On one of the more recently discovered gold signets from Mycenae2
appears a sacral doorway, which at first sight seems to offer a more
Fig. 24.—Wobshep of Group of Pillars on Cylinder, Mycenae (})
literal parallel than any of the above to the threefold groups of baetylic
pillars on votive or Carthaginian stelae and Arabian cave ' mosques.'
Three apparent columns are seen ranged together within its open portal, but
closer inspection shows that they are in fact the trunks of a group of three
trees, whose branches rise above the impost of the shrine, which is thus
shown to be of the hypaethral class. This triplet of sacred trees recurs on
other Mycenaean seals, and may with great probability be regarded as the
cult equivalent of the trinity of pillars in the dove shrines.
A good example of the worship of a trinity of sacred trees is supplied
by a rock crystal lentoid found in the Idaean Cave,3 (Fig. 25). Here a
female votary is seen blowing a conch-shell or triton before an altar of the
usual Mycenaean shape. Above the altar is seen a group of three trees ap-
parently cypresses, and immediately in front of them the ' horns of con-
1 Pans. ix. 38, 1. an enlarged drawing by Mr. P. Anderson
? Sec below p. 183. from a cast obtained by me some years since
3 L. Mariani, 'A n t i c h i t a Cretesi' [Sfon. at Gandia. The gem is in the Museum of
Ant. vi. 1895, p. 178, Fig. 12); Furtw. Ant. that town. .
Ctmm. iii. p. 47, Fig. ±2. Fig. 2o represents
141
single altar, so that if we have not here a single divinity in a triple form we
have at least to do with avv^w^oi. The doves certainly recall the Cartha-
ginian and Libyan shrines of Tanit, whose pillar idol is so often three times
repeated—in that case, however, in a single shrine.
The trimorphic or triune conception of divinity seems to represent a
very early element in Greek religion, of which many survivals, such as the
triple Hekate, may be noted in later times. The most interesting of these
survivals is to be found in the later cult of Minyan Orchomenos, where,
down to Pausanias's time, the images of the Graces, which were contained
in the most ancient sanctuary of the place and received the greatest
veneration, were three natural stones, which were said to have fallen
from heaven. It was only in his own time that this group of primitive
baetylic pillars was supplemented by artistically carved images.1
On one of the more recently discovered gold signets from Mycenae2
appears a sacral doorway, which at first sight seems to offer a more
Fig. 24.—Wobshep of Group of Pillars on Cylinder, Mycenae (})
literal parallel than any of the above to the threefold groups of baetylic
pillars on votive or Carthaginian stelae and Arabian cave ' mosques.'
Three apparent columns are seen ranged together within its open portal, but
closer inspection shows that they are in fact the trunks of a group of three
trees, whose branches rise above the impost of the shrine, which is thus
shown to be of the hypaethral class. This triplet of sacred trees recurs on
other Mycenaean seals, and may with great probability be regarded as the
cult equivalent of the trinity of pillars in the dove shrines.
A good example of the worship of a trinity of sacred trees is supplied
by a rock crystal lentoid found in the Idaean Cave,3 (Fig. 25). Here a
female votary is seen blowing a conch-shell or triton before an altar of the
usual Mycenaean shape. Above the altar is seen a group of three trees ap-
parently cypresses, and immediately in front of them the ' horns of con-
1 Pans. ix. 38, 1. an enlarged drawing by Mr. P. Anderson
? Sec below p. 183. from a cast obtained by me some years since
3 L. Mariani, 'A n t i c h i t a Cretesi' [Sfon. at Gandia. The gem is in the Museum of
Ant. vi. 1895, p. 178, Fig. 12); Furtw. Ant. that town. .
Ctmm. iii. p. 47, Fig. ±2. Fig. 2o represents