DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8944#0051
MYCENAEAN TREE AND PILLAR CULT.
149
Fig.
s
28.—Egyptian Palmette Pillars and
the Rayed Pillaks ok Cyprus.
1—3. Egyptian Pillars. 4—7. Cypro-Myoanaean
Derivatives.
Examples of the two former classes are given on Fig. 28, 4-7, and the
dependence of the two first on the contemporary Egyptian prototypes, illus-
trated in the same figure (Nos. 1-3), becomes self evident. The rays of the
Cypriote pillar are, in fact, directly ■
suggested by the radiating leaflets
of the palmette type.
But the radiation itself, though
its pictorial representation was thus
facilitated by certain features in the
symbolic Egyptian pillar, has also a
distinct religious value. The rays
indeed as the natural concomitant
of divinities of light are a very
ancient oriental tradition. Samas
the Babylonian Sun-God is habit-
ually represented with rays issuing
from his shoulders and radiate divin-
ities of the same class are not infre-
quent in the neighbouring Syrian and
Anatolian regions1 which show a certain analogy with these Cypro-Myceuaean
pillars. The luminous baetylic pillars of Melkarfc at Tyre repeat the same
idea. How natural even to savage races is the addition of rays to the rude
image that represents the Sun Spirit is well illustrated by a religious usage of
the modern Melanesians. In the New Hebrides the stone which is regarded
as the potential dwelling-place of the Sun Spirit ' is laid upon the ground and
a circle of white rods which stand for sunbeams are set round so as to radiate
from it in all directions.' -
In the radiation of the Cypriote pillars we see_ an adaptation of the
radiating leaflets on the original palmette to a very widespread and primitive
idea connected with solar pillars and images. The monsters associated with
these columns as guardians and adorants are quite in keeping with this solar
attribution. The griffins, sphinxes and lions that we see here before the
sacred pillar or pillar tree are all taken from the Egyptian solar cycle. Of
the Hathoric sprays attached to some of the more fantastic columns we have
already spoken. In several cases, however, an adapted version of Hathor
herself appears in long robes with a cow's head, and on one cylinder this
figure is followed by a griffin adorant whose head is surmounted by the head-
piece of the Goddess, the house of Horns, between two incurving sprays. On
the important bearing of these designs on the cult of Mycenaean Cyprus this
1 See especially Pietschmann, Qeschichle tier
PhOnixier, p. 225, who gives a good example of
a rayed divinity with a pillar-shaped body,
from the marble basin found at Sidon, now in
the Berlin Museum. He compares with this
certain representations of divinities on the
coins of Demetrios II., Nikator (P. Gardner,
B.M.Cal. 'Seleucid Kings of (Syria,' PI.
XVIII. 1, and XXV. 2), and others struck
under Antoninus Pius in the C'ilician town of
Mallos.
" R. H. Codrington, The Mdanesiaw.
p. 184.
149
Fig.
s
28.—Egyptian Palmette Pillars and
the Rayed Pillaks ok Cyprus.
1—3. Egyptian Pillars. 4—7. Cypro-Myoanaean
Derivatives.
Examples of the two former classes are given on Fig. 28, 4-7, and the
dependence of the two first on the contemporary Egyptian prototypes, illus-
trated in the same figure (Nos. 1-3), becomes self evident. The rays of the
Cypriote pillar are, in fact, directly ■
suggested by the radiating leaflets
of the palmette type.
But the radiation itself, though
its pictorial representation was thus
facilitated by certain features in the
symbolic Egyptian pillar, has also a
distinct religious value. The rays
indeed as the natural concomitant
of divinities of light are a very
ancient oriental tradition. Samas
the Babylonian Sun-God is habit-
ually represented with rays issuing
from his shoulders and radiate divin-
ities of the same class are not infre-
quent in the neighbouring Syrian and
Anatolian regions1 which show a certain analogy with these Cypro-Myceuaean
pillars. The luminous baetylic pillars of Melkarfc at Tyre repeat the same
idea. How natural even to savage races is the addition of rays to the rude
image that represents the Sun Spirit is well illustrated by a religious usage of
the modern Melanesians. In the New Hebrides the stone which is regarded
as the potential dwelling-place of the Sun Spirit ' is laid upon the ground and
a circle of white rods which stand for sunbeams are set round so as to radiate
from it in all directions.' -
In the radiation of the Cypriote pillars we see_ an adaptation of the
radiating leaflets on the original palmette to a very widespread and primitive
idea connected with solar pillars and images. The monsters associated with
these columns as guardians and adorants are quite in keeping with this solar
attribution. The griffins, sphinxes and lions that we see here before the
sacred pillar or pillar tree are all taken from the Egyptian solar cycle. Of
the Hathoric sprays attached to some of the more fantastic columns we have
already spoken. In several cases, however, an adapted version of Hathor
herself appears in long robes with a cow's head, and on one cylinder this
figure is followed by a griffin adorant whose head is surmounted by the head-
piece of the Goddess, the house of Horns, between two incurving sprays. On
the important bearing of these designs on the cult of Mycenaean Cyprus this
1 See especially Pietschmann, Qeschichle tier
PhOnixier, p. 225, who gives a good example of
a rayed divinity with a pillar-shaped body,
from the marble basin found at Sidon, now in
the Berlin Museum. He compares with this
certain representations of divinities on the
coins of Demetrios II., Nikator (P. Gardner,
B.M.Cal. 'Seleucid Kings of (Syria,' PI.
XVIII. 1, and XXV. 2), and others struck
under Antoninus Pius in the C'ilician town of
Mallos.
" R. H. Codrington, The Mdanesiaw.
p. 184.