DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8944#0061
MYCENAEAN TREE AND PTLLAR CULT.
159
The Griffins, with their heads turned back, are attached to the upper
part of the column like watch dogs by a thong or chain, a constantly
recuning feature in these designs.
A scheme closely allied to the above, in which, however, the altar-base
appears without the column, is supplied by a jasper lentoid from Tomb 42
Fio. 87.—doublb-bodwd Kniosrinxx with Fig. 38.— Double-bodied Lion with Fokb-
Foue-feet on Base: Lentoid Gem, feet on Rase: Lentoid Gem, My-
Mycenae (?) cenae (?).
\
of the Lower Town, Mycenae (Fig. 37).1 Hero we see a composite animal,
in which the bodies of two opposed lions meet in the single head of a ram,
resting its forefeet on the base. To the right is a symbol like a pole trans-
fixing a triangle, which has been already referred to as a frequent
concomitant of Mycenaean religious scenes, and may perhaps represent
Fig. 39.—Lions' Gate Type on Gold Signet King, Mycenae (t).
some kind of ' Ashera,' making up in this case for the absence of the
architectural pillar. The composite monster itself of which this is the
1 Tsuntas, 'E<f>. 'Apx- 1888, PI. X. 30, and (vol. ii. p. 23) as ' zwei gefliigelte und ge-
p. 178 ; P. et C. Fig. 428, 17 ; Furtw. Ant. hiirnte Lowen.'
Genu*. PI. III. 24. He describes the monsters
159
The Griffins, with their heads turned back, are attached to the upper
part of the column like watch dogs by a thong or chain, a constantly
recuning feature in these designs.
A scheme closely allied to the above, in which, however, the altar-base
appears without the column, is supplied by a jasper lentoid from Tomb 42
Fio. 87.—doublb-bodwd Kniosrinxx with Fig. 38.— Double-bodied Lion with Fokb-
Foue-feet on Base: Lentoid Gem, feet on Rase: Lentoid Gem, My-
Mycenae (?) cenae (?).
\
of the Lower Town, Mycenae (Fig. 37).1 Hero we see a composite animal,
in which the bodies of two opposed lions meet in the single head of a ram,
resting its forefeet on the base. To the right is a symbol like a pole trans-
fixing a triangle, which has been already referred to as a frequent
concomitant of Mycenaean religious scenes, and may perhaps represent
Fig. 39.—Lions' Gate Type on Gold Signet King, Mycenae (t).
some kind of ' Ashera,' making up in this case for the absence of the
architectural pillar. The composite monster itself of which this is the
1 Tsuntas, 'E<f>. 'Apx- 1888, PI. X. 30, and (vol. ii. p. 23) as ' zwei gefliigelte und ge-
p. 178 ; P. et C. Fig. 428, 17 ; Furtw. Ant. hiirnte Lowen.'
Genu*. PI. III. 24. He describes the monsters