DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8944#0063
MYCENAEAN TREE AND PILLAR CULT.
161
back with their heads turned towards the column above which are some
traces of the round beam ends of the entablature.
The base on which the two lions rest their forelegs on the lentoid gem
represented in Fig. 411 must not be confounded with the usual altar base
seen in Figs. 37 and 38 above, the typical feature of which is the incurving
sides. It is essentially columnar, and its true meaning has been shown in
an earlier section of this work.2 It represents, in fact, one of the baetylic
tables of offering, which seem to be a special characteristic of this early
cult in Crete where the intaglio itself was found. The component elements
of this sacral type are the central baetylic column and an altar slab placed
upon it with four smaller legs to support it at the corners. In the field
above is seen a rayed sun.
Like the tree pillar with its heraldic supporters, the Lions' Gate scheme
Fig. 41.—Confronted Lions with Foue-feet on Baetylic Base, Lentoid, Crete (}).
with its central architectural column or altar base shows very distinct
analogies to some of the Cypriote types, the central feature of which is the
rayed symbolic column. The parallelism becomes still closer when we
find, in both cases, lions, Griffins and Sphinxes among the most frequent
guardians or supporters of the divine pillar, though in Mycenaean Cyprus
they are also depicted as actually adoring the aniconic image. It has been
shown above that in the case of the Cypriote cylinders the attendant
1 Furtwiingler u. Losclike, Myh. Vatm, Furtw,, Ant. Gemm., PL HI 22. The stone
PI. E 11 ; Furtw., Oe&chnitletU Stcine (Berlin is a dark red steatite.
Cat.) PL L 34; P- el C. vi. PI. XVI. 11; 2 See above p. 116 tseqq.
H.S.—VOL. XXI. M
161
back with their heads turned towards the column above which are some
traces of the round beam ends of the entablature.
The base on which the two lions rest their forelegs on the lentoid gem
represented in Fig. 411 must not be confounded with the usual altar base
seen in Figs. 37 and 38 above, the typical feature of which is the incurving
sides. It is essentially columnar, and its true meaning has been shown in
an earlier section of this work.2 It represents, in fact, one of the baetylic
tables of offering, which seem to be a special characteristic of this early
cult in Crete where the intaglio itself was found. The component elements
of this sacral type are the central baetylic column and an altar slab placed
upon it with four smaller legs to support it at the corners. In the field
above is seen a rayed sun.
Like the tree pillar with its heraldic supporters, the Lions' Gate scheme
Fig. 41.—Confronted Lions with Foue-feet on Baetylic Base, Lentoid, Crete (}).
with its central architectural column or altar base shows very distinct
analogies to some of the Cypriote types, the central feature of which is the
rayed symbolic column. The parallelism becomes still closer when we
find, in both cases, lions, Griffins and Sphinxes among the most frequent
guardians or supporters of the divine pillar, though in Mycenaean Cyprus
they are also depicted as actually adoring the aniconic image. It has been
shown above that in the case of the Cypriote cylinders the attendant
1 Furtwiingler u. Losclike, Myh. Vatm, Furtw,, Ant. Gemm., PL HI 22. The stone
PI. E 11 ; Furtw., Oe&chnitletU Stcine (Berlin is a dark red steatite.
Cat.) PL L 34; P- el C. vi. PI. XVI. 11; 2 See above p. 116 tseqq.
H.S.—VOL. XXI. M