DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0099
88
A. j. Evans
5j 15.—The Temple Repositories; Marble Cross and Cruciform
Symbols.
The two cruciform symbols found on the seal impressions from the
present deposit have a high interest. One of these, the ' Swastika' or
Crux gammata, appears in the field of a seal impression, Fig. 59, of which
eighteen examples occurred, including two varieties. It is there placed
over a horned sheep exactly resembling the animal seen on a seal-type
found in the Pictographic deposit of the Palace, in that case performing
the functions of the goat Amaltheia to an infant beneath it (see Fig. 60).
If this latter design covers, as may well be inferred, an allusion to an
alternative form of the legend of the nurture of the infant Zeus.1 the
appearance of this religious symbol above the same animal on the seal
impressions from this Temple Treasury has a high significance. The
animal in any case may be naturally taken to stand in a close relation
to the primitive Mother Goddess, whose cult is otherwise so well illustrated
by this deposit.
The question naturally arises,—was the Swastika a special holy mark
of the local Minoan cult ? Such old religious emblems show great
persistence. It is certain that the earliest ' Labyrinth' designs on
the Knossian coins are little more than a slight development of this
symbol. It may, moreover, be reasonably asked whether the recurring sign,
Fig. 59.—Clay Seal Impression from
Temple Repository. Swastika and
Horned Sheep (f).
Fig. 60.—Clay Seal Impression from
Pictographic Deposit. Infant and
Horned Sheep (t).
1 See Myc. Tree and Pillar Cull, pp. 31, 32.
A. j. Evans
5j 15.—The Temple Repositories; Marble Cross and Cruciform
Symbols.
The two cruciform symbols found on the seal impressions from the
present deposit have a high interest. One of these, the ' Swastika' or
Crux gammata, appears in the field of a seal impression, Fig. 59, of which
eighteen examples occurred, including two varieties. It is there placed
over a horned sheep exactly resembling the animal seen on a seal-type
found in the Pictographic deposit of the Palace, in that case performing
the functions of the goat Amaltheia to an infant beneath it (see Fig. 60).
If this latter design covers, as may well be inferred, an allusion to an
alternative form of the legend of the nurture of the infant Zeus.1 the
appearance of this religious symbol above the same animal on the seal
impressions from this Temple Treasury has a high significance. The
animal in any case may be naturally taken to stand in a close relation
to the primitive Mother Goddess, whose cult is otherwise so well illustrated
by this deposit.
The question naturally arises,—was the Swastika a special holy mark
of the local Minoan cult ? Such old religious emblems show great
persistence. It is certain that the earliest ' Labyrinth' designs on
the Knossian coins are little more than a slight development of this
symbol. It may, moreover, be reasonably asked whether the recurring sign,
Fig. 59.—Clay Seal Impression from
Temple Repository. Swastika and
Horned Sheep (f).
Fig. 60.—Clay Seal Impression from
Pictographic Deposit. Infant and
Horned Sheep (t).
1 See Myc. Tree and Pillar Cull, pp. 31, 32.