DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0190
BUTTERFLIES AS SOULS
151
from Hagia Triada (Fig. 99) certain features of an eyed butterfly are
rendered in greater detail.
The chrysalis as an emblem of a new life after death is illustrated by two
finds made at Mycenae. In the Third Shaft Grave—a woman's tomb—were
found two pendent gold objects attached by means of a perforation through
the upper ends to small chains, described by Dr. Schliemann as ' grasshoppers '
or 'tree-crickets' (Fig. 101, 4), but which are unquestionably intended for
chrysalises. They were, in fact, associated in the same tomb not only with
goldenbutterflies(Fig. 101,3, and Fig. 100,^), but with thingold plates embossed
with similar butterflies and provided with attachments, showing that they had
served as the scales of a balance of the same thin, funereal material(Fig. 101, 2).
Remains of the tubular casing of the wooden beam were also found, making
it possible to reconstruct the ,whole, as shown in Fig. 100.*
Here we have an obvious allusion to the weighing of souls,
suggesting an analogy with the Egyptian idea of Thoth and
Anubis weighing the heart of the dead man against the feather
of Truth—a purely ethical idea as compared with the Greek
■fv-xoo-Tatrla, which relates to the doom of the living.2
The very rough representations of pupae, seen in Fig. 101, 4,
have now been supplemented by a much more detailed example
in the form of a gold chrysalis bead found by Mr. Wace and
the excavators of the British School in a chamber tomb at loMB> ™Y"
i-l CENAE.
Mycenae3 (rig. 102). It may be said to convey a generalized
idea of a chrysalis. The head and eyes, the wing-cases and articulation
of the abdomen are clearly indicated. As noted above, the shield-shaped
plate in front links this with the ruder representation seen in Fig. 97.
Butterflies—as already observed—are still regarded by the Cretan
peasants—as by so many primitive folk the world over—as 'little Souls'.4
1 From the Figure as restored by Dr. G. Hardy, in reference to an incident in the
Fig. 102.
Gold Chry-
salis from
C H AM B E R
Karo in Fimmen, Kretisch-Mykenische Kullur
(1921), p. 124, Fig. 116. Cf. Schliemann,
Mycenae, p. 197, Fig. 303.
2 See my remarks, Ring of Nestor, cw.; p. 60.
3 In Tomb 518 of the Kalkani Cemetery
(see A. J. Wace, The Times Lit. Supplement,
Oct. 26, 1922, p. 684). A preliminary publica-
tion of this bead was made in the Illustrated
London News, Feb. 24, 1923, p. 300. Cf. Ring
of Nestor, p. 55, Fig. 47.
4 Some good instances are given by Prof.
Poulton, of. at., pp. lxxxi, lxxxii. Dr. Thomas
' Superstitious Man's Story ' in Life's Little
Ironies, informed him that a common white
moth is called the ' Miller's Soul' because it
flies out of a man's mouth at the moment of
death. Sir James Frazer in the Golden Bough
(vol. i (1890), p. 130) notices the Burmese
belief that when a mother dies leaving a young
baby, 'the butterfly or soul of the baby follows
that of the mother, and that if it is not re-
covered the child must die. So a " wise
woman " is called to get back the baby soul.'
151
from Hagia Triada (Fig. 99) certain features of an eyed butterfly are
rendered in greater detail.
The chrysalis as an emblem of a new life after death is illustrated by two
finds made at Mycenae. In the Third Shaft Grave—a woman's tomb—were
found two pendent gold objects attached by means of a perforation through
the upper ends to small chains, described by Dr. Schliemann as ' grasshoppers '
or 'tree-crickets' (Fig. 101, 4), but which are unquestionably intended for
chrysalises. They were, in fact, associated in the same tomb not only with
goldenbutterflies(Fig. 101,3, and Fig. 100,^), but with thingold plates embossed
with similar butterflies and provided with attachments, showing that they had
served as the scales of a balance of the same thin, funereal material(Fig. 101, 2).
Remains of the tubular casing of the wooden beam were also found, making
it possible to reconstruct the ,whole, as shown in Fig. 100.*
Here we have an obvious allusion to the weighing of souls,
suggesting an analogy with the Egyptian idea of Thoth and
Anubis weighing the heart of the dead man against the feather
of Truth—a purely ethical idea as compared with the Greek
■fv-xoo-Tatrla, which relates to the doom of the living.2
The very rough representations of pupae, seen in Fig. 101, 4,
have now been supplemented by a much more detailed example
in the form of a gold chrysalis bead found by Mr. Wace and
the excavators of the British School in a chamber tomb at loMB> ™Y"
i-l CENAE.
Mycenae3 (rig. 102). It may be said to convey a generalized
idea of a chrysalis. The head and eyes, the wing-cases and articulation
of the abdomen are clearly indicated. As noted above, the shield-shaped
plate in front links this with the ruder representation seen in Fig. 97.
Butterflies—as already observed—are still regarded by the Cretan
peasants—as by so many primitive folk the world over—as 'little Souls'.4
1 From the Figure as restored by Dr. G. Hardy, in reference to an incident in the
Fig. 102.
Gold Chry-
salis from
C H AM B E R
Karo in Fimmen, Kretisch-Mykenische Kullur
(1921), p. 124, Fig. 116. Cf. Schliemann,
Mycenae, p. 197, Fig. 303.
2 See my remarks, Ring of Nestor, cw.; p. 60.
3 In Tomb 518 of the Kalkani Cemetery
(see A. J. Wace, The Times Lit. Supplement,
Oct. 26, 1922, p. 684). A preliminary publica-
tion of this bead was made in the Illustrated
London News, Feb. 24, 1923, p. 300. Cf. Ring
of Nestor, p. 55, Fig. 47.
4 Some good instances are given by Prof.
Poulton, of. at., pp. lxxxi, lxxxii. Dr. Thomas
' Superstitious Man's Story ' in Life's Little
Ironies, informed him that a common white
moth is called the ' Miller's Soul' because it
flies out of a man's mouth at the moment of
death. Sir James Frazer in the Golden Bough
(vol. i (1890), p. 130) notices the Burmese
belief that when a mother dies leaving a young
baby, 'the butterfly or soul of the baby follows
that of the mother, and that if it is not re-
covered the child must die. So a " wise
woman " is called to get back the baby soul.'