DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7477#0029
22
THE EARLIER RELIGION OF GREECE
walking round the pillar when I first saw it, kissing and
embracing it at every turn.
The worshipper who would conform to the full ritual
Fig. 7. Plan of shrine, Tekekioi.
now fills a keg of water from a spring that rises near the
shrine—another primitive touch—and makes his way
through a thorny grove up a neighbouring knoll, on which
is a wooden enclosure surrounding a Mohammedan Saint's
Grave or Tekke. Over the headstone of this grows a
thorn-tree hung with rags of divers colours attached to it
—according to a widespread primitive rite—by sick per-
sons who had made a pilgrimage to the tomb. The
turbaned column itself represents in aniconic shape the
visible presence of the departed Saint, and, conjointly with
the thorn-bush, a material abode for the departed Spirit,
so that we have here a curious illustration of the ancient
connexion between Tree and Pillar worship.
In the centre of the grave was a hole, into which the
water from the holy spring was poured, and mixed with
the holy earth. Of this the votary drinks three times, and
he must thrice anoint his forehead with it. This draught
is the true Arabian solwdn, or " draught of consolation ".
It was now necessary to walk three times round the
grave, each time kissing and touching with the forehead
the stone at the head and foot of it. A handful of the
THE EARLIER RELIGION OF GREECE
walking round the pillar when I first saw it, kissing and
embracing it at every turn.
The worshipper who would conform to the full ritual
Fig. 7. Plan of shrine, Tekekioi.
now fills a keg of water from a spring that rises near the
shrine—another primitive touch—and makes his way
through a thorny grove up a neighbouring knoll, on which
is a wooden enclosure surrounding a Mohammedan Saint's
Grave or Tekke. Over the headstone of this grows a
thorn-tree hung with rags of divers colours attached to it
—according to a widespread primitive rite—by sick per-
sons who had made a pilgrimage to the tomb. The
turbaned column itself represents in aniconic shape the
visible presence of the departed Saint, and, conjointly with
the thorn-bush, a material abode for the departed Spirit,
so that we have here a curious illustration of the ancient
connexion between Tree and Pillar worship.
In the centre of the grave was a hole, into which the
water from the holy spring was poured, and mixed with
the holy earth. Of this the votary drinks three times, and
he must thrice anoint his forehead with it. This draught
is the true Arabian solwdn, or " draught of consolation ".
It was now necessary to walk three times round the
grave, each time kissing and touching with the forehead
the stone at the head and foot of it. A handful of the