DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1117#0195
150
'SNAKE-TABLES' AND CAULDRON
Lithua-
nian
parallel.
between the partitions, leading to a central space with a small raised circle
in the middle. This raised circle is analogous on a smaller scale to those
which, as in the Royal Magazines, surrounded the bases of large jars. Here
it evidently marks the position of the base of a central bowl to contain the
food set out, as shown in Fig. 115, b.
The stand, in fact, was a small' snake table,' conveniently arranoed with
grooves to accommodate two pairs of reptiles with their heads and necks
rising towards the food vessel in the middle as pictured in Fig. 115, b. We
have here the counterpart to the four cups attached to the 'Snake tubes'.
On an early cult object from Cyprus two snakes feed from a double table.1
The practice of preparing a table with food set on it for the household
snakes is, indeed, paralleled by a usage recorded of the Lithuanians—who
included ethnically the Old Prussian stock.2 As late as the sixteenth century
of our era these people tended snakes, whom they regarded as domestic
deities, by the stove-corner, where stood the small table used for their own
meals. At certain seasons of the year the snakes were summoned by
prayer and ritual to come to the table and partake of a feast provided by
their votaries. These, we are told, came forth from their hiding places
and, climbing up over the clean cloth with which the table was spread, took
their places upon it,3 returning to their holes after devouring the repast.4
Snake
caul-
dron (!)
of seal -
impres-
sion.
Snake Cauldron.
The reptiles, as seen in some of these small vessels (Fig. 119 a, b),
with the head raised above the rim, suggest a subject on a somewhat
rough seal-impression of more or less contemporary L. M. II date found
in the Little Palace at Knossos and reproduced here in Fig. 116, en-
larged to 3 diameters, from a drawing of Monsieur E. Gillieron, fils. We
1 For an early Cypriote double stand with
two ascending snakes cf. p. 166, n. 2, and
see p. 177, Fig. 140.
! De Rellgione et Sacrificiis veterum Borus-
sorum: Epislola Io. Melitii ad Georgium
SaMnum. A translation of this rare publica-
tion by Mr. F. Conybeare, from a copy in
my library, is to be found in Folklore, vol. xii,
Pohitia, CSV., 1627, Elzevir ed-, p. 309)-
s ' Hi vero exeuntes per mundum linteolum
conscendunt et super mensam assident .
* If the snakes did not come out of their
holes or failed to consume the food provided,
it was regarded as a bad augury—and some
misfortune would befall the household that
season. This recalls the terror of the Athe-
1901. The original work is grouped with nians when it was rumoured that the sacre
other tracts in a miscellany entitled De Rus- snake that guarded the Acropolis had left his
sorum Moscovitarum et Tartarorum Religions, honey cake untouched—a rumour that ma^
C3V., Speyer, 1582, see p. 260. For a similar it easier to persuade them to evacuate
practice among the Livonians see J. Lasicius, city (Herodotus viii. 4).
Polonus, De Diis Samogitarum (in Respublica
the
'SNAKE-TABLES' AND CAULDRON
Lithua-
nian
parallel.
between the partitions, leading to a central space with a small raised circle
in the middle. This raised circle is analogous on a smaller scale to those
which, as in the Royal Magazines, surrounded the bases of large jars. Here
it evidently marks the position of the base of a central bowl to contain the
food set out, as shown in Fig. 115, b.
The stand, in fact, was a small' snake table,' conveniently arranoed with
grooves to accommodate two pairs of reptiles with their heads and necks
rising towards the food vessel in the middle as pictured in Fig. 115, b. We
have here the counterpart to the four cups attached to the 'Snake tubes'.
On an early cult object from Cyprus two snakes feed from a double table.1
The practice of preparing a table with food set on it for the household
snakes is, indeed, paralleled by a usage recorded of the Lithuanians—who
included ethnically the Old Prussian stock.2 As late as the sixteenth century
of our era these people tended snakes, whom they regarded as domestic
deities, by the stove-corner, where stood the small table used for their own
meals. At certain seasons of the year the snakes were summoned by
prayer and ritual to come to the table and partake of a feast provided by
their votaries. These, we are told, came forth from their hiding places
and, climbing up over the clean cloth with which the table was spread, took
their places upon it,3 returning to their holes after devouring the repast.4
Snake
caul-
dron (!)
of seal -
impres-
sion.
Snake Cauldron.
The reptiles, as seen in some of these small vessels (Fig. 119 a, b),
with the head raised above the rim, suggest a subject on a somewhat
rough seal-impression of more or less contemporary L. M. II date found
in the Little Palace at Knossos and reproduced here in Fig. 116, en-
larged to 3 diameters, from a drawing of Monsieur E. Gillieron, fils. We
1 For an early Cypriote double stand with
two ascending snakes cf. p. 166, n. 2, and
see p. 177, Fig. 140.
! De Rellgione et Sacrificiis veterum Borus-
sorum: Epislola Io. Melitii ad Georgium
SaMnum. A translation of this rare publica-
tion by Mr. F. Conybeare, from a copy in
my library, is to be found in Folklore, vol. xii,
Pohitia, CSV., 1627, Elzevir ed-, p. 309)-
s ' Hi vero exeuntes per mundum linteolum
conscendunt et super mensam assident .
* If the snakes did not come out of their
holes or failed to consume the food provided,
it was regarded as a bad augury—and some
misfortune would befall the household that
season. This recalls the terror of the Athe-
1901. The original work is grouped with nians when it was rumoured that the sacre
other tracts in a miscellany entitled De Rus- snake that guarded the Acropolis had left his
sorum Moscovitarum et Tartarorum Religions, honey cake untouched—a rumour that ma^
C3V., Speyer, 1582, see p. 260. For a similar it easier to persuade them to evacuate
practice among the Livonians see J. Lasicius, city (Herodotus viii. 4).
Polonus, De Diis Samogitarum (in Respublica
the