DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7416#0047
37
from the stimulating and intoxicating quality of the liquor extracted
from them ; * or, more probably, from a fancied resemblance to
the object, which is much heightened in the representations of
them upon some coins, where they are employed as accessary
symbols in the same manner as fig-leaves are upon others.1 Bar-
ley was also thrown upon the altar with salt, the symbol of the
preserving power, at the beginning of every sacrifice, and thence
denominated ouXo^utm.2 The thighs of the victim, too, were
sacrificed in preference to every other part, on account of the
generative attribute ; of which they were supposed to be the seat :*
whence, probably, arose the fable of Bacchus being nourished and
matured in the thigh of Jupiter.
49. Instead of beads, wreaths of foliage, generally of laurel, olive,
myrtle, ivy, or oak, appear upon coins ; sometimes encircling the
symbolical figures, and sometimes as chaplets on their heads. All
these were sacred to some particular personifications of the deity,
and significant of some particular attributes, and, in general, all
evergreens were dionysiac plants :5 that is, symbols of the genera-
tive power, signifying perpetuity of youth and vigour ; as the cir-
cles of beads and diadems signified perpetuity of existence.
Hence the crowns of laurel, olive, &c. with which the victors in
the Roman triumphs and Grecian games were honored, may pro-
perly be considered as emblems of consecration to immortality,
and not as mere transitory marks of occasional distinction. In
the same sense, they were worn in all sacrifices and feasts in honor
of the gods; whence we find it observed by one of the guests at
1 Owe?. & €/c KpiBzwv Treiroi^jueytp Siaxpe&JPTaf ov yap crept eicri *v tj? xuPV afxTr^Xoi,
Herodot. dc jEgypt. lib. ii. s. 77.
2 See coins of Gela, Leontium, Selinus; and Eustath. p. 1400. 28.
3 Eustath. in II. A. p. 132 and 3. and in p. 1400. 28.
* Tous ixtipovs, cos ri rijxiov, 5\okcwtow, eHuipovvrts caret raw aXXcov tou £aoo
fitpuv, Beet to o-vvrtXeiv rois ^coois €is fSaZctriv re tcai $is yevzcriv rr) Trpo€crci rov o*7repjua-
toj. Eustath. p. 134.
5 -tpi]tnv [o Me7a<r0ec?js) vy.vy]Tas eivai tou Aiovvctov, dewrvras reKfiiipia, ttjj'
aypcav apcirtKov,--/cat Ktrrov, Kcu Sacpv7]v} tcai fivppivijy3 tcai nvl-ov, teal a\\a tcvv
uuOuAuy. Strabo Lib. xv. p. 711.
from the stimulating and intoxicating quality of the liquor extracted
from them ; * or, more probably, from a fancied resemblance to
the object, which is much heightened in the representations of
them upon some coins, where they are employed as accessary
symbols in the same manner as fig-leaves are upon others.1 Bar-
ley was also thrown upon the altar with salt, the symbol of the
preserving power, at the beginning of every sacrifice, and thence
denominated ouXo^utm.2 The thighs of the victim, too, were
sacrificed in preference to every other part, on account of the
generative attribute ; of which they were supposed to be the seat :*
whence, probably, arose the fable of Bacchus being nourished and
matured in the thigh of Jupiter.
49. Instead of beads, wreaths of foliage, generally of laurel, olive,
myrtle, ivy, or oak, appear upon coins ; sometimes encircling the
symbolical figures, and sometimes as chaplets on their heads. All
these were sacred to some particular personifications of the deity,
and significant of some particular attributes, and, in general, all
evergreens were dionysiac plants :5 that is, symbols of the genera-
tive power, signifying perpetuity of youth and vigour ; as the cir-
cles of beads and diadems signified perpetuity of existence.
Hence the crowns of laurel, olive, &c. with which the victors in
the Roman triumphs and Grecian games were honored, may pro-
perly be considered as emblems of consecration to immortality,
and not as mere transitory marks of occasional distinction. In
the same sense, they were worn in all sacrifices and feasts in honor
of the gods; whence we find it observed by one of the guests at
1 Owe?. & €/c KpiBzwv Treiroi^jueytp Siaxpe&JPTaf ov yap crept eicri *v tj? xuPV afxTr^Xoi,
Herodot. dc jEgypt. lib. ii. s. 77.
2 See coins of Gela, Leontium, Selinus; and Eustath. p. 1400. 28.
3 Eustath. in II. A. p. 132 and 3. and in p. 1400. 28.
* Tous ixtipovs, cos ri rijxiov, 5\okcwtow, eHuipovvrts caret raw aXXcov tou £aoo
fitpuv, Beet to o-vvrtXeiv rois ^coois €is fSaZctriv re tcai $is yevzcriv rr) Trpo€crci rov o*7repjua-
toj. Eustath. p. 134.
5 -tpi]tnv [o Me7a<r0ec?js) vy.vy]Tas eivai tou Aiovvctov, dewrvras reKfiiipia, ttjj'
aypcav apcirtKov,--/cat Ktrrov, Kcu Sacpv7]v} tcai fivppivijy3 tcai nvl-ov, teal a\\a tcvv
uuOuAuy. Strabo Lib. xv. p. 711.