DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7416#0083
73
gmshed the offspring "is, in an ancient inscription, applied to Attis,
the Phrygian Bacchus :1 whence the meaning of the whole allegory
distinctly appears ; the Minotaur being only the ancient symbol of
the bull, partly humanised ; to whom Minos may have sacrificed his
tributary slaves, or, more probably, employed them in the service
of the deity.
97- In the centre of one of the more simple and primitive laby-
rinths on the Grecian coins above cited, is the head of a bull; 1 and
in others of a more recent style, the more complicated labyrinth is'
round.3 On some of those of Camarina in Sicily, the head of the
god, more humanised than the Minotaur, yet still with the horns
and features of the bull, is represented in the centre of an indented
scroll, 4 which other coins show to have been meant to represent the
waters, by a transverse section of waves.5 On the coins, too, of
Magnesia upon the Meander, the figure of Apollo is represented
as leaning upon the tripod, and standing upon some crossed and in-
verted square lines, similar to the primitive form of the labyrinth on
the coins of Corinth above cited. 6 These have been supposed to
signify the river Meander: but they more probably signify the waters
in general; as we find similar crossed and inverted lines upon coins
struck in Sicily, both Greek and Punic ;7 and also upon rings and
fibulaj, which are frequently adorned with symbolical devices, meant
to serve as amulets or charms. The bull however, both in its na-
tural form, and humanised in various degrees, so as in some in-
stances to leave only the horns of the animal symbol, is perpetually
employed upon coins to signify particular rivers or streams; which
being all derived from the Bacchus Hyes, as the Nile was from
Osiris, were all represented under the same form.8
1 ATTIDI MINOTAURO. Gruter. vol. i. p. xxviii. No. 6.
- In the cabinet of Mr. Payne Knight.
3 In the same. Also in the British Museum.
* Mus. Hunter, tab. 14. No. ix.
5 lb. tab. 56. No. iii.
6 lb. tab. 35. No.ix.
7 See a specimen of them on the reverse of a small coin, Mus.Huntcr. tali.
6T. No. v.
* See coins of Catania, Selinus, Gela, Sybaris, &c.
gmshed the offspring "is, in an ancient inscription, applied to Attis,
the Phrygian Bacchus :1 whence the meaning of the whole allegory
distinctly appears ; the Minotaur being only the ancient symbol of
the bull, partly humanised ; to whom Minos may have sacrificed his
tributary slaves, or, more probably, employed them in the service
of the deity.
97- In the centre of one of the more simple and primitive laby-
rinths on the Grecian coins above cited, is the head of a bull; 1 and
in others of a more recent style, the more complicated labyrinth is'
round.3 On some of those of Camarina in Sicily, the head of the
god, more humanised than the Minotaur, yet still with the horns
and features of the bull, is represented in the centre of an indented
scroll, 4 which other coins show to have been meant to represent the
waters, by a transverse section of waves.5 On the coins, too, of
Magnesia upon the Meander, the figure of Apollo is represented
as leaning upon the tripod, and standing upon some crossed and in-
verted square lines, similar to the primitive form of the labyrinth on
the coins of Corinth above cited. 6 These have been supposed to
signify the river Meander: but they more probably signify the waters
in general; as we find similar crossed and inverted lines upon coins
struck in Sicily, both Greek and Punic ;7 and also upon rings and
fibulaj, which are frequently adorned with symbolical devices, meant
to serve as amulets or charms. The bull however, both in its na-
tural form, and humanised in various degrees, so as in some in-
stances to leave only the horns of the animal symbol, is perpetually
employed upon coins to signify particular rivers or streams; which
being all derived from the Bacchus Hyes, as the Nile was from
Osiris, were all represented under the same form.8
1 ATTIDI MINOTAURO. Gruter. vol. i. p. xxviii. No. 6.
- In the cabinet of Mr. Payne Knight.
3 In the same. Also in the British Museum.
* Mus. Hunter, tab. 14. No. ix.
5 lb. tab. 56. No. iii.
6 lb. tab. 35. No.ix.
7 See a specimen of them on the reverse of a small coin, Mus.Huntcr. tali.
6T. No. v.
* See coins of Catania, Selinus, Gela, Sybaris, &c.