DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7416#0108
98
ence, a principal agent in dissolving and dissipating all putrescent
bodies, it was adopted as an emblem of the Deity to represent the
destroying attribute : whence - the Baal-Zebub, or Jupiter Fly of the
Phoenicians, when admitted into the creed of the Jews, received the
rank and office of prince of the devils. The symbol was huma-
nised at an early period, probably by the Phoenicians themselves;
and thus formed into one of those fantastic compositions, which
ignorant antiquaries have taken for wild efforts of disordered ima-
gination, instead of regular productions of systematic art."
126. Bacchus frequently appears accompanied by leopards f.
'which in some instances are employed in devouring clusters of
grapes, and in others drinking the liquor pressed from them ; though
they are in reality incapable of feeding upon that or any other kind
of fruit. On a very ancient coin of Acanthus, too, the leopard is
represented, instead of the lion, destroying the bull :3 wherefore we
have no doubt that in the Bacchic processions, it means the de-
stroyer accompanying the generator; and contributing, by different
means, to the same end. In some instances his chariot is drawn
by two leopards, and in others by a leopard and a goat coupled toge-
ther :+ which are all different means of signifying different modes
and combinations of the same ideas. In the British Museum is a
group in marble of three figures, the middle one a human form
growing out of a vine, with leaves and clusters of grapes growing
out of its body. On one side is an androgynous figure representing
the Miscs or Bacchus 8i$u>jj • and on the other a leopard, with a
garland of ivy round its neck, leaping up and devouring the grapes,
which spring from the body of the personified vine; the hands of
Oi 5e icpcer {.vpewrat irav to capa 5ia Tpiri)? ^epijr, iva /njTe ipdeip, /jLtp-e a\\o
fj.wa.pov eyytyviiTai o~<pi OepaiTtvova'i rous 6eovs. Ibid.
'1 See Winkelman Mon. ant. incd. No. IS; and Hist, des Arts, Liv. iii. c. ii.
p. 143. '_ .1 S (X) .. - '
- These are frequently called tigers: but the first tiger seen by the Greeks
or Romans was presented by the ambassadors of India to Augustus, while
settling the affairs of Asia,, in the year of Rome 734. Dion. Cass. Hist. lib.
liv. s. 9.
3 Iii.tlu; riiliinct rrf Mr. Knialit-. •
* Sec in.- iiai:i.f ^;art;«-a. Ut»ucr."tal>Kxliii. fig. 20. C.....'
ence, a principal agent in dissolving and dissipating all putrescent
bodies, it was adopted as an emblem of the Deity to represent the
destroying attribute : whence - the Baal-Zebub, or Jupiter Fly of the
Phoenicians, when admitted into the creed of the Jews, received the
rank and office of prince of the devils. The symbol was huma-
nised at an early period, probably by the Phoenicians themselves;
and thus formed into one of those fantastic compositions, which
ignorant antiquaries have taken for wild efforts of disordered ima-
gination, instead of regular productions of systematic art."
126. Bacchus frequently appears accompanied by leopards f.
'which in some instances are employed in devouring clusters of
grapes, and in others drinking the liquor pressed from them ; though
they are in reality incapable of feeding upon that or any other kind
of fruit. On a very ancient coin of Acanthus, too, the leopard is
represented, instead of the lion, destroying the bull :3 wherefore we
have no doubt that in the Bacchic processions, it means the de-
stroyer accompanying the generator; and contributing, by different
means, to the same end. In some instances his chariot is drawn
by two leopards, and in others by a leopard and a goat coupled toge-
ther :+ which are all different means of signifying different modes
and combinations of the same ideas. In the British Museum is a
group in marble of three figures, the middle one a human form
growing out of a vine, with leaves and clusters of grapes growing
out of its body. On one side is an androgynous figure representing
the Miscs or Bacchus 8i$u>jj • and on the other a leopard, with a
garland of ivy round its neck, leaping up and devouring the grapes,
which spring from the body of the personified vine; the hands of
Oi 5e icpcer {.vpewrat irav to capa 5ia Tpiri)? ^epijr, iva /njTe ipdeip, /jLtp-e a\\o
fj.wa.pov eyytyviiTai o~<pi OepaiTtvova'i rous 6eovs. Ibid.
'1 See Winkelman Mon. ant. incd. No. IS; and Hist, des Arts, Liv. iii. c. ii.
p. 143. '_ .1 S (X) .. - '
- These are frequently called tigers: but the first tiger seen by the Greeks
or Romans was presented by the ambassadors of India to Augustus, while
settling the affairs of Asia,, in the year of Rome 734. Dion. Cass. Hist. lib.
liv. s. 9.
3 Iii.tlu; riiliinct rrf Mr. Knialit-. •
* Sec in.- iiai:i.f ^;art;«-a. Ut»ucr."tal>Kxliii. fig. 20. C.....'