Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and TirynsSchliemann, Heinrich
History
Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and Tiryns
Schliemann, Heinrich
Mycenae (Extinct city); Tiryns (Extinct city)
Professor A. Rhousopoulos writes to me on this subject:
"I suppose the double-edged axe on the coins of
"Tenedos to be a sacrificial or a warlike symbol. I believe
"this from analogy with other coins of a superior class.
"There was a proverb in ancient Greece, Τενέδιος
πέλεκυς,
"'Tenedian axe,' for those who resolve questions in a
"harsh or in a rather short way. The Tenedian Apollo
"held in his hand the double axe, namely, that which is
"represented on the coins of Tenedos; but the interpretation
"of this symbol in antiquity was twofold. Some
"regarded it as the symbol of Tennes, others (and so
"Aristotle) maintained that a certain king of Tenedos
"made a law, that he who surprised an adulterer and adulteress
"had to kill both with an axe. Now, it happened
"that his own son was surprised as an adulterer, and the
"father decreed that the boy should be punished according
"to the common law. In consequence of this event, the
"double axe was put on the medals of Tenedos, in memory
"of the prince's tragic fate." However, as to the signification
of this symbol in the remote antiquity to which the
Mycenean tombs belong, I do not venture to express an
opinion.
The magnificent golden object (No. 369) resembles very much the usual
ornaments for fastening the greaves round the thigh, just above the knee;
but it cannot have served as such, the gold plate being by far too thick
for that purpose; besides, this ornament is perfectly straight, and has
evidently never been bent. It must, therefore, be something else. As
we see the object before us, it resembles a man such as children draw;
the ring above the head may represent a crown. The splendid ornament in
_repoussé_ work on the body we have seen, though less beautiful, in the
border of the sepulchral _stêlé_ (No. 24).[326] The legs show, between
two narrow borders, rows of small signs resembling the letter _koppa_,
which we see on all the Corinthian medals.
There were further found three golden objects, of which I represent one
under No. 370. I do not venture to give an explanation of them; they
cannot have served as brooches, the pin at the foot being too short and
fragile for that use. All three have a border all round, and in the
middle a rosette formed by points.
[Sidenote: FUNERAL FORK.]
There were further found the two objects of copper here represented. For
what purpose the first (No. 371) may have been used, it is difficult to
say; it has a quadrangular hole, which cannot, however, have served to
put in a handle, because the copper-plate is not thick enough. The second
object is a large fork, with three curved prongs, and a tube into which
the wooden handle was stuck; this fork has evidently served to rake the
fire of the funeral piles.
[Illustration: Nos. 371, 372. Objects of Copper. Sepulchre IV. Size 1:3,
about.]
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