The Swastika, the Earliest Known Symbol, and Its Migration: With Observations on the Migration of Certain Industries in Prehistoric TimesWilson, Thomas
Religion
The Swastika, the Earliest Known Symbol, and Its Migration: With Observations on the Migration of Certain Industries in Prehistoric Times
Wilson, Thomas
Industries, Primitive; Swastikas; Symbolism
[Illustration: Fig. 155. GREEK VASE, OINOCHOË, WITH TWO PAINTED SWASTIKAS.
De Mortillet, "Musée Préhistorique," fig. 1244. 1/4 natural size.]
[Illustration: Fig. 156. CYPRIAN VASE WITH SWASTIKAS AND FIGURE OF
ANIMAL.[173] Cesnola, "Cyprus, its Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples,"
pl. 45, fig. 36.]
[Illustration: Fig. 157. ARCHAIC GREEK POTTERY FRAGMENT. Santorin, Ancient
Thera. Waring, "Ceramic Art in Remote Ages," pl. 42 fig. 2.]
Figs. 133 and 134, from Naukratis, afford palpable evidence of the
different origin of the Swastika and the Greek fret. Evidently Grecian
vases, though found in Egypt, these specimens bear side by side examples
of the fret and the Swastika, used contemporaneously, and both of them
complete and perfect. If one had been parent of the other, they would have
belonged to different generations and would not have appeared
simultaneously on the same specimen. Another illustration of simultaneous
use is in fig. 194, which represents an Etruscan vase[174] ornamented with
bronze nail heads in the form of Swastikas, but associated with it is the
design of the Greek fret, showing them to be of contemporaneous use, and
therefore not, as Professor Goodyear believes, an evolution of one from
the other. The specimen is in the Museum at Este, Italy.
[Illustration: Fig. 158. CYPRIAN VASE WITH LOTUS AND SWASTIKAS AND FIGURE
OF BIRD. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Goodyear, "Grammar of
the Lotus," pl. 60, fig. 15.]
[Illustration: Fig. 159. CYPRIAN VASE WITH TWO SWASTIKAS. Cesnola
Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Goodyear, "Grammar
of the Lotus," fig. 151.]
The Greek fret has been in common use in all ages and all countries
adopting the Grecian civilization. Equally in all ages and countries has
appeared the crossed lines which have been employed by every architect and
decorator, most or many of whom had no knowledge of the Swastika, either
as an ornament or as a symbol.[175]
[Illustration: Fig. 160. FRAGMENT OF TERRA COTTA VASE WITH SWASTIKAS, FROM
RUINS OF TEMPLE AT PALEO-PAPHOS. Depth, 40 feet. Cesnola, "Cyprus, its
Ancient Cities, Tombs, and Temples," p. 210.]
[Illustration: Fig. 161. WOODEN BUTTON, CLASP, OR FIBULA COVERED WITH
PLATES OF GOLD. Ogee Swastika, tetraskelion in center. Schliemann,
"Mycenæ," fig. 385.]
[Illustration: Fig. 162. DETAIL OF GREEK VASE WITH FIGURE OF GOOSE,
HONEYSUCKLE (ANTHEMION), AND SPIRAL SWASTIKA. Thera. "Monumenti Inedite,"
LXV, p. 2, and Goodyear, "Grammar of the Lotus," pl. 46, fig. 7.]
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