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. 174. ARCHAIC GREEK VASE WITH FIVE SWASTIKAS OF FOUR
DIFFERENT FORMS. Athens. Birch, "History of Ancient Pottery," quoted by
Waring in "Ceramic Art in Remote Ages," pl. 41, fig. 15; Dennis, "The
Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria," I, p. 91.]
[Illustration: Fig. 175. DETAIL OF ARCHAIC BOEOTIAN VASE. Serpents,
crosses, and Swastikas (normal, right, left, and meander). Goodyear,
"Grammar of the Lotus," pl. 60, fig. 9.]
The first pages of his memoir are employed in demonstrating that the
specimens of the Swastika found in Cyprus, the most of which are set forth
in this paper (figs. 177-182), show a Phenician influence; and according
to his theory demonstrate their migration or importation. He does not
specify the evidence on which he bases his assertion of Phenician
influence in Cyprus, except in one or two particulars. Speaking of the
specimen shown in fig. 177 of the present paper, he says:
It represents the sacred palm under which Apollo, the god of light,
was born. * * * At Cyprus the palm did not appear only with the
Phenicians; it was not known prior to that time (p. 674).
[Illustration: Fig. 176. ATTIC VASE FOR PERFUME, WITH CROIX SWASTICALE AND
TWO FORMS OF SWASTIKAS. Ohnefalsch-Richter, Bull. Soc. d'Anthrop., Paris,
1888, p. 673, fig. 4.]
[Illustration: Fig. 177. DETAIL OF CYPRIAN VASE. Swastikas with palm tree,
sacred to Apollo. Citium, Cyprus. Ohnefalsch-Richter, Bull. Soc.
d'Anthrop., Paris, 1888, p. 673, fig. 3.]
The design shown in fig. 178 he describes as representing two birds in the
attitude of adoration before a Swastika, all being figured on a Greek cup
of the style Dipylon.[184]
Dr. Ohnefalsch-Richter adds:
On the vases of Dipylon the Swastikas are generally transformed into
other ornaments, mostly meanders. But this is not the rule in Cyprus.
The Swastika disappeared from there as it came, in its sacred form,
with the Phenician influence, with the Phenician inscriptions on the
vases, with the concentric circles without central points or tangents.
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