154 FLORA OF THE 



ornament above and below we may well look upon as 

 our old friend the plumose head of the date tree. 



The top of the Assyrian sacred date tree, with its 

 supporting horns, was probably taken up by the Greeks 

 and modified into ornaments for friezes, as already 

 shown in fig. 69. 



There are numerous architectural and decorative 

 designs which, I think, are traceable to the Assyrian 

 date tree and its horns, but it would take much time 

 to explore this subject. The Prince of Wales' feathers 

 are perhaps also a descendant of the same motive. 

 There are in it the three elements held together by 

 means of a crown, which may be a modification of 

 the ligature. 



This notion would receive support from the accom- 

 panying emblem held in the hand 

 of a figure on an ancient cylinder 

 (fig. 81). The probability is that this 

 emblem consists of three date leaves, 

 supported by two horns. 



In India I have frequently seen 

 the walls of ball-rooms decorated 

 Fig. 81.— Emblem held in with the Princc of Walcs' feathers, 



the hand of a female figure ; 



pi. 19, fig. 2, ■ Recherches, made up of three real date leaves, 



sur le culte de Venus, by *■ 



M. Felix Lajard. ^^^j^j^j^ ^^^^.^ ^ ^^^^ imitation of 



feathers. 



The curious part of it is that the crown, which binds 



