ROMAN PAVEMENTS AND iNTRECCI. 169 



Lincoln, at Silchester, and even in Algeria, presents the twin 

 interlaced ovals that we see on the Dorchester pavement, Illus- 

 tration VI., fig. i. 



It is obvious that these two ovals are intertwined so as to form 

 a cross of equal limbs, which is a sign of the sun. A convenient 

 name for it will be the solar duplex. Its precise significance 

 belongs to those arcana of a solar cult that have yet to be dis- 

 covered. But we get light from Egypt, from the orientation of 

 the chief temples of Karnak to the solstices or the equinoxes, 

 and from the adoration of Ra. " O Prince," was the invocation, 

 " O Ra, with thy two eyes, lord of the two horizons, may we see 

 thy face again, for we love the circuits of the two Regions.* 



The solar-duplex, then, which occurs on a mosaic at Pompeii, f 

 which is found in Africa and the north of Europe, and which 

 abounds on Britanno- Roman pavements, represents the sun's 

 path across the heavens and through the underworld at the winter 

 and summer solstices. And strange to say it has been met with 

 on a shell gorget, in the prehistoric grave-mounds of Tennessee, 

 together with a multitude of other forms of the solar cross, J 

 Illustration I., fig. 4. 



The four protuberances of the symbol gave it a cruciform 

 character that was recognised by the early Christians of Europe, 

 and they sculptured it on their crosses and in their churches. For 

 that which was the sign of a solar god could be used quite as well 

 to designate the Sun of Righteousness. And, in addition, the 

 double interlacement could signify Christ's two inseparable 

 natures, the human and the divine. In like manner the three 

 protuberances 'in the knot of a single unbroken strand, the 

 triquetra, the symbol of a pagan triad, stood also for triunion in 

 the Christian Trinity. Examples may be seen on a cross at 

 Disley, Cheshire, Illustration VII. , and on a stone from the old 

 church at Dover of the IV. or V. century. 



* Arch. Hi. 408 (viii. 9). 



t Boltoii's Mosaic Pavinys, PL i. 



t Holmes, Bureau of Eth., 18801881, PL Hi., p. 270. 



