TWO EXAMPLES OF SYMBOLISM. 29 



on his radiant quadriga, crossed the ocean, which sought in vain 

 to engulf him, and, reaching Heaven, took up his abode with 

 the immortals. But to that myth the event before us was long 

 anterior. We see the soul of a chieftain on his chariot, shield 

 and sword beside him, driving a fiery steed over stormy waters, 

 preceded and guided by a sort of Charon, who holds aloft a 

 magic sword to scare away the powers of evil. And above them 

 is the palmette, turning towards them the flower of promise, the 

 pledge of life and strength. 



Mr. Goodyear has shown, in his Grammar of the Lotus, that 

 the Ionic capital is a lotus derivative. A very early example of 

 it, from Asia Minor (Fig. 20), is shown inverted, that it may be 

 compared with the Mycenaean palmette, that their resemblance 

 may be the better seen. 



In its proper position the efficient or floral portion of the 

 palmette of the Ionic capital is placed against that which it has 

 to support ; its magic is a part of the cult of the Pillar of the 

 House, which symbolises an unseen, upholding Power, and is a 

 pledge of strength and continuance. 



At the Lions' Gate of Mycenae the mystical column, with its 

 animal supporters, sustained the roof. But Mr. Arthur Evans 

 has brought together a number of contemporary gems from the 

 yEgaean area, on which the column is represented standing free, 

 without any superstructure, and its obvious derivation from a 

 wooden prototype suggests that originally a sacred tree was made 

 to perform this divine function of the Pillar of the House. And 

 he calls to mind the building of the House of Solomon and the 

 setting up of the right pillar called Jachin, or The Stablisher, 

 and the left pillar called Boaz, or In Him is Strength. And 

 upon the top of the pillars was lily work* 



P Etruscan tombs display the palmette of the exact form that 

 we find on the Frampton and other pavements. It is carved at 

 one end of the sarcophagus, whilst at the other are represented 

 the round shield and sword or spear of the deceased. 



* I. Kings, vii., 21, 22. 



