THE PAGAN -CHRtSTIAtf OVERLAP OP THE WISE BIRD. 11? 



Elsewhere the overlapping of creeds did not always end in their 

 mutual preservation. Either one system by degrees absorbed the 

 others, or a resultant was formed that differed from any component. 

 The goddess Dione, for example, was adored at Dodona, until, by 

 command of an oracle, Zeus was introduced, when, for a time, both 

 divinities were worshipped conjointly, and both their effigies ap- 

 peared on the coins of the Melossian kings. But at last Dione 

 was forgotten. 



We are apt to overlook the degree to which Christianity, 

 especially in the Middle Ages, was tinged and changed by the 

 religions that preceded and environed it ; though a recognition of 

 the fact is necessary if we are to succeed in the difficult task of 

 interpreting mediaeval Christian sculptures. Let us not forget 

 that the veiy days of the week constantly bring upon our lips the 

 names of Woden, Thor, Frey, and Tew, the chief gods of our 

 heathen ancestors. The happy time of spring was the festival of 

 the solar goddess Eastre, worshipped by the pagan Saxons, who 

 called April Eastre-monath. The boar, that was sacred to 

 Frigga, Woden's divine spouse, "was sacrificed to her at Yule- 

 tide ; and " the boar's head " still appears at many a Christmas 

 feast. 



The 25th of December, or VIII. KAL. JAN. as the Romans wrote 

 it, was the birthday of Mithras the Invincible, and was celebrated 

 by games in the Circus Maximus. The Fathers of our Faith 

 confessed their ignorance of the precise time of the Holy Advent, 

 and Chrysostom writing A.D. 400 says (Horn. 31) in reference to 

 the pagan festival of the Sun-god : " On this day also the birthday 

 of Christ was lately fixed at Rome in order that while the heathen 

 were busy with their profane ceremonies the Christians might 

 perform their sacred rites undisturbed. They call this the 

 Birthday of the Invincible One ; but who so invincible as the 

 Lord 1 They call it the Birthday of the Solar Disc ; but Christ 

 is the Sun of Righteousness, &c., &c." 



In Christian ritual, too, many overlaps exist ; but of these one 

 instance must suffice. Among pagans the Aqua lustralie was a 



