198 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
form of a phallus, often represented by a simple column, which some- 
times is placed on the yoni or female organ. It is suggested that in a 
common form of the sculptures the inner circle represents the Mahadeo 
or lingam, and the outer or containing circle the yoni. No idea of 
obscenity occurs from this representation to the Hindus, who adore 
under this form the generative power in nature. 
Prof. Douglas, in the Saturday Review, November 24, 1883, furnishes 
some remarks on the topic now considered: 
In Palestine and the country beyond Jordan some of the marks found are so large 
that it has been supposed that they may have been used as small presses of wine, or 
as mortars for pounding the gleanings of wheat. But there is an objection to these 
theories as accounting for the marks generally, which is fatal to them. To serve 
these purposes the rocks on which the marks occur should be in a horizontal posi- 
tion, whereas in a majority of cases all over the world the ‘‘cups” are found either 
on shelving rocks or on the sides of perpendicular stones. This renders worthless 
also the ideas which have at different times been put forward that they may have 
been used for some sort of gambling game, or as sun-dials. A Swiss archeologist 
who has lately devoted himself to the question believes that he has recognized, in 
the sculpturings under his observation, maps of the surrounding districts, the 
“cups” indicating the mountain peaks. In the same way others have thought that 
similar markings may have been intended as maps or plans pointing out the direc- 
tion and character of old circular camps and cities in their neighborhood. But if 
any such resemblances have been discovered they can hardly be other than fortuitous, 
since it is difficult to understand how rows of cup marks, arranged at regular 
intervals and in large numbers, could have served as representatives either of the 
natural features of a country or of camps and cities. But a closer resemblance may 
be found in them as maps if we suppose that they were intended to represent things 
in the heavens rather than on earth. The round cup-like marks are reasonably sug- 
gestive of the sun, moon, and stars, and if only an occasional figure could be found 
representing a constellation, some color might be held to be given to the idea; but 
unfortunately this is not the case. Nevertheless the shape of the marks has led 
many to believe that they are relics of the ancient sun worship of Phenicia, and 
that their existence in Europe is due to the desire of the Pheenician colonists to con- 
vert our forefathers to their faith. But there are many reasons for regarding this 
theory, thongh supported by the authority of Prof. Nilsson, as untenable. The 
observations of late years have brought to light cup marks and megalithie circles in 
parts of Europe on which a Phoenician foot never trod; and it is a curious cireum- 
stance that in those portions of the British Isles most frequented by these indefatiga- 
ble traders there are fewer traces of these monuments than in the northern and 
inland districts, which were comparatively inaccessible to them. 
The Swiss archeologist mentioned above by Prof. Douglas is Fritz 
Roediger (a), of whose theory the following is a translated abstract: 
What renders the deciphering of these sign stones exceedingly difficult (I pur- 
posely ayoid the words ‘“‘map stones ” because not all are such) is their great variety in 
size, position, material, workmanship, and meaning. I will here speak of the latter 
only, inasmuch as there are stones which in their smallest and their largest form _ 
are yet frequently nothing’ else than boundary stones, whose origin can often not be 
definitely established as prehistoric, while on the other hand again we discover 
well-marked boundary stones, which at the same time show the ontline of the piece 
of ground which they guard, Similarly we find prehistoric (Gallic) ‘‘ Leuk” stones, 
differing from the meter-high communal and state boundary stones of modern times 
in nothing but this, that they have some indistinct grooyes and one or two hooks, 
