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BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



phallus, as we know, was to guard the object against evil 

 influences, and one may find representations of this symbol 

 not only on lamps, and other objects, but even painted on 



A 



Fig. 11. 



the kitchen ränge as at Pompeii. This remote surmise, 

 however, is not at all weakened by a curious object in 



the British Museum, 

 for a sketch of which 

 I am indebted to Mr. 

 Dwight Blaney, and 

 which is here pro- 

 duced (Fig. 12). In 

 this a steer's head 

 rises from the body 

 between the two 

 rings, while the two 

 horns curve back and 

 unite with the outer 

 rim of one of the 

 rings. It does not 

 seem possible that 

 this object has any 

 relation to the bow- 

 puller unless it be a lamp wick-holder. If it is related, then 

 all other attributions of its use are vitiated by this unique 



Fig. 12. 



