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PROFESSOR D'ARCY WENT WORTH THOMPSON ON 



In Miss J. E. Harrison's book on The Mythology of Ancient Athens there is to be 

 found a learned, but, to my thinking, a mistaken explanation of the great relief of 

 Cybele in the Hermitage Museum at St Petersburg. This monument seems to me to be 

 capable of a far simpler and far more interesting explanation. The two annular symbols 

 on either side of the central figure are not, to my mind, mere adjuncts of the picture, 

 (f>[a\ai, or votive gifts offered to the goddess; they are the ancient symbols of the sun, 

 as we still find them to this day in astronomical and astrological works. The figure 





Fig. 1. — Cybele Relief (Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg)/ 



to the right of the group, with the water-jar on his shoulder, is no mere 71-^000-71-0X0? or 

 temple-server, but the Water-bearer himself; nor is the Lion "a mere lap-dog," or 

 symbol of the dominion of the goddess. The group represents, in short, the Sun in Leo 

 and the Sun in Aquarius. 



The statement that this great monument displays two zodiacal signs would scarcely 

 deserve credence, and the fact, if admitted, would be of comparatively small interest, 



* I am indebted for the loan of this engraving to Messrs Macmillan & Co., and for that of the Lion and Bull on 

 p. 182 to Mr John Murray ; the other engravings are all the gift and handiwork of Mrs W. R. H. Valentine, Dundee. 



