1890.] Punch-marhed coins of Hindustan, ^e. 203 
objects found by Schliemann at Hissarlik, though the ‘ s^castika ’ is com- 
mon enough there on pottery. At Mycenro however the ‘ triskelia ’ occurs 
(as I take it) in an ornate and peculiar form, on the gold buttons found 
in the fourth twist, and also on the gold knob of a sword handle. 
(Schliemann’s Mycenae, p. 264, figs. 409, 413 and p. 269, fig. 428). 
Fig. 409 suggests that the elements of the simple, yet elegant design 
comprise three ‘ lingum-yonis ’ circularly arranged, with the left ‘ labium ’ 
of each prolonged into a curved arm and the same is seen in fig. 413. 
The same peculiarity in the elements which make up the pattern is also 
seen in a ^swastika’ fig. 422, 1. o. and in figs. 421 and 422a the pattern 
consists of three ‘ ling urns ’ in the centre surrounded by six others, each 
being separated from its neighbour by a band without end, formed by 
the united ‘ labia ' of all the ‘ lingums’ A most ingenious and pleasing 
device. 
8. Cldstee of nine spheres. Fig. 149. 
Another planetary symbol as I regard it, consists of a circle of 
eight spheres, I’anged round a central one. In Mr. 0. W. King’s work 
on antique gems, Plato II, fig. 4, a very similar device is figured on an 
Assyrian seal, only in this case there are but seven spheres round the 
central one, which presumably stands for the earth. If therefore the 
present symbol is planetary in its meaning, it must represent the earth 
and the seven planets of the Chaldean astrologers, ranged round some 
central object, whoso meaning we have yet to discover. Now the cele- 
brated temple or mound of the seven planets at Birs Nimrond is de- 
scribed by Sir Henry Rawlinson as consisting of seven stages each de- 
dicated to a separate planet. “ The first or lowest stage was about two 
hundred and seventy-two feet square and twenty-six foot high, and was 
covered with bitumen to represent the sable hue of Saturn. The 
second stage was two hundred and thirty feet square and about twenty- 
six feet high, and the surface was covered with some tint resembling 
orange, to represent Jupiter. The third stage was one hundred and 
eighty feet square, and twenty-six feet high, the surface colour being red 
to represent Mars. The fourth stage was about one hundred and forty- 
six feet square and twenty-six feet high and there is reason to believe 
that it was coated with gold to represent the sun. The fifth stage was 
about one hundred and four feet square, about fifteen feet high and 
coloured light yellow to represent Venus. The sixth stage was about 
sixty-two feet square, fifteen feet high and coloured dark blue so as to 
represent Mercury. The seventh stage was about twenty feet square, 
“ about fifteen feet high and covered with silver ” representing of 
course the moon. Above the whole structure was a shrine or 
