09.01.2013 Views

Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

190<br />

The Delphic Omphalos<br />

It is therefore of importance to observe that the Cretans too had a<br />

holy centre called Omphalos, where it was said that the navel-str<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of the <strong>in</strong>fant <strong>Zeus</strong> had fallen to the ground. Kallimachos, hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

told how Rhea entrusted the babe to the arms of Neda, cont<strong>in</strong>ues :<br />

When bear<strong>in</strong>g thee from Knossos, father <strong>Zeus</strong>,<br />

The Nymph left Thenai (Thenai near to Knossos),<br />

There, lord, fell off thy navel ; wherefore now<br />

Cydonians call that spot the Omphalian Pla<strong>in</strong>t<br />

Diodoros tells the same tale <strong>in</strong> substantial agreement with Kallimachos<br />

:<br />

' The story goes that, when he (<strong>Zeus</strong>) as an <strong>in</strong>fant was be<strong>in</strong>g carried by the<br />

Kouretes, his navel fell off near the river named Triton, and that the place was<br />

consecrated and called Omphalos after the occurrence, the surround<strong>in</strong>g district<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g likewise known as the Omphalian Pla<strong>in</strong>-.'<br />

This narrative was denounced by K. Hoeck as a piece of late<br />

Monographs: Monograph Series xiii) Bryn Mawr 1913 pp. 22 ff., 41 f., 62 ff.). The<br />

leader of these Cretan settlers was Kastalios [et. gen. s.v. AiK V. 2. 133).<br />

1 Kallim. h. <strong>Zeus</strong> 42 ff. eiVe Qevas aireXeLTrev airo (so J. A. F. A. Me<strong>in</strong>eke for MSS. etrl)<br />

Kvuiaaoio (pepovaa, |<br />

Zed<br />

TTtae, dai/xov, otTr' 6fx

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!