Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

The axe carried by priests and priestesses 621
and perforated, the handle prolonged above it so that it could be
grasped at either end. The other man, who is seemingly nude,
stands at a little distance facing the axe-bearer with a gesture of
respect. What these various figures signify, we cannot tell. But it is
reasonable to suppose that the personage carrying the two-handled
axe is a priest, who holds out the weapon of his god for the ap-
proaching worshipper to clasp, much as Ahasuerus held out to
Esther the golden sceptred
Fig. 518.
A glandular sardonyx from the Vaphio tomb (fig. 5I9)^ now in
the Central Museum at Athens^, has incised upon it a beardless
man in a long robe, who raises his right hand in the attitude of
adoration and supports on his left shoulder an axe crescentic and
holed as before. G. Perrot and C. Chipiez* took him to be perhaps
a man sacrificing. A. Furtwangler^ suggested that he might be
meant for a priest, or for a god, possibly Zeus. And L. A. Milani"
declares that he is an armed deity comparable with the Hittite
sceptre and ring on the rock-cut reliefs of Bavian (Perrot—Chipiez Hist, de VArt ii. 636 ff.
fig. 310) and Maltai {ib. ii. 642 ff. fig. 313)
1 Esther 4. 11, 5. 2, 8. 4.
is misleading.
^ Ch. Tsountas ''Epeufat iv riy AaKwviKij Kal 6 rdcpos tov Hacpeiov^ in the "E