Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

Superstitious practices with axes 701
of magic dealt in hatchets {secures). He adds elsewhere' that the
Magi in their axe-divination (axinoniantia) set fire to a piece of jet
{lapis Gagates) and, if this was not consumed, announced that the
Fig. 634.
wishes of the worshipper would come true. The connexion between
the axe and the burnt jet is not indicated and leaves room for con-
jecture^. J. Dalechamps^ in 1587 said that the jet was placed on a
red-hot hatchet—an assertion roundly rebuked by Salmasius* as
of the Society of Biblical Archceology 1898 xx. 140— 144 argues that Austanou, Ostani
was, to begin with, one of the cynocephalous deities forming the ogdoad of Hermopolis,
that he was subsequently confounded with Thoth, that he acquired importance during the
Ptolemaic period, and that Ostanes the god then gave rise to Ostanes the priest of
Memphis, who according to Hermetic tradition initiated Demokritos of Abdera into the
mysteries (Synes. ad Dioscorutn cotntnent. in Deniocr. in M. Berthelot Collection des
anciens alchimistes gtecs Paris 1888 Texte grec p. 57, 7
ff. = H. Diels Die Fragjnente der
Vorsokratiker^ Berlin 191 2 ii. 130 f.). Maspero further contends that ' Ostanes devient un
Perse par la vertu de son nom, et par suite un mage, un chaldeen, d'ou la variante qui lui
donne une origme babylonienne.' F. Granger in The Journal of Theological Studies 1904
V. 398 f. carries the matter from Greece into Italy and makes it probable ' that Pliny
depends upon Democritus for his mention of Ostanes.'
' Plin. nat. hist. 36. 142.
2 On the virtues of jet in general see G. F. Kunz The Curious Lore of Precious Stones
Philadelphia & London 191 3 pp. 91 f., 263 f., id. The Magic of Jewels and Charms
Philadelphia cS: London 1915 pp. 146 f., 352, 386. Burnt jet in particular had prophylactic,
curative, and detective powers (Plin. nat. hist. 36. 141 f. Gagates lapis... cum
uritur, odorem sulpureum reddit...fugat serpentes (cp. Nik. ther. 37 with schol. ad loc.)
ita recreatque volvae strangulationes. deprendit sonticum morbum et virginitatem suffitus).
* On Plin. nat. hist. 36. 142
See also M. Delrio cited infra p. 702 n. 4.
: 'Axinotnantiam. Ea fit gagati imposito securi candenti.'
* C. Salmasius Plinianae exercitationes in Caii lulii Solini Polyhistora Parisiis 1629
i. 252 E f. (' scribe : in earn quam vacant causimomantiam ').