Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

7o6 The spear of Zeus
B.C. show him as he rests upon a spear (fig. 636)^, while others give
only the helmeted head (fig. 637)^ or bust^ of this martial deity.
Whether the Zeus A7'eios, before whom at Passaron in Molossis the
kings and people of Epeiros plighted their troth*, was a form of the
ancient Epeirote thunder-god we cannot definitely assert ; but it is
likely enough. Again, the altar at Olympia, on which Oinomaos
Fig. 636. Fig. 635. Fig. 637.
used to sacrifice to Zeus Areios^, may have stood in some relation to
the altar of Zeus Keraiinios adjoining the foundations of Oinomaos'
housed Be that as it may, the title Aj-eios was remembered for many
centuries as one appropriate to the sky-god''; and Zeus Areios was
apparently Latinised as lupiter Militarist.
1 Brit. Mus. Cat. Coins Caria, etc. p. 122 pi. 20, 12, W. Wroth in the Num. Cliron.
Third Series 1896 xvi. 95 f. pi. 7, 12 ( = my fig. 636), Imhoof—Blumer Kleinas. Miinzen
i. 134, Head Hist. 7tum.'^ p. 620.
* Imhoof— Blumer Kleinas. Miinzen i. 134 no. i pi. 5, 7 ( = my fig. 637), Head Hist,
nufn." p. 620.
^ Imhoof—Blumer op. cit. i. 134 no. 2, Head Hist, numr p. 620.
* Plout. V. Pyrrh. 5 eludeicrav oi PacriXeTs ev Ilatrtrapcow, X'^P'-V '''V^ MoXorrt'Sos, '\peiw
All OCiffavTes opKUjfioTfiv toIs 'HireipibTaii KCii opKl^eiv, avToi /xkv dp^eiv Kara. Toiis vofiovs,
eKsivovs 5^ rriv ^aaiXeiav dia