Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

32
Zeus Krataibdtes
had a name of kindred significance^ involving Doric a for e^. We
might compare the Tarentuni or Terentum ('Hole'?) in the Campus
Martins at Rome^ On the other hand, such Celtic deities as Ta-
ranis, Tarami-ams, lupiter Tararmais* are perhaps best related to
Anglo-Saxon Thimor, Norse Thor, etc.—witness the alternative
form lupiter Tanarus^.
^ I
(X) Zeus Krataibates.
A relief found at the village of Katsigkri near Nauplia repre-
o z sents Zeus advancing from left to right. He hurls
^ thunderbolt with his right arm and stretches out
K P A T A I
_ '
B A 1 A
_, . his left, above which is an inscription (fig. 14)*' read-
Fig. 14.
"•& =
' Of
Zeus Krataibdtes!
The title thus spelt is unique. It may of course be a mere
blunder for Kataibdtes. But more probably it is an intentional
variation of that epithet : whoever
to suggest the potency of the lightning-god''.
(77)
erected the monument wished
Survivals of the foregoing beliefs.
In Christian times it was believed that the victim of lightning
had been struck by the sudden descent of a demon. For example^
early in the fifth century Saint Hypatios, presbyter and kegoumenos
1 A. Vanicek Griechisch-lateinisches etyinologisches Worterbiich Leipzig 1877 i. 286.
^ E. Boisacq Les dialectes doriens Paris 1891 p. 33 ff-
3 O. Richter Topographic der Stadt Roni- Mlinchen 1901 pp. '224 f., 257, H.Jordan
C. Huelsen Topographic der Stadt Rom im Altcrthiim Berlin 1907
et C. Huelsen Fortiiae itrbis Roinae antiquae^' Berolini 1912 p. 137.
i. 3. 477 ff., H. Kiepert
Zeus TapavTaioj was the god of Tarantos in Bithynia (Steph. Byz. s.v. Tdpas\.JaTi 5e
Kai TdpavTos dpceuiKios XtyofM^vq 7r6XiS Bidvvias, ivda Ti/jLaTai Tapavraios Zei/s, ws Ari/xoad^vris
iv 5evT^p