Zeus : a study in ancient religion - Warburg Institute

of the thunderbolt 781.
butterfly in the sunlight (pi. xxxvi, 3). Now it half-closes them
(pi. xxxvi, 7). Now again it furls them completely and relapses
into rest (pi. xxxvi, 8). The wings, according to Seltman, are
either those of Nike or those of a bird, usually of an eagle the
lightning-bird, but sometimes perhaps of a swallow (pi. xxxvi, 2)
the harbinger of rain \ The spiral twist is introduced soon after the
middle of s. v B.C. It first affects the central spike of the lotos
(pi. xxxvi, 3), but early in s. iv involves the wings and sepals as
well (fig. 742), 'so that the thunderbolt may be thought of as
spinning while it hurtles through the air^'
Two curious types discovered by Mr Seltman call for separate
notice. A stater issued by the mint of Zeus between c. 471 and
c. 452 B.C. makes the sepals on the upper half of the bolt curl over
to form serpent-heads (fig. 743 )^ These must be regarded as an
Fig- 742. Fig. 743.
arbitrary, but not altogether inappropriate, variation of the tendrils,
which on many specimens occupy a like position. If Aischylos
could describe the arrow of Apollon as 'a winged glistering snake^'
an artist contemporary with the poet might well conceive the
thunderbolt of Zeus as in part serpentiform. The lord of the aigis
had snakes enough and to spare.
Another stater, issued by the mint of Zeus c. 421 B.C., is of
greater interest. The lower half of the bolt is here an unmistakable
fly with head, eyes, body, wings, and legs complete (pi. xxxvi, 5).
This is rightly, I think, interpreted by Mr Seltman'^ as an allusion
to the local cult of Zeus Apomyios. Since the said cult has often
been misunderstood, it is worth while to state the main facts con-
cerning it. When animal sacrifices were offered in hot weather, flies
of course arrived in swarms and fastened on the carcases. This
^ After P. Jacobsthal op. cit. p. 25 (' Schwalbenflugel '), cp. D'Arcy W. Thompson
A Glossary of Greek Birds Oxford 1895 p. 193 [add Geopon. i. 3. 8].
- C. T. Seltman loc. cit. 192 1 xi. 108 with no. 157 pi. 5, BT^ 7W ( = my fig. 742) and
no. 158 pi. 5, BT^ 5a.
107.
^ C. T. Seltman loc. cit. 1913 viii. 36 f. no. 42 pi. 2, AF a.v ( = my fig. 743), J921 xi.
* Aisch. Euvi. 181 izTr\vbv apyriaTi]v ocpiv.
' C. T. Seltman loc. cit. i9i4ix. 10, 1921 xi. 107.