Mycencean Tree and Pillar Cult. By Arthur J. Evans. (Mac-
millan and Co. 68.)—Mr. Evans reprints this treatise from the Journal of Hellenic Studies, where it appeared towards the end of last year. Substantially Mr. Evans had put forth the same views at the 1896 meeting of the British Ass ociation. But his Cretan researches furnished him with some additional illuatra- tions. The subject is not one on which we profess to give an opinion. It is probable that there is no one in the world who knows so much about it, except it be Mr. Hogarth. We are content, therefore, with generally referring our readers to this very clear exposition of Mr. Evans's views, with its excel- lent reproductions of the articles described and commented on. On one point, indeed, an outsider may confirm Mr. Evans's
opinion, as to the impossibility of the Mycensean signetlings being of Phoinician origin. It is quite enough to see what MM. Perriez and Chippot have been able to collect in the way of Pho3nician art to be sure that this is quite impossible. On another matter we have an opinion and feel bound to express it. Mr. Evans gives a very remarkable account of a ceremony which is practised in Upper Macedonia, a piece of paganism which has survived, as Mr. Evans puts it, "under the cloak of Islam." The whole thing is the strangest mixture of prehistoric worship, Islam (the ceremony takes place at what is reputed to be the grave of a Mahomedan saint) and Christian superstition (the Christians in the neighbourhood visit the spot on St. George's Day). Mr. Evans's arch reological zeal is praiseworthy in itself, but surely it carried him too far when, "for the better understanding of the ritual employed, he went through the whole ceremony himself." He kissed the pillar, poured water from a holy spring into a hole in the grave, drank of it three times and anointed his forehead With it, kissed the head and foot stones of the grave, joined in an augury with pebbles, and finally sacrificed a ram, and slept in the ante-chamber for the sake of some inspiring dream. This 'hi very amusing to read, but is it right ?
Previous page
