M. M. Ill: THE SNAKE GODDESS AND RELICS 505

need hardly stand in the way of the identification of the animal with the
lioness, sacred, as we know from other pieces of evidence, to the Great
Minoan Goddess, later identified with Rhea.1

This connexion is further borne out by two seal impressions belonging Lions
to the large hoard from the Western Repository. On one of these (Fig. f"™'
363 a) a female figure, presumably the Goddess herself, and wearing Goddess,
a peaked tiara, is seen holding in one hand what seems to be the shaft
of a spear and laying the other on the hind-quarters of a lion who looks up
at her. On another sealing (b) a warrior wearing a peaked cap and holding
a spear and shield of a known Minoan class marches beside a lioness or pard.

a be
Fig. 363. Sealings a, b from Temple Repositories, c Hagia Triada. (f)

A supplement to these is afforded by a seal type from Hagia Triada2 where
a warrior with similar peaked head-gear, but holding a horn-bow, stands
beside a lion. His loin cloth is remarkable as exhibiting a double flounce.

Remains of a third faience statuette, of which the upper part of the
body is wanting, showed a skirt and apron exactly resembling those of the
Goddess. Of the skirt enough remained to admit of its full restoration,
and the parts above, including the ' apron ', metal girdle, and a piece of the
jacket and laced bodice were well preserved. The girdle presented the
same spiral decoration as the borders of the apron. As in the case of the
last figure, her hair fell down in long tresses to the hips. We have here,

1 The connexion with the lion recalls the
Egyptian representations of Semitic Goddesses
assimilated to Hathor. The Moon Goddess,
Qetesh, stands on a lioness. Ashtoreth has
a lion's head. As the great Goddess of Deri-

dera, Hathor assumes the form of a lioness
with an uraeus on her head (cf. Budge, Gods
of the Egyptians, i, p. 429).

2 Mon. Ant., xiii, p. 44, Fig. 40.