§9'- The Minoan Goddess as Patroness of the Palace Bull-
ring—New Chryselephantine Image of her as 'Lady of the Sports':
Sacrifice of Corrida Bulls and its Survival.

Brill-sports of Palace Arena as illustrated by the wall-paintings and
reliefs; Pillar Shrine of Goddess depicted overlooking Bull-ring; Sexual
transformation of girl performers—their male 'Sheath'; Anatolian source
of bull-sports—divinity there male ; Varied aspects of Minoan Goddess; Her
interest in Games; Her Sacred Swing—terra-cotta model; Doves perched
on its side-posts—emblems of divine possession; Swinging as magical and
religious rite—Aiora festival at Athens; Swinging in Modem Greece and
Crete; Normal impersonations of Goddess, in fashionable dress, unfitted
for Sports; JVew Chryselephantine figure of Goddess in garb resembling
Taureadors; With matronly corset, hozvever, combined with male loin clothing
and masculine 'cod-piece' attached—Minoan adaptation of' Libyan Sheath';
Facial features of figurine: Classical profile, like Cambridge Goddess ; Emer-
gence of new statuette with similar features ; Diadem and coronal of Chrys-
elephantine figure; Its broad necklace—sign of rank; PI eight and girth of
statuette—comparisons with adult male figures; Comparison -with 'Boston
Goddess'; ' Lady of the Sports', still a Mother Goddess ; Pier aid constantly
invoked by her proteges of the Bull-ring; A Vision of comfort in direst need;
Sacrifice of bull of Corrida on ThisM seal-type—a priestly Matador; Gem-
types showing sacrificed bull on Table ; Sacrificed bull on Table in H. 'Priada
Fresco ; P"unereal sacrifice of bulls; Opfertory animals depicted as coursing in
Arena : Survivals of Minoan bull-sports—Phessaliau Taurokathapsia; Ar-
temis Tatcropolos and Taurobolos; Survival of Minoan bull-sports as religious
function at Miletos, an old Cretan foundation ; Bull sacrifice at the Boegia.

There can be no question that the episodes of the Minoan bull-sports
as seen in the West Portico of the Northern Entrance at Knossos presented
' Cow-boy' feats in some open area or Minoan park, bordered by rocky
crags and olive woods. If, as we may infer, the fellow composition set in
the opposite Eastern Gallery related to the lassoing of a bull inveigled by
a decoy cow, it, too, equally belonged to the country-side.

Bull-sports of Palace Arena and their Illustrations.

But, as has been shown in the preceding Volume of this work, another Hull-
class of bull-sports, well represented on the Palace walls, is entirely PaiacV
divested of any such rural background, and must as clearly have found its arcIM-

c 2