j' 95- The Sacred 'Adder Mark' and a Stone Statuette of Goddess
as 'Snake Mother'.

Part I. The 'Adder Mark' of the Goddess.

Sacral use of ' Wave and dot' pattern ; Its appearance round movable
tripod hearths at Knossos ; Such hearths also used as altars ; Fixed hearth of
Mycenae Megaron—' Wave and dot' motive on its successive layers of painted
plaster ; Source of motive in markings on Adder s sides ; Similar markings
on Cretan Cat-snake, locally regarded as Viper—"Oxcrpa ; Motive as executed
round L.M. lb ritual vessels with handles terminating in snakes heads;
Goblets from Knossos and Phaestos ; Motive on Phaeslian vessel associated
with Double Axe; Snake as beneficent Genius in primitive cult, but, as
attribute of Chthonic Goddess, acquires more awesome significance ; Chaldaeau
analogy in case of Tiamat; Snakes of Goddess in mature cult viperine; The
'Adder Mark' of the Goddess ; Etruscan parallel from Grotta dell' Oreo—
Demon Tukhulkha with similar 'Adder Mark' on wings as well as snake;
Minoan survivals of this sacral motive, but absence of Greek tradition;
Suggested Virgilian allusion; Possible Anatolian links with Etrivia;
Diffusion of sacred 'Adder Mark' to Egypt and appearance on axe-head of
King Aahmes; Ceramic use in L.M. lb and element of"' Palace Style',
L. M II.

As to the extent to which Minoan Religion in its higher aspects had
assimilated the domestic snake worship, striking evidence is afforded by the
characteristic attributes of the artistic images of the Goddess in faience and
ivory, where the serpents coiled round body and limb, are held forth to the
votaries and emphasize her chthonic side. A chance observation made by
me, supported by some singular corroborative evidence, renders it possible
to trace to the same reptilian source a decorative motive constantly found
in direct or indirect association with the divinity.

Sacral Use of ' Wave and Dot' Pattern.

Sacral This is the pattern consisting of waves and dots, the sacred charactet

"wave °f which had been already made patent by a series of objects standing in
ant! dot' a religious connexion that had come to lioht in the course of the Excava-

pixttem. ^ '1*1

tions. From the vivid execution of notched reliefs against a vernul'Oi

background on the arrow-plumes found in the ' Temple Repositories , ana