95-

HIPPOCAMP PROW OF GODDESS'S BARK

Fig. 919. Gold Signet-ring from
Mochlos.

Goddess, seated with her face towards a similar fish-tailed stern, raises h
hand as if saluting the sanctuary from which she departs (Fig. 9]g\r

Behind her, towards the prow of th
vessel, is a small double shrine from
which rises a sacred tree. T]le
animal's head which forms the prow
as the mane-like appearance at the
back of the neck shows, must be
now recognized as a derivative version
of that of the sea-horse or Hippocam-
pus-2

On a smaller gold signet-ring from
Knossos the long-nosed head of the
prowand the fish-tailed stern of avessel
again appear, in which the Goddess
may be also discerned pulling at an oar
(Fig. 920). In this sketchy version the
waves of the sea are roughly indicated
below, and, perhaps, a rocky shore.

The same sea-monster under a
more dog-headed form, recognized as
the prototype of Skylla. has already
been noted on a seal type from the
Temple Repositories, being beaten off
by the seaman's oar from the skiff
that it is attacking (Fig. 9'^1)-3
On the silver ' rhyton ', again, from
Mycenae, its head emerges from
the waves amidst the shipwrecked
swimmers.4 The connexion estab-
lished by the signet-ring between these
monstrous marine shapes and the little ' sea-horse' points to very early
tales of Aegean folk-lore, which indeed had a long later history. The spiky
1 See P. of M., ii, Pt. I, p. 250, lug. 1-17 discovered signet. The scene on the Mochlos

Fig. 920. Shall Gold Signet with
Sketchy Design of Goddess on Dog-
headed Vessel (f).

Fig. 921. Dog-headed Monster, Proto-
type of Skylla, attacking Boat : Sealing
from 'Temple Repositories'.

(from a drawing by Gillieron, pere), and cf.
Seager, Explorations in the Island of Mochlos,
pp. 89, 90, and Fig. 52. My conclusion
{Joe. at.) that the ' fish-tailed' end represents the
prow seems to be less probable in view of the
attitude and action of the Goddess in the newly

ring would also be one of leave-taking and n
of arrival. ,

"- Both Mr.Seager and myself had identifie

it (loc: at.) with a dog's head.
3 Cf. P. of M., i, p. 69S, Fig. 520.
-' P. of M., iii, p. 96, Fig. S4,