CHAPTER  2.
 

Tree Worship and the Transition to anthropomorphic

Image Worship.
 

I'ig I
 

I.    Tlie lioly Tree on Cy|>iiaii antiquities.

L   Jn the Pre-Graeco-Phoenician Copper-Bronze Period.

In this early period, reaching back to two or even three thousand yemcs
before the Christian era, the holy tree is orily found engraved on seal^cylind^rs
or worked in relief on hand-made vases.

a) The oldest forms show alwa3^s a realistic representation of a tree or
branch, probably intended for one of the native conifers. With it occur indigenous
animals only (or the heads of such) and rudely executed human figures; lions and
wild beasts, as well as fabiilous creatures compounded of man and beast or of
different beasts, are absent; there are no cuneiform incriptions.

Fig. 1. 'Impression of a stone cylinder dug up at Ayia Paraskevi near
Nicosia; no further information as to discovery obtainable: Konstantinides
Collection, Nicosia. In the middle a man praying with uplifted arms; on his right
the sacred tree; on his left an ox-head and an object which is a compromise
between a star and the tailed disc of the sun.

Fig. 2.   Impression   of  a  stone   cylinder  from   the   same spot: formerly in
my possession.    Before   a   tree   (evidently meant  to represent either the pinus aricio
or   the cypress)   stands a man (perhaps a sacrificant), holding in his left hand an ox-
head, in  his right hand a tailed sun disc (?) or rudely indicated axe (?); above the latter a disc  with
knob in the centre.

Fig. 3. Hand-made, polished vase of red clay with ornaments in relief; excavated in an
earth-tomb at Ayia Paraskevi by myself in the presence of Mr. .Dummler: on the body of the
vase, at equal distances from each other, a sna:ke, a stag, and a tree. I reproduce only the reliefs
of the vase.