Sexual Symbolism, A History of Phallic Worship.pdf

by Ashley Montagu

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4. i

5. SEXUAL SYMBOLISM

6. INCLUDESTWOCOMPLETEVOLUMES
ADiscourseontheWorshipofPriapus[1786]
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers[1866}
withoriginalplates
by
RICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT
THOMAS WRIGHT

7. SEXUAL
SYMBOLISM
AHISTORY OFPHALLIC WORSHIP
IntroductionbyAshleyMontagu
BELL PUBLISHING COMPANY «NEW YORK

8. LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:57-11940
Copyright©McMLvilbyTheJulianPressInc.
ThiseditionpublishedbyBellPublishingCompany,Inc.,
adivisionofCrownPublishers,Inc.,
byarrangementwithTheJulianPress,Inc.
abaicydeeteeh
PRINTED INTHE UNITED STATES OFAMERICA

9. INTRODUCTION
THEtwostudieswhichcomprisethepresentvolume,
RichardPayneKnight’sADiscourseontheWorship
ofPriapus(1786),andThomasWright’sTheWorship
oftheGenerativePowersDuringtheMiddleAgesof
WesternEurope(1866),constitutepioneerworksof
scholarshipandlearninginanarcanumofhumanex-
periencewhichhasforlongremainedaforbiddenterri-
tory.Anyoneventuringintothatterritorywasbound
todosoathisownrisk,andtheriskwassuchthatfew
haveundertakenit.Theviolenceofthereactiontothe
publicationofKnight’svolumewassuchthatthework
hadtobewithdrawnuponpublication—thestoryof
thateventisbrieflytoldintheprefacewhichishere
appendedtohisbook.Thepuritanismthatisusually
attributedtotheAgeofVictoriahad,infact,already
beenwellestablishedbythesecondhalfoftheeight-
eenthcentury,sothatwhatissurprisingisnotthe
reactionwhichthebookevokedbutthatitsauthor
shouldhavethoughtitpossibletopublishsuchabook
withoutevokingit.Asaseriousstudentofsomeofthe
morecuriousofman’scustomsKnightfeltthathis
iil

10. Introduction
workwouldreceivetheattentionitdeservedfromother
scholars.But,unfortunatelyforhim,Knightwasabout
acenturyandahalfaheadofhistime;and,indeed,so
littleintheinterimhasthefieldofphallicworship
beensystematicallyexploredthatKnight’sworkmay
stillbeusedasavaluableandstimulatingintroduction
tothisinterestingandilluminatingaspectofman’s
behavior.
ThereaderofKnight’spioneerworkwillimmediately
beimpressedwiththeseriousnessofpurposewith
whichtheauthorpursueshisinquiries.Hewillfurther
begratifiedtodiscoverthatinadditiontothescholar-
shipandingenuityoftheauthorthatheisalsoafine
writer.Finally,thegoodtastewithwhichtheauthor
handlesasubjectwhichbuttomentionwasforsome
togiveoffence,canevokenothingbut:admiration.The
rathercharmingwitoftheauthorgracefullyenhances
thepleasantstyleinwhichthebookiswritten.The
illustrations,whichKnightcausedtobemadefromob-
jectsmostlyinhisowncollection,serveuncommonly
welltoillustratetheconclusionstheyservetosub-
stantiate.
Knightcommencedwithnotheories.Hewasinter-
estedtofollowthefactswherevertheymightlead.
Whathewasconcernedtodiscoverwasthemeaning
oftheevidentlywidespreadpracticeofphallicworship
intheAncientWorld,andwhatrelationshipthismight
havetothetheologyoftheancients.Infollowingthe
variousclueswhichtheevidencepresentsKnight
iv

11. Introduction
turnedupagreatdealofsymbolismwhichwasnot,in
histime,intheWesternWorldunderstoodforwhat
heshowedittobe.Inthisachievementherankswith
thegreatstudentsofsexualsymbolism.Butwhatis
evenmoreimportant,heshowedhowgreatandsignifi-
cantaroletheworshipofPriapusplayedinsomany
differentreligionsintheAncientWorld.
Itshouldbemadeclearthatby“Priapus”Knight
didnotunderstandthatdeityoftheGreekswhowas
thegodofgardens,vineyards,agriculture,andwho
alsoensuredthefertilityofanimalsandwomen.By
“Priapus”Knightunderstoodwhatwetodayreferto
as‘“PhallicWorship”,aphallicworshipwhichembraces
fertilitycultsandagooddealelse.Whilereferringto
thismatteritmaybeofinteresttoreportthatin
severalpartsofEurope,particularlyintheBalkans,
priapicfigurinesandamuletsstillservetheendsoffer-
tilityandprotectagainstthemaleficentinfluencesof
theevileye.Suchamuletsandfigurineswereonce
widelydistributedthroughoutEurope,andtheevi-
dencesofphallicworshipstillremainincertainparts
ofEuropeandinotherpartsoftheworldintheform
ofmonolithsandcarvingsofvarioussorts.
Thestudyofphallicworshipisbesetwithpitfalls,
andextremecautionisnecessaryintheinterpretation
ofso-calledphallicsymbolsandphallicceremonies,for
thesemaystandforalargevarietyofdifferentthings.
Butwherethefactsareclear,asintheTantricsects
ofHinduism,andinthephallicceremonieswhichstill
Vv

12. Introduction
‘sistincontemporaryJapan,muchlightisthrown
onthevarietyofextraordinarymeaningswhichsuch
iefsandpracticesmaytake.CertainsectsofChinese
ntristsandTaoistsheldbeliefsuntilrecentlywhich
‘therservetoilluminatethewidevarietyofforms
ichphallicreligionsmaytake.Knowledgeofthese
3,ofcourse,becomeavailablesinceKnightwrote,
dwhileenlarginghisinterpretationofthesignifi-
iceofsuchphallicpractices,thatknowledgebasically
‘vestocorroboratehisconclusions.
ThomasWright’sTheWorshipoftheGenerative
wersDuringtheMiddleAgesofWesternEurope
866)isworkofbroaderscopethanKnight’s.Also,
goesbeyonditstitletoembracethestudyofcertain
normalpracticesincidenttomembershipincertain
lersandsocieties.Onthewhole,however,itconsti-
tesacontinuation,asitwere,ofKnight’sworkto
ibracetheworshipofthefemaleaswellasofthe
ulegenerativepowers.
LikeKnight’s,Wright’sworkisaseriousandschol-
lystudywhichservestothrowmuchlightuponbe-
fsandpracticesrelatingtotheworshipofthegen-
ativepowers.InsofarasitgoesWright’sconclusion
quitesoundthat“Theworshipofthereproductive
gans’rituallysolemnized“thefertilizing,protecting,
dsavingpowersofnature,”butheisnotquiteas
undwhenhegoesontosaythatsuchbeliefsand
acticesprevaileduniversally.Thefactisthatsuch
acticesandbeliefswereveryscarceamongtheAmer-
vi

13. Introduction
icanIndians,forexample,tonamebutoneratherlarge
complexofcultures.Itisremarkablethatevensexual
symbolismisararityamongAmericanIndiantribes.
ButWrightwasnearenoughtothetruth;suchprac-
ticesandthesexualsymbolismassociatedwiththem,
ifnotuniversal,wereinoneformoranotherwellnigh
tobeingso.Todayweknowagreatdealmoreabout
suchbeliefsandpracticesthanWrightcouldpossibly
knowinhisday,butasIhavealreadyindicated,a
thoroughgoingsystematictreatmentofsuchbeliefsand
practicesisstillwantingatthepresentday.Thereis
agreatliteratureonthesubject,anduptotheyear
1931itwillbefoundsummarizedinR.Goodland’sA
BibliographyofSexRitesandCustoms,GeorgeRout-
ledge,London,1931.
BothKnight’sandWright’sbookshavelongbeen
outofprintanddifficulttocomeby.Tohavethem
madeoncemoreavailableisagreatboontoscholars
andtostudents.
AshleyMontagu
Princeton,NewJersey

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15. ADISCOURSE ON
THE WORSHIP OFPRIAPUS
AND ITSCONNECTION WITH THE
MYSTIC THEOLOGY OFTHEANCIENTS
BY
RICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT
TO WHICH ISADDED
AN ACCOUNT OF THE REMAINS OF THE
WORSHIP OF PRIAPUS LATELY EXISTING
AT ISERNIA INTHE KINGDOM OFNAPLES
BYSIRWILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B.
WITH PLATES
VOLUME I

17. PREFACE
distinguishedpatronsofartandlearning
inEnglandduringhistime,ascholarof
greatattainments,aneminentantiquarian,mem-
beroftheRadicalpartyinParliament,andawriter
ofgreatability,wasbornatWormesleyGrange,in
Herefordshire,in1750.Fromanearlyagehede-
votedhimselftothestudyofancientliterature,
antiquities,andmythology.Alargeportionof
hisinheritedfortunewasexpendedinthecollection
ofantiquities,especially,ancientcoins,medals,and
bronzes.Hiscollection,whichwas-continueduntil
hisdeathin1820,wasbequeathedtotheBritish
Museum,andacceptedforthatinstitutionbyaspe-
cialactofParliament.Itsvaluewasestimatedat
£50,000.
AmonghisworksareanInquiryintothePrinciples
ofTaste;AnalyticalEssayontheGreekAlphabet;
TheSymbolicalLanguageofAncientArt;andthree
poems;TheLandscape,theProgressofCivilSociety,
andTheRomanceofAlfred.
RciesPAYNEKNIGHT,oneofthemost
IX

18. eT
x Preface
TheWorshipofPriapuswasoriginallyprintedin
1786.TheboldutterancesofMr.Knightonasubject
whichuntilthattimehadbeenentirelytabooed,or
hadbeentreatedinawaytohideratherthantodis-
coverthetruth,shockedthesensibilitiesofthehigher
classesofEnglishsociety,andtheministersand
membersofthevariousdenominationsoftheChris-
tianworld.Ratherthanendurethestormofcriti-
cism,arousedbythepublication,hesuppressed
duringhislifetimeallthecopiesofthebookhe
couldrecall,consequentlyitbecameveryscarce,and
hascontinuedso.
Thenumerousillustrationsareengravedfroman-
tiquecoins,medals,stonecarvings,etc.,preservedin
thePayneKnightcollectionintheBritishMuseum.
Theseareonlytobefoundinmuseumsandprivate
collectionsscatteredoverEurope,andarepractically
inaccessibletothestudent;theyarehereengraved
andfullydescribed.
Thepresenteditionispublishedintheinterestof
scienceandscholarship.Atatimewhensomany
learnedinvestigatorsareendeavouringtotraceback
religiousbeliefsandpracticestotheirorigin,itwould
seemthatthisisabranchofthesubjectwhichshould
notbeignored.Thehistoryofreligionshasbeen
studiedwithmorezealandsuccessduringthenine-
teenthandtwentiethcenturies,thaninalltheages

19. Preface xi
whichprecededthem,andthisbookhasnowan
interestfiftyfoldgreaterthanwhenoriginally
published.
TheshortaccountoftheRemainsoftheWorship
ofPriapusintheKingdomofNaplesisfromthe
letterofSirWilliamHamilton,K.B.,HisMajesty’s
MinisterattheCourtofNaples,toSirJosephBanks,
Bart.,thenPresidentoftheRoyalSociety.

21. ON THE WORSHIP OFPRIAPUS
INTHE KINGDOM OFNAPLES
Sir, Naples,Dec.30,1781.
AVINGlastyearmadeacuriousdiscovery,
H thatinaProvinceofthisKingdom,andnot
fiftymilesfromitsCapital,asortofdevotion
isstillpaidtoPriapus,theobsceneDivinityofthe
Ancients(thoughunderanotherdenomination),I
thoughtitacircumstanceworthrecording;particu-
larly,asitoffersafreshproofofthesimilitudeof
thePopishandPaganReligion,sowellobservedby
Dr.Middleton,inhiscelebratedLetterfromRome:
andthereforeImeantodeposittheauthentic*proofs
ofthisassertionintheBritishMuseum,whena
properopportunityshalloffer.InthemeantimeI
sendyouthefollowingaccount,which,Iflattermy-
self,willamuseyouforthepresent,andmayin
futureservetoillustratethoseproofs.
Ihadlongagodiscovered,thatthewomenand
1Aspecimenofeachoftheez-votiofwax,withtheoriginal
letterfromIsernia.SeetheEx-voti,PlateI.
13

22. TheWorshipofPriapus
childrenofthelowerclass,atNaples,andinits
neighbourhood,frequentlywore,asanornamentof
dress,asortofAmulets,(whichtheyimaginetobe
apreservativefromthemalocchii,evileyes,oren-
chantment)exactlysimilartothosewhichwereworn
bytheancientInhabitantsofthisCountryforthevery
samepurpose,aslikewisefortheirsupposedinvigo-
ratinginfluence;andallofwhichhaveevidentlya
relationtotheCultofPriapus.Struckwiththiscon-
formityinancientandmodernsuperstition,Imade
acollectionofboththeancientandmodernAmulets
ofthissort,andplacedthemtogetherintheBritish
Museum,wheretheyremain.ThemodernAmulet
mostinvoguerepresentsahandclinched,withthe
pointofthethumbthrustbetwixttheindexandmid-
dle?finger;thenextisashell;andthethirdisa
half-moon.TheseAmulets(excepttheshell,which
isusuallyworninitsnaturalstate)aremostcom-
monlymadeofsilver,butsometimesofivory,coral,
amber,crystal,orsomecuriousgem,orpebble.We
haveaproofofthehandabovedescribedhavinga
connectionwithPriapus,inamostelegantsmallidol
ofbronzeofthatDivinity,nowintheRoyalMuseum
ofPortici,andwhichwasfoundintheruinsofHer-
culaneum:ithasanenormousPhallus,and,withan
1SeePlate1.,Fig.1.

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EXVOTIOFWAX, FROM ISERNIA

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25. TheWorshipofPriapus
archlookandgesture,stretchesoutitsrighthand
intheformabovementioned; andwhichprobably
wasanemblemofconsummation: andasafurther
proofofit,theAmuletwhichoccursmostfrequently
amongstthoseoftheAncients(nexttothatwhich
representsthesimplePriapus),issuchahandunited
withthePhallus;ofwhichyoumayseeseveralspeci-
mensinmycollectionintheBritishMuseum. One
inparticular,Irecollect,hasalsothehalf-moon
joinedtothehandandPhallus;whichhalf-moonis
supposedtohaveanallusiontothefemalemenses.
Theshell,orconchaveneris,isevidentlyanemblem
ofthefemalepartofgeneration.Itisverynatural
thentosuppose,thattheAmuletsrepresentingthe
Phallusalone,sovisiblyindecent,mayhavebeen
longoutofuseinthiscivilizedcapital;butIhave
beenassured,thatitisbutverylatelythatthePriests
haveputanendtothewearingofsuchAmuletsin
Calabria,andotherdistantProvincesofthis
Kingdom.
Anewroadhavingbeenmadelastyearfromthis
CapitaltotheProvinceofAbruzzo,passingthrough
theCityofIsernia(ancientlybelongingtotheSam-
nites,andverypopulous’),apersonofliberal
education,employedinthatwork,chancedtobeat
1Inthefirstvolume oftheBronzes oftheHerculaneum.
2Theactualpopulation ofIserniais51656.
17

26. TheWorshipofPriapus
IserniajustatthetimeofthecelebrationoftheFeast
ofthemodernPriapus,St.Cosmo;andhavingbeen
struckwiththesingularityoftheceremony,sovery
similartothatwhichattendedtheancientCultof
theGodoftheGardens,andknowingmytastefor
antiquities,toldmeofit.FromthisGentleman’s
report,andfromwhatIlearntonthespotfromthe
GovernorofIserniahimself,havinggonetothatcity
onpurposeinthemonthofFebruarylast,Ihave
drawnupthefollowingaccount,whichIhavereason
tobelieveisstrictlytrue.Ididintendtohavebeen
presentattheFeastofSt.Cosmothisyear;butthe
indecencyofthisceremonyhavingprobablytrans-
pired,fromthecountry’shavingbeenmorefre-
quentedsincethenewroadwasmade,ordershave
beengiven,thattheGreatToe?oftheSaintshould
nolongerbeexposed.Thefollowingistheaccount
oftheFéteofSt.CosmoandDamiano,asitactually
wascelebratedatIsernia,ontheconfinesofAbruzzo,
intheKingdomofNaples,solateasintheyearof
ourLord1780.
Onthe27thofSeptember,atIsernia,oneofthe
mostancientcitiesoftheKingdomofNaples,situ-
atedintheProvincecalledtheContadodiMolise,
andadjoiningtoAbruzzo,anannualFairisheld,
1Itappearsthemodern PriapiweresocalledatIsernia.
18

27. PLATE II
ANCIENT AND MODERN AMULETS

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29. TheWorshipofPriapus
i
whichlaststhreedays.ThesituationofthisFairis
onarisingground,betweentworivers,abouthalfa
milefromthetownofIsernia;onthemostelevated
partofwhichthereisanancientchurch,witha
vestibule.Thearchitectureisofthestyleofthe
lowerages;anditissaidtohavebeenachurchand
conventbelongingtotheBenedictineMonksinthe
timeoftheirpoverty.ThischurchisdedicatedtoSt.
CosmusandDamianus.OneofthedaysoftheFair,
therelicksoftheSaintsareexposed,andafterwards
carriedinprocessionfromthecathedralofthecityto
thischurch,attendedbyaprodigiousconcourseof
people.Inthecity,andatthefair,ex-votiofwax,
representingthemalepartsofgeneration,ofvarious
dimensions,someevenofthelengthofthepalm,are
publicklyofferedtosale.Therearealsowaxen
vows,thatrepresentotherpartsofthebodymixed
withthem;butofthesetherearefewincomparison
ofthenumberofthePriapi.Thedevoutdistributers
ofthesevowscarryabasketfulloftheminonehand,
andholdaplateintheothertoreceivethemoney,
cryingaloud,“St.CosmoandDamiano!” Ifyou
askthepriceofone,theansweris,pidcimetti,pitt
meriti:“Themoreyougive,themore’sthemerit.”
Inthevestibulearetwotables,ateachofwhichone
ofthecanonsofthechurchpresides,thiscryingout,
QuisiricevenoleMisse,eLitanie:“HereMassesand
Ue
21

30. TheWorshipofPriapus
Litaniesarereceived;”andtheother,Quisiriceveno
liVoti:“HeretheVowsarereceived.”Theprice
ofaMassisfifteenNeapolitangrains,andofaLitany
fivegrains.Oneachtableisalargebasonforthe
receptionofthedifferentofferings.TheVowsare
chieflypresentedbythefemalesex;andtheyare
seldomsuchasrepresentlegs,arms,&c.,butmost
commonlythemalepartsofgeneration.Theperson
whowasatthisféteintheyear1780,andwhogave
methisaccount(theauthenticityofeveryarticleof
whichhassincebeenfullyconfirmedtomebythe
GovernorofIsernia),toldmealso,thathehearda
womansay,atthetimeshepresentedaVow,like
thatwhichispresentedinPlate1,Fig.i.Santo
Cosimobenedetto,cosilovoglio:“BlessedSt.Cosmo,
letitbelikethis;”another,St.Cosimo,atemirac-
commendo: “St.Cosmo,Irecommend myselfto
you;”andathird,St.Cosimo,tiringrazio:“St.Cos-
mo,Ithankyou.”TheVowisneverpresentedwith-
outbeingaccompaniedbyapieceofmoney,andis
alwayskissedbythedevoteeatthemomentof
presentation.
Atthegreataltarinthechurch,anotherofits
canonsattendstogivetheholyunction,withtheoil
ofSt.Cosmo;?whichispreparedbythesamere-
1Thecureofdiseasesbyoilislikewiseofancientdate;for
_—
22

31. nner
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TheWorshipofPriapus
teEa
ceiptasthatoftheRomanRitual,withtheaddition
onlyoftheprayeroftheHolyMartyrs,St.Cosmus
andDamianus. Thosewhohaveaninfirmityinany
oftheirmembers,presentthemselvesatthegreat
altar,anduncoverthememberaffected(noteven
exceptingthatwhichismostfrequentlyrepresented
bytheex-voti);andthereverendcanonanointsit,
saying,PerintercessionembeatiCosmi,liberetteab
omnimalo.Amen.
Theceremony finishesbythecanonsofthechurch
dividingthespoils,bothmoney andwax,whichmust
betoaveryconsiderable amount, astheconcourse
atthisféteissaidtobeprodigiously numerous.
TheoilofSt.Cosmoisinhighreputeforitsin-
vigoratingquality,whentheloins,andpartsadja-
cent,areanointedwithit.Nolessthan1400flasksof
thatoilwereeitherexpendedatthealtarinunctions,
orcharitablydistributed,duringthisféteintheyear
1780;andasitisusualforeveryone,whoeither
makcsuseoftheoilatthealtar,orcarriesoffaflask
ofit,toleaveanalmsforSt.Cosmo,theceremony
oftheoilbecomeslikewiseaverylucrativeoneto
thecanonsofthechurch.
Tertulliantellsus,thataChristian,calledProculus,curedthe
Emperor Severusofacertaindistemperbytheuseofoil;for
whichservicetheEmperor keptProculus,aslongashelived,
inhispalace.
23

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33. ONTHE WORSHIP OFPRIAPUS
EN,consideredcollectively,areatalltimes
M thesameanimals,employingthesameor-
gans,andendowedwiththesamefaculties:
theirpassions,prejudices,andconceptions,willof
coursebeformeduponthesameinternalprinciples,
althoughdirectedtovariousends,andmodifiedin
variousways,bythevarietyofexternalcircum-
stancesoperatinguponthem.Educationandscience
maycorrect,restrain,andextend;butneithercan
annihilateorcreate:theymayturnandembellish
thecurrents;butcanneitherstopnorenlargethe
springs,which,continuingtoflowwithaperpetual
andequaltide,returntotheirancientchannels,when
thecausesthatpervertedthemarewithdrawn.
Thefirstprinciplesofthehumanmindwillbe
moredirectlybroughtintoaction,inproportionto
theearnestnessandaffectionwithwhichitcontem-
platesitsobject;andpassionandprejudicewillac-
quiredominionoverit,inproportionasitsfirstprin-
20

34. TheWorshipofPriapus
ciplesaremoredirectlybroughtintoaction.Onall
common subjects,thisdominionofpassionand
prejudiceisrestrainedbytheevidenceofsenseand
perception;but,whenthemindisledtothecon-
templationofthingsbeyonditscomprehension,all
suchrestraintsvanish:reasonhasthennothingto
opposetothephantomsofimagination,whichac-
quireterrorsfromtheirobscurity,anddictateuncon-
trolled,becauseunknown.Suchisthecaseinall
religioussubjects,which,beingbeyondthereachof
senseorreason,arealwaysembracedorrejected
withviolenceandheat.Menthinktheyknow,be-
causetheyaresuretheyfeel;andarefirmlycon-
vinced,becausestronglyagitated.Henceproceed
thathasteandviolencewithwhichdevoutpersons
ofallreligionscondemntheritesanddoctrinesof
others,andthefuriouszealandbigotrywithwhich
theymaintaintheirown;whileperhaps,ifbothwere
equallywellunderstood,bothwouldbefoundtohave
thesamemeaning,andonlytodifferinthemodesof
conveyingit.
Ofalltheprofaneriteswhichbelongedtothean-
cientpolytheism,noneweremorefuriouslyinveighed
againstbythezealouspropagatorsoftheChristian
faith,thantheobsceneceremoniesperformedinthe
worshipofPriapus;whichappearednotonlycon-
trarytothegravityandsanctityofreligion,butsub-
26

35. TheWorshipofPriapus
versiveofthefirstprinciplesofdecencyandgood
orderinsociety.Eventheformitself,underwhich
thegodwasrepresented,appearedtothemamock-
eryofallpietyanddevotion,andmorefittobe
placedinabrothelthanatemple.Buttheforms
andceremonialsofareligionarenotalwaystobe
understoodintheirdirectandobvioussense;butare
tobeconsideredassymbolicalrepresentationsof
somehiddenmeaning,whichmaybeextremelywise
andjust,thoughthesymbolsthemselves,tothose
whoknownottheirtruesignification,mayappearin
thehighestdegreeabsurdandextravagant.Ithas
oftenhappened,thatavariceandsuperstitionhave
continuedthesesymbolicalrepresentationsforages
aftertheiroriginalmeaninghasbeenlostandfor-
gotten;whentheymustofcourseappearnonsensical
andridiculous,ifnotimpiousandextravagant.
Suchisthecasewiththeritenowunderconsidera-
tion,thanwhichnothingcanbemoremonstrousand
indecent,ifconsideredinitsplainandobviousmean-
ing,orasapartoftheChristianworship;butwhich
willbefoundtobeaverynaturalsymbolofavery
naturalandphilosophicalsystemofreligion,ifcon-
sideredaccordingtoitsoriginaluseandintention.
Whatthiswas,Ishallendeavourinthefollowing
sheetstoexplainasconciselyandclearlyaspossible.
Thosewhowishtoknowhowgenerallythesymbol,
27

36. ee
————————
TheWorshipofPriapus
andthereligionwhichitrepresented,onceprevailed,
willconsultthegreatandelaborateworkofMr.
D’Hancarville,who,withinfinitelearningandin-
genuity,hastraceditsprogressoverthewholeearth.
Myendeavourwillbemerelytoshow,fromwhat
originalprinciplesinthehumanminditwasfirst
adopted,andhowitwasconnectedwiththeancient
theology:mattersofverycuriousinquiry,whichwill
serve,betterperhapsthananyothers,toillustrate
thattruth,whichoughttobepresentineveryman’s
mindwhenhejudgesoftheactionsofothers,that
inmorals,aswellasphysics,thereisnoeffectwith-
outanadequatecause.Ifindoingthis,Ifrequently
finditnecessarytodifferinopinionwiththelearned
authorabove-mentioned,itwillbealwayswiththe
utmostdeferenceandrespect;asitistohimthatwe
areindebtedfortheonlyreasonablemethodofex-
plainingtheemblematicalworksoftheancient
artists.
WhatevertheGreeksandEgyptiansmeantbythe
symbolinquestion,itwascertainlynothingludicrous
orlicentious;ofwhichweneednootherproof,than
itshavingbeencarriedinsolemnprocessionatthe
celebrationofthosemysteriesinwhichthefirstprin-
ciplesoftheirreligion,theknowledgeoftheGodof
Nature,theFirst,theSupreme,theIntellectual,were
1Plut.deIs.etOs.
LLL
28

37. TheWorshipofPriapus
preservedfreefromthevulgarsuperstitions,and
communicated,underthestrictestoathsofsecrecy,to
theiniated(initiated);whowereobligedtopurify
themselves,priortotheirinitiation,byabstaining
fromvenery,andallimpurefood.tWemaythere-
forebeassured,thatnoimpuremeaningcouldbe
conveyedbythissymbol;butthatitrepresented
somefundamentalprincipleoftheirfaith.What
thiswas,itisdifficulttoobtainanydirectinforma-
tion,onaccountofthesecrecyunderwhichthispart
oftheirreligionwasguarded.Plutarchtellsus,that
theEgyptiansrepresentedOsiriswiththeorganof
generationerect,toshowhisgenerativeandprolific
power:healsotellsus,thatOsiriswasthesame
DietyastheBacchusoftheGreekMythology;who
‘wasalsothesameasthefirstbegottenLove(Eows
mowtoyovoc)ofOrpheusandHesiod.?Thisdeityis
celebratedbytheancientpoetsasthecreatorofall
things,thefatherofgodsandmen;*anditappears,
bythepassageabovereferredto,thattheorganof
generationwasthesymbolofhisgreatcharacteristic
attribute.Thisisperfectlyconsistentwiththegen-
eralpracticeoftheGreekartists,who(aswillbe
madeappearhereafter)uniformlyrepresentedthe
attributesofthedeitybythecorrespondingproper-
1Plut.deIs.etOs. 2Ibid. 3Orph.Argon.422.
29

38. TheWorshipofPriapus
tiesobservedintheobjectsofsight.Theythusper-
sonifiedtheepithetsandtitlesappliedtohiminthe
hymnsandlitanies,andconveyedtheirideasofhim
byforms,onlyintelligibletotheinitiated,insteadof
sounds,whichwereintelligibletoall.Theorganof
generationrepresentedthegenerativeorcreativeat-
tribute,andinthelanguageofpaintingandsculp-
ture,signifiedthesameastheepithetxayyevetol,
intheOrphiclitanies.
Thisinterpretationwillperhapssurprisethosewho
havenotbeenaccustomedtodivesttheirmindsof
theprejudicesofeducationandfashion;butIdoubt
not,butitwillappearjustandreasonabletothose
whoconsidermannersandcustomsasrelativetothe
naturalcauseswhichproducedthem,ratherthanto
theartificialopinionsandprejudicesofanyparticu-
larageorcountry.Thereisnaturallynoimpurity
orlicentiousnessinthemoderateandregulargratifi-
cationofanynaturalappetite;theturpitudeconsist-
ingwhollyintheexcessorperversion.Neitherare
organsofone-speciesofenjoymentnaturallytobe
consideredassubjectsofshameandconcealment
morethanthoseofanother;everyrefinementofmod-
ernmannersonthisheadbeingderivedfromac-
quiredhabit,notfromnature:habit,indeed,long
established;foritseemstohavebeenasgeneralin
Homer’sdaysasatpresent;butwhichcertainlydid
SSS
30

39. TheWorshipofPriapus
notexistwhenthemysticsymbolsoftheancientwor-
shipwerefirstadopted.Asthesesymbolswerein-
tendedtoexpressabstractideasbyobjectsofsight,
thecontriversofthemnaturallyselectedthoseob-
jectswhosecharacteristicpropertiesseemedtohave
thegreatestanalogywiththeDivineattributeswhich
theywishedtorepresent.Inanage,therefore,when
noprejudicesofartificialdecencyexisted,whatmore
justandnaturalimagecouldtheyfind,bywhichto
expresstheirideaofthebeneficentpowerofthe
greatCreator,thanthatorganwhichendowedthem
withthepowerofprocreation,andmadethempar-
takers,notonlyofthefelicityoftheDeity,butofhis
greatcharacteristicattribute,thatofmultiplyinghis
ownimage,communicatinghisblessings,andextend-
ingthemtogenerationsyetunborn?
IntheancienttheologyofGreece,preservedinthe
OrphicFragments,thisDeity,theEgwsagwtoyovos,
orfirst-begottenLove,issaidtohavebeenproduced,
togetherwithEther,byTime,orEternity(Kgovoc),
andNecessity(Avayyn),operatinguponinertmat-
ter(Xaos).Heisdescribedaseternallybegetting
(asvyvntyns);theFatherofNight,calledinlater
times,thelucidorsplendid,(qavys),becausehe
firstappearedinsplendour;ofadoublenature,
(Supvys),aSpossessingthegeneralpowerofcrea-
tionandgeneration,bothactiveandpassive,both
31

40. 2——SSS
TheWorshipofPriapus
nn EEEEEEESENSES
maleandfemale.t.Lightishisnécessaryandpri-
1Qrph.Argon.,ver.12.ThispoemoftheArgonautic Expedi-
tionisnotoftheancientOrpheus,butwritteninhisnameby
somepoetposteriortoHomer; asappearsbytheallusionto
Orpheus’sdescentintohell;afableinventedaftertheHomeric
times.Itis,however,ofverygreatantiquity,asboththestyle
andmannersufficientlyprove;and,Ithink,cannotbelaterthan
theageofPisistratus,towhichithasbeengenerallyattributed.
Thepassageherereferredtoiscitedfromanotherpoem,which,
atthetimethiswaswritten,passedforagenuineworkofthe
Thracianbard:whetherjustlyornot,matterslittle;foritsbe
ingthoughtsoatthattimeprovesittobeoftheremotestan-
tiquity.TheotherOrphicpoemscitedinthisdiscoursearethe
Hymns, orLitanies,whichareattributedbytheearlyChristian
andlaterPlatonicwriterstoOnomacritus, apoetoftheageof
Pisistratus;butwhichareprobablyofvariousauthors (See
Brucker. Hist.Crit.Philos.,vol.i,part2,lini,c.i.)They
contain,however,nothingwhichprovesthemtobelaterthan
theTrojantimes;andifOnomacritus, oranylaterauthor,had
anythingtodowiththem,itseemstohavebeenonlyinnew-
versifyingthem,andchangingthedialect(SeeGesner. Proleg.
Orphica,p.26).Hadheforgedthem,andattempted toimpose
themupontheworld,asthegenuinecompositions ofanancient
bard,therecanbenodoubtbutthathewouldhavestuffedthem
withantiquated wordsandobsoletephrases; whichisbyno
meansthecase,thelanguagebeingpureandworthytheageof
Pisistratus.Thesepoemsarenotproperlyhymns,forthehymns
oftheGreekscontainedthenativitiesandactionsofthegods,
likethoseofHomerandCallimachus; butthesearecompositions
ofadifferentkind,andareproperlyinvocationsorprayersused
intheOrphicmysteries,andseemnearlyofthesameclassasthe
PsalmsoftheHebrews. Thereasonwhytheyaresoseldom
mentioned byanyoftheearlywriters,andsoperpetuallyreferred
tobythelater,isthattheybelongedtothemysticworship,where
everything waskeptconcealed underthestrictestoathsof
secrecy.ButaftertheriseofChristianity,thissacredsilence
eens agape et neni
32

41. TheWorshipofPriapus
wasbrokenbytheGreekconverts,whorevealedeverythingwhich
theythoughtwoulddepreciatetheoldreligionorrecommend the
new;whilsttheheathenpriestsrevealedwhatevertheythought
wouldhavecontrarytendency;andendeavoured toshow,bypub-
lishingtherealmysticcreedoftheirreligion,thattheprin-
ciplesofitwerenotsoabsurdasitsoutwardstructureseemed
toinfer;butthat,whenstrippedofpoeticalallegoryandvulgar
fable,theirtheologywaspure,reasonable,andsublime(Gesner.
Proleg.Orphica). Thecollectionofthesepoemsnowextant,be-
ingprobablycompiledandversifiedbyseveralhands,withsome
forged,andotherinterpolatedandaltered,mustbereadwith
greatcaution;moreespeciallytheFragments preservedbythe
FathersoftheChurchandAmmonian Platonics;forthesewriters
madenoscrupleofforginganymonuments ofantiquitywhich
suitedtheirpurposes;particularlytheformer,who,inaddition
totheirnaturalzeal,havingtheinterestsofaconfederatebody
tosupport,thoughteverymeansbywhichtheycouldbenefitthat
body,byextendingthelightsofrevelation,andgainingproselytes
tothetruefaith,notonlyallowable,butmeritorious(SeeClem-
entina,Hom.vii.,sec.10.Recogn.lib.i.,sec.65.Origen,apud
Hieronom. Apolog.i.,contraRuf.etChrysostom. deSacerdot.,
lib.i.Chrysostom, inparticular,notonlyjustifies,butwarmly
commends, anyfraudsthatcanbepracticedfortheadvantage
oftheChurch ofChrist).Pausanias says(lib.ix.),thatthe
Hymns ofOrpheus werefewandshort;butnextinpoetical
merittothoseofHomer, andsuperiortotheminsanctity
(Seodoyixwtepot) Theseareprobablythesameasthegenu-
inepartofthecollectionnowextant;buttheyaresointermixed,
thatitisdifficulttosaywhicharegenuineandwhicharenot.
Perhapsthereisnosurerruleforjudgingthantocomparethe
epithetsandallegorieswiththesymbolsandmonograms onthe
Greekmedals,andtomaketheiragreement thetestofauthen-
ticity.ThemedalswerethepublicactsandrecordsoftheState,
madeunderthedirectionofthemagistrates,whoweregener-
allyinitiatedintothemysteries. Wemaythereforebeassured,
thatwhatever theologicalandmythological allusionsarefound
uponthemwerepartoftheancientreligionofGreece.Itis
33

42. ee, ——————
eee
TheWorshipofPriapus
eT
fromthesethatmanyoftheOrphicHymns andFragments are
provedtocontainthepuretheologyormysticfaithofthean-
cients,whichiscalledOrphicbyPausanias (lib.1,c.39),and
whichissounlikethevulgarreligion,orpoeticalmythology,that
onecanscarcelyimagineatfirstsightthatitbelongedtothe
samepeople;butwhichwillneverthelessappear,uponaccurate
investigation,tobethesourcefromwhenceitflowed,andthe
causeofallitsextravagance.
ThehistoryofOrpheushimselfissoconfusedandobscuredby
fable,thatitisimpossibletoobtainanycertaininformation
concerninghim.Accordingtogeneraltradition,hewasaThra-
cian,andintroducedthemysteries,inwhichamorepuresystem
ofreligionwastaught,intoGreece(Brucker,vol.i.,part2,lib.i.,
ce.i.)HeisalsosaidtohavetravelledintoEgypt(Diodor.Sic.
lib.i.,p.80);butastheEgyptianspretendedthatallforeigners
receivedtheirsciencesfromthem,atatimewhenallforeigners
whoenteredthecountrywereputtodeathorenslaved(Diodor.
Sic.lib.i.,pp.78et107),thisaccountmayberejected,with
manyothersofthesamekind.TheEgyptianscertainlycouldnot
havetaughtOrpheusthepluralityofworlds,andtruesolarsys-
tem,whichappeartohavebeenthefundamental principlesof
hisphilosophyandreligion(Plutarch.dePlacit.Philos.,lib.it.,
ce.13.Bruckerinloc.citat.)Norcouldhehavegainedthis
knowledge fromanypeoplewhichhistoryhaspreservedany
memorials; forweknowofnoneamongwhomsciencehadmade
suchaprogress,thatatruthsoremotefromcommon observa-
tion,andsocontradictorytotheevidenceofunimproved sense,
wouldnothavebeenrejected,asitwasbyallthesectsofGreek
philosophyexceptthePythagoreans, whoratherrevereditasan
articleoffaith,thanunderstood itasadiscoveryofscience.
Thracewascertainlyinhabitedbyacivilizednationatsome
remoteperiod;for,whenPhilipofMacedon openedthegold
minesinthatcountry,hefoundthattheyhadbeenworkedbe-
forewithgreatexpenseandingenuity,byapeoplewellversedin
mechanics,ofwhomnomemorialswhateverwerethenextant.Of
these,probably,wasOrpheus,aswellasThamyris,bothofwhose
poems,Platosays,couldbereadwithpleasureinhistime.
34

43. TheWorshipofPriapus
maryattribute,co-eternalwithhimself,andwithhim
broughtforthfrominertmatterbynecessity.Hence
thepurityandsanctityalwaysattributedtolightby
theGreeks.HeiscalledtheFatherofNight,be-
causebyattractingthelighttohimself,andbecom-
ingthefountainwhichdistributedittotheworld,he
producednight,whichiscalledeternally-begotten,
becauseithadeternallyexisted,althoughmixedand
lostinthegeneralmass.Heissaidtopervadethe
worldwiththemotionofhiswings,bringingpure
light;andthencetobecalledthesplendid,theruling
Priapus,andself-illumined(avtavyys?).Itisto
beobservedthatthewordIloinzos,afterwardsthe
nameofasubordinatedeity,ishereusedasatitle
relatingtooneofhisattributes;thereasonsforwhich
Ishallendeavourtoexplainhereafter.Wingsare
figurativelyattributedtohimasbeingtheemblems
ofswiftnessandincubation;bythefirstofwhichhe
pervadedmatter,andbythesecondfructifiedthe
eggofChaos.Theeggwascarriedinprocessionat
thecelebrationofthemysteries,because,asPlutarch
says,itwasthematerialofgeneration(vAnty
yeveoews*)containingtheseedsandgermsoflifeand
motion,withoutbeingactuallypossessedofeither.
[email protected].,ver.1436.
2Orph.Hym..5.
3Symph. 1.2.

44. TheWorshipofPriapus
Forthisreason,itwasaverypropersymbolof
Chaos,containingtheseedsandmaterialsofall
things,which,however,werebarrenanduseless,
untiltheCreatorfructifiedthembytheincubation
ofhisvitalspirit,andreleasedthemfromthere-
straintsofinertmatter,bytheeffortsofhisdivine
strength.Theincubationofthevitalspiritisrepre-
sentedonthecolonialmedalsofTyre,byaserpent
wreathedaroundanegg;?fortheserpent,havingthe
powerofcastinghisskin,andapparentlyrenewing
hisyouth,becamethesymboloflifeandvigour,and
assuchisalwaysmadeanattendantonthemytho-
logicaldeitiespresidingoverhealth.?Itisalsoob-
served,thatanimalsoftheserpentkindretainlife
morepertinaciouslythananyothersexceptthePo-
lypus,whichissometimesrepresenteduponthe
GreekMedals,®probablyinitsstead.Ihavemyself
seentheheartofanaddercontinueitsvitalmotions
formanyminutesafterithasbeentakenfromthe
body,andevenrenewthem,afterithasbeencold,
uponbeingmoistenedwithwarmwater,andtouched
withastimulus.
TheCreator,deliveringthefructifiedseedsofthings
fromtherestraintsofinertmatterbyhisdivine
1SeePlateXXI.Fig.1.
2Macrob. Sat.i.c.20.
8SeeGoltz,Tab.nm.Figs.7and8.
———————SSSS
36

45. PLATE III
ANTIQUE GEMS ANDGREEK MEDALS

47. TheWorshipofPriapus
strength,isrepresentedoninnumerable Greek
medalsbytheUrus,orwildBull,intheactofbut-
tingagainsttheEggofChaos,andbreakingitwith
hishorns.’Itistrue,thattheeggisnotrepresented
withthebullonanyofthosewhichIhaveseen;but
Mr.D’Hancarville?hasbroughtexamplesfromother
countries,wherethesamesystemprevailed,which,
aswellasthegeneralanalogyoftheGreektheology,
provethattheeggmusthavebeenunderstood,and
thattheattitudeofthebullcouldhavenoother
meaning. Ishallalsohaveoccasionhereafterto
showbyotherexamples,thatitwasnouncommon
practice,inthesemysticmonuments,tomakeapart
ofagrouprepresentthewhole.Itwasfromthis
hornedsymbolofthepoweroftheDeitythathorns
wereplacedintheportraitsofkingstoshowthat
theirpowerwasderivedfromHeaven,andacknowl-
edgednoearthlysuperior.Themodernshaveindeed
changedthemeaningofthissymbol,andgivenita
senseofwhich,perhaps,itwouldbedifficulttofind
theorigin,thoughIhaveoftenwonderedthatithas
neverexercisedthesagacityofthoselearnedgentle-
1SeePlaterv.Fig.1,andRecherches surlesArts,vol.i.Pl.
vur.TheHebrew wordChroub,orCherub,signifiedoriginally
strongorrobust;butisusuallyemployedmetaphorically,signify-
ingaBull.SeeCleric.inHod.c.xxv.
2Recherches surlesArts,lib.i.
39

48. TheWorshipofPriapus
menwhomakeBritishantiquitiesthesubjectsof
theirlaboriousinquiries.Atpresent,itcertainlydoes
notbearanycharacterofdignityorpower;nordoes
iteverimplythatthosetowhomitisattributedhave
beenparticularlyfavouredbythegenerativeorcrea-
tivepowers.Butthisisasubjectmuchtooimportant
tobediscussedinadigression;Ishallthereforeleave
ittothoselearnedantiquarianswhohavedonethem-
selvessomuchhonour,andthepublicsomuchserv-
ice,bytheirsuccessfulinquiriesintocustomsofthe
samekind.Totheirindefatigableindustryandex-
quisiteingenuityIearnestlyrecommend it,onlyob-
servingthatthismodernacceptationofthesymbolis
ofconsiderableantiquity,foritismentionedasprov-
erbialintheOneirocriticsofArtemidorus;:andthat
itisnotnowconfinedtoGreatBritain,butprevails
inmostpartsofChristendom,astheancientaccepta-
tionofitdidformerlyinmostpartsoftheworld,
evenamongthatpeoplefromwhosereligionChristi-
anityisderived;foritisacommonmodeofexpres-
sionintheOldTestament,tosaythatthehornsof
anyoneshallbeexalted,inordertosignifythathe
shallberaisedintopowerorpre-eminence;andwhen
MosesdescendedfromtheMountwiththespiritof
Godstilluponhim,hisheadappearedhorned.?
1Lib.i.ec.12.
2Eaod. o.xxxiv.v. 35,ed.Vulgat. Othertranslators under-
40

49. PLATE IV
MEDALS POSSESSED BYPAYNE KNIGHT

50. ”pesie%<r
4 i
fo:
4
g ’5
*
~~.
=
i|

51. TheWorshipofPriapus
Totheheadofthebullwassometimesjoinedthe
organofgeneration,whichrepresentednotonlythe
strengthoftheCreator,butthepeculiardirectionof
ittothemostbeneficialpurpose,thepropagationof
sensitivebeings.Ofthisthereisasmallbronzein
theMuseumofMr.Townley,ofwhichanengraving
isgiveninPlatemu.Fig.2.
Sometimesthisgenerativeattributeisrepresented
bythesymbolofthegoat,supposedtobethemost
salaciousofanimals,andthereforeadoptedupon
thesameprinciplesasthebullandtheserpent.?The
choralodes,sunginhonourofthegeneratorBacchus,
werehencecalledteaywiia,orsongsofthegoat;a
titlewhichisnowappliedtothedramaticdialogues
ancientlyinsertedintheseodes,tobreaktheiruni-
formity.Onamedal,struckinhonourofAugustus,
thegoatterminatesinthetailofafish,toshowthe
generativepowerincorporatedwithwater.Under
hisfeetistheglobeoftheearth,supposedtobeferti-
lisedbythisunion;anduponhisback,thecornu-
copia,representingtheresultofthisfertility.
standtheexpressionmetaphorically, andsupposeit1cmean
radiated,orluminous.
1SeePlatem1.
2Tovdetoayovawetewoav(orAryvotiot)xadaweoxar
waoatotsEdAno.tetinodarAeyxortovIIpiawov,d1ato
YEVVYTLXOVLOOLOV. Duopor.lib.i.p.78.
8Platex.Fig.3.
43

52. TheWorshipofPriapus
Mr.D’Hancarvilleattributestheoriginofallthese
symbolstotheambiguityofwords;thesameterm
beingemployedintheprimitivelanguagetosignify
GodandaBull,theUniverseandaGoat,Lifeanda
Serpent.Butwordsareonlythetypesandsymbols
ofideas,andthereforemustbeposteriortothem,in
thesamemannerasideasaretotheirobjects.The
wordsofaprimitivelanguage,beingimitativeofthe
ideasfromwhichtheysprung,andoftheobjects
theymeanttoexpress,asfarastheimperfectionsof
theorgansofspeechwilladmit,theremustneces-
sarilybethesamekindofanalogybetweenthemas
betweentheideasandobjectsthemselves.Itisim-
possible,therefore,thatinsuchalanguageanyam-
biguityofthissortcouldexist,asitdoesinsecondary
languages;thewordsofwhich,beingcollectedfrom
varioussources,andblendedtogetherwithouthaving
anynaturalconnection,becomearbitrarysignsof
convention,insteadofimitativerepresentationsof
ideas.Inthiscaseitoftenhappens,thatwords,
similarinform,butdifferentinmeaning,havebeen
adoptedfromdifferentsources,which,beingblended
together,losetheirlittledifferenceofform,andre-
taintheirentiredifferenceofmeaning.Henceam-
biguitiesarise,suchasthoseabovementioned,which
couldnotpossiblyexistinanoriginaltongue.
44.

53. TheWorshipofPriapus
TheGreekpoetsandartistsfrequentlygivethe
personificationofaparticularattributefortheDeity
himself;henceheiscalledTaveotoas,Tavowzos,
Tavoopoegos,:&c.,andhencetheinitialsandmono-
gramsoftheOrphicepithetsappliedtotheCreator,
arefoundwiththebull,andothersymbols,onthe
Greekmedals.?Itmustnotbeimaginedfromhence,
thattheancientssupposedtheDeitytoexistunder
theformofabull,agoat,oraserpent:onthecon-
trary,heisalwaysdescribedintheOrphictheology
asageneralpervadingSpirit,withoutform,ordis-
tinctlocalityofanykind;andappears,byacurious
fragmentpreservedbyProclus,’?tohavebeenno
otherthanattractionpersonified.Theself-created
mind(voogavtoyevedios)oftheEternalFatheris
saidtohavespreadtheheavybondoflovethrough
allthings(xaoweveoneigevSeouovrectoryEowtos),
inorderthattheymightendureforever.This
EternalFatherisKoovos,timeor_eternity,
personified;andsotakenfortheunknownBeing
thatfillseternityandinfinity.Theancienttheolo-
gistsknewthatwecouldformnopositiveideaof
infinity,whetherofpower,space,ortime;itbeing
1Orph.Hymn.v.etxxix.
2Numm. Vet.Pop.etUrb.Tab.xxxix.Figs19et20.They
areonmostofthemedalsofMarseilles,Naples,Thurium and
manyothercities.
8InTim.11.,etFrag.Orphic.,ed.Gesner.
45

54. a
—oeeeeeeeeeeee—————E—E—E————
TheWorshipofPriapus
fleetingandfugitive,andeludingtheunderstanding
byacontinuedandboundlessprogression.Theonly
notionwehaveofitisfromtheadditionordivision
offinitethings,whichsuggesttheideaofinfinite,
onlyfromapowerwefeelinourselvesofstillmulti-
plyinganddividingwithoutend.TheSchoolmenin-
deedwerebolder,and,byasummarymodeofrea-
soning,inwhichtheywereveryexpert,provedthat
theyhadasclearandadequateanideaofinfinity,
asofanyfinitesubstancewhatever.Infinity,said
they,isthatwhichhasnobounds.Thisnegation,
beingapositiveassertion,mustbefoundedona
positiveidea.Wehavethereforeapositiveideaof
infinity.
TheEclecticJews,andtheirfollowers,theAm-
monianandChristianPlatonics,whoendeavouredto
maketheirownphilosophyandreligionconformto
theancienttheology,heldinfinityofspacetobeonly
theimmensityofthedivinepresence.‘OQoéavto
tomogett?wastheirdogma,whichisnowinserted
intotheConfessionaloftheGreekChurch.This
infinitywasdistinguishedbythemfromcommon
space,astimewasfrometernity.Whateveris
eternalorinfinite,saidthey,mustbeabsolutelyindi-
visible;becausedivisionisinitselfinconsistentwith
1Philo.deLeg.Alleg.lib.1.JoDamasedeOrthFid.
2Mosheim. NotainSec.xxiv.Cudw.Syst.Intellect.
46

55. TheWorshipofPriapus
infinitecontinuityandduration:thereforespaceand
timearedistinctfrominfinityandeternity,whichare
voidofallpartsandgradationswhatever.Timeis
measuredbyyears,days,hours,&c.,anddistin-
guishedbypast,present,andfuture;butthese,being
divisions,areexcludedfrometernity,aslocalityis
frominfinity,andasbotharefromtheBeingwho
fillsboth;whocanthereforefeelnosuccessionof
events,norknowanygradationofdistance;butmust
comprehendinfinitedurationasifitwereonemo-
ment,andinfiniteextentasifitwerebutasingle
point.tHencetheAmmonianPlatonicsspeakofhim
asconcenteredinhisownunity,andextended
throughallthings,butparticipatedofbynone.Being
ofanaturemorerefinedandelevatedthanintelli-
genceitself,hecouldnotbeknownbysense,percep-
tion,orreason;andbeingthecauseofall,hemust
beanteriortoall,eventoeternityitself,ifconsidered
aseternityoftime,andnotastheintellectualunity,
whichistheDeityhimself,bywhoseemanationsall
thingsexist,andtowhoseproximityordistances
theyowetheirdegreesofexcellenceorbaseness.
Beingitself,initsmostabstractsense,isderived
fromhim;forthatwhichisthecauseandbeginning
ofallBeing,cannotbeapartofthatAllwhich
1SeeBoeth.deConsol.Philos.lib.iv.prof.6.
47

56. TheWorshipofPriapus
sprungfromhimself:thereforeheisnotBeing,nor
isBeinghisAttribute;forthatwhichhasanattri-
butecannothavetheabstractsimplicityofpureunity.
AllBeingisinitsnaturefinite;for,ifitwasother-
wise,itmustbewithoutboundseveryway;and
thereforecouldhavenogradationofproximityto
thefirstcause,orconsequentpre-eminenceofone
partoveranother:for,asalldistinctionsoftimeare
excludedfrominfiniteduration,andalldivisionsof
localityfrominfiniteextent,soarealldegreesof
priorityfrominfiniteprogression.Themindisand
actsinitself;buttheabstractunityofthefirstcause
isneitherinitself,norinanother;—notinitself,be-
causethatwouldimplymodification,fromwhich
abstractsimplicityisnecessarilyexempt;norinan-
other,becausethentherewouldbeanhypostatical
duality,insteadofabsoluteunity.Inbothcases
therewouldbealocalityofhypostasis,inconsistent
withintellectualinfinity.Asallphysicalattributes
wereexcludedfromthismetaphysicalabstraction,
whichtheycalledtheirfirstcause,hemustofcourse
bedestituteofallmoralones,whichareonlygener-
alizedmodesofactionoftheformer.Evensimple
abstracttruthwasdeniedhim;fortruth,asProclus
says,ismerelytherelativetofalsehood;andnorela-
tivecanexistwithoutapositiveorcorrelative.The
La
48

57. TheWorshipofPriapus
Deitythereforewhohasnofalsehood,canhaveno
truth,inoursenseoftheword.
Asmetaphysicaltheologyisastudyverygenerally,
andverydeservedly,neglectedatpresent,Ithought
thislittlespecimenofitmightbeentertaining,from
itsnovelty,tomostreaders;especiallyasitisinti-
matelyconnectedwiththeancientsystem,whichI
havehereundertakentoexamine.Those,whowish
toknowmoreofit,mayconsultProclusonthe
TheologyofPlato,wheretheywillfindthemostex-
quisiteingenuitymostwantonlywasted.Nopersons
evershowedgreateracutenessorstrengthofrea-
soningthanthePlatonicsandScholastics;buthaving
quittedcommonsense,andattemptedtomountinto
theintellectualworld,theyexpendeditallinabor-
tiveeffortswhichmayamusetheimagination,but
cannotsatisfytheunderstanding.
TheancientTheologistsshowedmorediscretion;
for,findingthattheycouldconceivenoideaofin-
finity,theywerecontenttoreveretheInfiniteBeing
inthemostgeneralandefficientexertionofhis
power,attraction;whoseagencyisperceptible
throughallmatter,andtowhichallmotionmay,per-
haps,beultimatelytraced.Thispower,beingper-
sonified,becamethesecondaryDeity,towhomall
1Proclus inTheolog. Platon.lib.i.etii.
49

58. TheWorshipofPriapus
adorationandworshipweredirected,andwhois
thereforefrequentlyconsideredasthesoleandsu-
premecauseofallthings.Hisagencybeingsup-
posedtoextendthroughthewholematerialworld,
andtoproduceallthevariousrevolutionsbywhich
itssystemissustained,hisattributeswereofcourse
extremelynumerousandvaried.Thesewereex-
pressedbyvarioustitlesandepithetsinthemystic
hymnsandlitanies,whichtheartistsendeavouredto
representbyvariousformsandcharactersofmen
andanimals.Thegreatcharacteristicattributewas
representedbytheorganofgenerationinthatstate
oftensionandrigiditywhichisnecessarytothedue
performanceofitsfunctions.Manysmallimagesof
thiskindhavebeenfoundamongtheruinsofHer-
culaneumandPompeii,attachedtothebracelets,
whichthechasteandpiousmatronsofantiquitywore
roundtheirnecksandarms.Inthese,theorganof
generationappearsalone,oronlyaccompaniedwith
thewingsofincubation,’inordertoshowthaithede-
voutwearerdevotedherselfwhollyandsolelytopro-
creation,thegreatendforwhichshewasordained.
Soexpressiveasymbol,beingconstantlyinherview,
mustkeepherattentionfixedonitsnaturalobject,
andcontinuallyremindherofthegratitudesheowed
1Platem.Fig.2,engravedfromoneintheBritishMuseum.
50

59. PLATE V
FIGURES OFPANANDGEMS

61. TheWorshipofPriapus
theCreator,forhavingtakenherintohisservice,
madeherapartakerofhismostvaluableblessings,
andemployedherasthepassiveinstrumentinthe
exertionofhismostbeneficialpower.
Thefemaleorgansofgenerationwererevered}as
symbolsofthegenerativepowersofnatureormatter,
asthemalewereofthegenerativepowersofGod.
Theyareusuallyrepresentedemblematically,bythe
Shell,orConchaVeneris,whichwasthereforeworn
bydevoutpersonsofantiquity,asitstillcontinuesto
bebypilgrims,andmanyofthecommonwomenof
Italy.Theunionofbothwasexpressedbythehand
mentionedinSirWilliamHamilton’sletter;?which
beingalessexplicitsymbol,hasescapedtheattention
ofthereformers,andisstillworn,aswellasthe
shell,bythewomenofItaly,thoughwithoutbeing
understood.Itrepresentedtheactofgeneration,
whichwasconsideredasasolemnsacrament,in
honouroftheCreator,aswillbemorefullyshown
hereafter.
Themaleorgansofgenerationaresometimes
foundrepresentedbysignsofthesamesort,which
mightproperlybecalledthesymbolsofsymbols.
Oneofthemostremarkableoftheseisacross,
1August.deCiv.Dei,Lib.vi.c.9.
2SeePlateu,Fig.1.fromoneintheBritishMuseum, inwhich
bothsymbolsareunited.
—
53

62. TheWorshipofPriapus
intheformoftheletterT,1whichthusservedasthe
emblemofcreationandgeneration,beforethechurch
adopteditasthesignofsalvation;aluckycoinci-
denceofideas,which,withoutdoubt,facilitatedthe
receptionofitamongthefaithful.Totherepresen-
tativeofthemaleorganswassometimesaddeda
humanhead,whichgivesittheexactappearanceof
acrucifix;asithasonamedalofCyzicus,published
byM.Pellerin?Onanancientmedal,foundin
Cyprus,which,fromthestyleofworkmanship, is
certainlyanteriortotheMacedonianconquest,itap-
pearswiththechapletorrosary,suchasisnowused
intheRomishchurches;*thebeadsofwhichwere
used,anciently,toreckontime.*Theirbeingplaced
inacircle,markeditsprogressivecontinuity;while
theirseparationfromeachothermarkedthedivi-
sions,bywhichitismadetoreturnonitself,and
thusproduceyears,months,anddays.Thesymbol
ofthecreativepowerisplaceduponthem,because
thesedivisionswereparticularlyunderhisinfluence
andprotection;thesunbeinghisvisibleimage,and
thecentreofhispower,fromwhichhisemanations
1RecherchessurlesArts,lib.i.c.3.
2SeePlaterx.Fig.1.
8Platerm.Fig.2,fromPellerin.Similarmedalsareinthe
HunterCollection,andareevidentlyofPhenicianwork.
4Recherches surlesArts,lib.i.c.3.
54

63. TheWorshipofPriapus
extendedthroughtheuniverse.HencetheEgyptians,
intheirsacredhymns,calleduponOsiris,asthe
beingwhodweltconcealedintheembracesofthe
sun;*andhencethegreatluminaryitselfiscalled
Koopoxgatwt(RuleroftheWorld)intheOrphic
Hymns.’
ThisgeneralemanationofthepervadingSpiritof
God,bywhichallthingsaregeneratedandmain-
tained,isbeautifullydescribedbyVirgil,inthefol-
lowinglines:
Deum namque ireperomnes
Terrasque,tractusquemaris,celumque profundum.
Hinepecudes,armenta,viros,genusomneferarum,
Quemque sibitenuesnascentum arcesserevitas.
Scilicethucreddideinde,acresolutareferri
Omnia: necmortiesselocum,sedvivavolare
Siderisinnumerum, atquealtosuccederecelo.®
TheEtherealSpiritisheredescribedasexpanding
itselfthroughtheuniverse,andgivinglifeandmo-
tiontotheinhabitantsofearth,water,andair,bya
participationofitsownessence,eachparticleof
whichreturnedtoitsnativesource,atthedissolution
ofthebodywhichitanimated.Hence,notonly
men,butallanimals,andevenvegetables,weresup-
posedtobeimpregnatedwithsomeparticlesofthe
1Plutarch. deIs.etOsir.
2SeeHymn vu.
8Georgic.lib.iv.ver.221.

64. TheWorshipofPriapus
DivineNatureinfusedintothem,fromwhichtheir
variousqualitiesanddispositions,aswellastheir
powersofpropagation,wéresupposedtobede-
rived.Theseappearedtobesomanyemanations
oftheDivineattributes,operatingindifferentmodes
anddegrees,accordingtothenatureofthebeings
towhichtheybelonged.Hencethecharacteristic
propertiesofanimalsandplantswerenotonlyre-
gardedasrepresentations,butasactualemanations
oftheDivinePower,consubstantialwithhisown
essence.:.Forthisreason,thesymbolsweretreated
withgreaterrespectandvenerationthaniftheyhad
beenmerelysignsandcharactersofconvention.
Plutarchsays,thatmostoftheEgyptianpriestsheld
thebullApis,whowasworshippedwithsomuch
ceremony,tobeonlyanimageoftheSpiritof
Osiris.2,ThisItaketohavebeentherealmeaningof
alltheanimalworshipoftheEgyptians,aboutwhich
somuchhasbeenwritten,andsolittlediscovered.
Thoseanimalsorplants,inwhichanyparticular
attributeoftheDeityseemedtopredominate,be-
camethesymbolsofthatattribute,andwereaccord-
inglyworshippedastheimagesofDivineProvi-
dence,actinginthatparticulardirection.Likemany
1ProclusinTheol.Plat.lib.1.pp.56,57.
2DeIs.etOs.
SS
56

65. PLATE VI
THETAURIC DIANA

67. TheWorshipofPriapus
othercustoms,bothofancientandmodernworship,
thepractice,probably,continuedlongaftertherea-
sonsuponwhichitwasfoundedwereeitherwholly
lost,oronlypartiallypreserved,invaguetraditions.
ThiswasthecaseinEgypt;for,thoughmanyofthe
priestskneworconjecturedtheoriginoftheworship
ofthebull,theycouldgivenorationalaccountwhy
thecrocodile,theichneumon,andtheibis,received
similarhonours.Thesymbolicalcharacters,called
hieroglyphics,continuedtobeesteemedbythemas
moreholyandvenerablethantheconventionalrep-
resentationsofsounds,notwithstandingtheirmani-
festinferiority;yetitdoesnotappear,fromany
accountsextant,thattheywereabletoassignany
reasonforthispreference.Onthecontrary,Strabo
tellsusthattheEgyptiansofhistimewerewholly
ignorantoftheirancientlearningandreligion,}
thoughimpostorscontinuallypretendedtoexplainit.
Theirignoranceinthesepointsisnottobewondered
at,consideringthatthemostancientEgyptians,of
whomwehaveanyauthenticaccounts,livedafter
thesubversionoftheirmonarchyanddestructionof
theirtemplesbythePersians,whousedeveryen-
deavourtoannihilatetheirreligion;first,bycom-
mandofCambyses,?andthenofOchus.*Whatthey
1Lib.xvii. 2Herodot. lib.iii.Strabo,lib.xvii.
8Plutarch. deIs.etOs.
59

68. TheWorshipofPriapus
werebeforethiscalamity,wehavenodirectinfor-
mation;forHerodotusistheearliesttraveller,and
hevisitedthiscountrywheninruins.
Itisobservableinallmodernreligions,thatmen
aresuperstitiousinproportionastheyareignorant,
andthatthosewhoknowleastoftheprinciplesof
religionarethemostearnestandferventintheprac-
ticeofitsexteriorritesandceremonies.Wemay
supposefromanalogy,thatthiswasthecasewiththe
Egyptians.Thelearnedandrationalmerelyre-
spectedandreveredthesacredanimals,whilstthe
vulgarworshippedandadoredthem.Thegreatest
partoftheformerbeing,asisnaturaltosuppose,
destroyedbythepersecutionofthePersians,this
worshipandadorationbecamegeneral;different
citiesadoptingdifferentanimalsastheirtutelar
deities,inthesamemannerastheCatholicsnowput
themselvesundertheprotectionofdifferentsaints
andmartyrs.Likethem,too,inthefervencyoftheir
devotionfortheimaginaryagent,theyforgotthe
originalcause.
Thecustomofkeepingsacredanimalsasimages
oftheDivineattributes,seemsoncetohavepre-
vailedinGreeceaswellasEgypt;fortheGodof
HealthwasrepresentedbyalivingserpentatEpi-
daurus,eveninthelaststageoftheirreligion.In
1Liv.Hist.Epitom.lib.xi.
60

69. TheWorshipofPriapus
general,however,theypreferredwroughtimages,
notfromtheirsuperiorityinart,whichtheydidnot
acquireuntilafterthetimeofHomer,’whentheir
theologywasentirelycorrupted;butbecausethey
hadthusthemeansofexpressingtheirideasmore
fully,bycombiningseveralformstogether,and
showing,notonlytheDivineattribute,butthemode
andpurposeofitsoperation.Forinstance;the
celebratedbronzeintheVaticanhasthemaleorgans
ofgenerationplacedupontheheadofacock,the
emblemofthesun,supportedbytheneckand
shouldersofaman.Inthiscompositiontheyrepre-
sentedthegenerativepoweroftheEguws,theOsiris,
Mithras,orBacchus,whosecentreisthesun,incar-
natewithman.Bytheinscriptiononthepedestal,
theattributethispersonified,isstyledTheSaviour
oftheWorld(Xwtrtxoopy);atitlealwaysvener-
able,underwhateverimageitberepresented.?
TheEgyptiansshowedthisincarnationoftheDeity
byalesspermanent,thoughequallyexpressivesym-
bol.AtMendesalivinggoatwaskeptastheimage
ofthegenerativepower,towhomthewomenpre-
sentedthemselvesnaked,andhadthehonourofbe-
ingpubliclyenjoyedbyhim.Herodotussawtheact
1When Homer praisesanyworkofart,hecallsittheworkof
Sidonians.
2SeePlatenm.Fig.3.

70. eeSE EEEDEEEEEEEE
TheWorshipofPriapus
openlyperformed(e¢emdevEwavdgwawv),andcalls
itaprodigy(teoas).ButtheEgyptianshadnosuch
horrorofit;foritwastothemarepresentation
oftheincarnationoftheDeity,andthecommunica-
tionofhiscreativespirittoman.Itwasoneofthe
sacramentsofthatancientchurch,andwas,without
doubt,beheldwiththatpiousaweandreverence
withwhichdevoutpersonsalwayscontemplatethe
mysteriesoftheirfaith,whatevertheyhappentobe;
for,asthelearnedandorthodoxBishopWarburton,
whoseauthorityitisnotformetodispute,says,
fromthenatureofanyactionmoralitycannotarise,
norfromitseffects;*therefore,foraughtwecantell,
thisceremony,howevershockingitmayappearto
modernmannersandopinions,mighthavebeenin-
trinsicallymeritoriousatthetimeofitscelebration,
andaffordedatrulyedifyingspectacletothesaints
ofancientEgypt.Indeed,theGreeksdonotseemto
havefeltmuchhorrorordisgustattheimitative
representationofit,whateverthehistorianmight
havethoughtpropertoexpressattherealcele-
bration.Severalspecimensoftheirsculptureinthis
wayhaveescapedthefuryofthereformers,andre-
mainedfortheinstructionoflatertimes.Oneof
these,foundamongtheruinsofHerculaneum,and
1Div.Leg.book1.c.4.
a
62

71. PLATE VII
GOAT AND SATYR, GREEK SCULPTURE

72. == ee
aaieareata
z
> ,=<avin:misin
a s=.“4+9mao_
je)sealPee

73. TheWorshipofPriapus
keptconcealedintheRoyalMuseum ofPortici,is
wellknown.AnotherexistsinthecollectionofMr.
Townley,whichIhavethoughtpropertohaveen-
gravedforthebenefitofthelearned.t_Itmaybe
remarked,thatinthesemonuments thegoatispas-
siveinsteadofactive;andthatthehumansymbol
isrepresentedasincarnatewiththedivine,instead
ofthedivinewiththehuman:butthisisinfactno
difference;fortheCreator,beingofbothsexes,is
representedindifferentlyofeither.Intheother
symbolofthebull,thesexisequallyvaried;the
Greekmedalshavingsometimesabull,andsome-
timesacow,?which,Strabotellsus,wasemployed
asthesymbolofVenus,thepassivegenerative
power,atMomemphis, inEgypt.?Boththebulland
thecowarealsoworshippedatpresentbytheHin-
doos,assymbolsofthemaleandfemale,orgenera-
tiveandnutritive,powersoftheDeity.Thecowis
inalmostalltheirpagodas;butthebullisrevered
withsuperiorsolemnityanddevotion.AtTanjour
isamonument oftheirpietytohim,whicheventhe
inflexibleperseverance,andhabitualindustryofthe
nativesofthatcountry,couldscarcelyhaveerected
1SeePlatevm.
2SeePlaterv.Fig.1,2,3,andPlate11.Fig.4,engravedfrom
medalsbelongingtome.
3Lib.xvii.

74. TheWorshipofPriapus
withoutgreaterknowledgeinpracticalmechanics
thantheynowpossess.Itisastatueofabulllying
down,hewn,withgreataccuracy,outofasingle
pieceofhardgranite,whichhasbeenconveyedby
landfromthedistanceofonehundredmiles,al-
thoughitsweight,initspresentreducedstate,must
beatleastonehundredtons.t.TheGreekssome-
timesmadetheirTaurineBacchus,orbull,witha
humanface,toexpressbothsexes,whichtheysigni-
fiedbytheinitialoftheepithetAipvysplacedun-
derhim.?,Overhimtheyfrequentlyputtheradiated
asterisk,whichrepresentsthesun,toshowtheDeity,
whoseattributehewasintendedtoexpress.*Hence
wemayperceivethereasonwhytheGermans,who,
accordingtoCesar,‘worshippedthesun,carrieda
brazenbull,astheimageoftheirGod,whenthey
invadedtheRoman dominionsinthetimeof
Marius;°andeventhechosenpeopleofProvidence,
whentheymadeuntothemselvesanimageofthe
Godwhowastoconductthemthroughthedesert,
1SeePlatexxu.withthemeasurements, asmadebyCapt.
Pattersononthespot.
2SeePlaterv.Fig.2,fromamedalofNaplesintheHunter
collection.
8SeePlaterv.Fig.2,andPlatexr.Fig.4,fromamedalof
Cales,belongingtome.
4DeB.G.,lib.vi.
5Plut.inMario.

75. TheWorshipofPriapus
——S Ss
andcastouttheungodly,frombeforethem,made
itintheshapeofayoungbull,orcalf.
TheGreeks,astheyadvancedinthecultivationof
theimitativearts,graduallychangedtheanimalfor
thehumanform,preservingstilltheoriginalcharac-
ter.Thehumanheadwasatfirstaddedtothebody
ofthebull;?butafterwardsthewholefigurewas
madehuman,withsomeofthefeatures,andgeneral
characteroftheanimal,blendedwithit.2Often-
times,however,thesemixedfigureshadapeculiar
andpropermeaning,likethatoftheVaticanBronze;
andwerenotintendedasmererefinementsofart.
Sucharethefawnsandsatyrs,whorepresentthe
emanationsoftheCreator,incarnatewithman,act-
ingashisangelsandministersintheworkofuni-
versalgeneration.Incopulationwiththegoat,they
representthereciprocalincarnationofmanwiththe
deity,whenincorporatedwithuniversalmatter:for
theDeity,beingbothmaleandfemale,wasbothac-
tiveandpassiveinprocreation;firstanimatingman
byanemanationfromhisownessence,andthen
employingthatemanationtoreproduce,inconjunc-
tionwiththecommonproductivepowersofnature,
1Hzod.c.xxxii.,withPatrick’sCommentary.
2SeethemedalsofNaples,Gela&c.Platerv.Fig.2.andPlate
1x.Fig.mu,arespecimens; butthecoinsareinallcollections.
3SeeBronzid’Herculano, tom.v.Platev.
67

76. aonaesSaneaSsanananaququqQuQuanaeeeee—_—E—EEEEEEEEE—
TheWorshipofPriapus
whicharenootherthanhi$ownprolificspirit
transfusedthroughmatter.
ThesemixedbeingsarederivedfromPan,the
principleofuniversalorder;ofwhosepersonified
imagetheypartake.PanisaddressedintheOrphic
Litaniesasthefirst-begottenlove,orcreatorincorpo-
ratedinuniversalmatter,andsoformingtheworld.*
Theheaven,theearth,water,andfirearesaidtobe
membersofhim;andheisdescribedastheorigin
andsourceofallthings(xavtogvysyevetwCxatwv),
asrepresentingmatteranimatedbytheDivineSpirit.
LyczanPanwasthemostancientandreveredGod
oftheArcadians,?themostancientpeopleofGreece.
TheepithetLyczean(Avzxaois),isusuallyderived
from2vx0c,awolf;thoughitisimpossibletofind
anyrelationwhichthisetymologycanhavewiththe
deitiestowhichitisapplied;fortheepithetAvxatoc,
orAvxewog(whichisonlythedifferentpronunciation
ofadifferentdialect),isoccasionallyappliedtoal-
mostallthegods.Ihavethereforenodoubt,butthat
itoughttobederivedfromtheoldwordAvxoc,or
Avxyn,light;fromwhichcametheLatinwordluz.®
InthissenseitisaveryproperepithetfortheDi-
vineNature,ofwhoseessencelightwassupposed
1Hymn,x.
2Dionys.Antig.Rom.lib.i.c.32.
8Macrob.Sat.xvii.
68

77. &
toLG
(e
CA
LZ“
"SZ
Lp
PLATE VIII
BRONZE STATUE OFCERES

79. TheWorshipofPriapus
tobe.Iamconfirmedinthisconjecturebyaword
intheElectraofSophocles,whichseemshithertoto
havebeenmisunderstood.Attheopeningofthe
play,theoldtutorofOrestes,enteringArgoswith
hisyoungpupil,pointsouttohimthemostcelebrated
publicbuildings,andamongstthemtheLyczanFo-
rum,tyAvxoxtovyOey,whichthescholiastandtrans-
latorsinterpret,ofthewolf-killingGod,though
thereisnoreasonwhateverwhythisepithetshould
beappliedtoApollo.But,ifwederivethecompound
fromAvxos,light,andextetew,toextend,insteadof
xtetvetv,tokill,themeaningwillbeperfectlyjust
andnatural;forlight-extending,isofallothersthe
properestepithetforthesun.Sophocles,aswellas
Virgil,isknowntohavebeenanadmirerofancient
expressions,andtohaveimitatedHomermorethan
anyotherAtticPoet;therefore,hisemployinganob-
soletewordisnottobewonderedat.Takingthis
etymologyasthetrueone,theLyceanPanofAr-
cadiaisPantheluminous;thatis,thedivineessence
oflightincorporatedinuniversalmatter.TheAr-
cadianscalledhimtovtngvAngKvotov,thelordofmat-
terasMacrobiusrightlytranslatesit.1Hewashence
calledSylvanusbytheLatins;Sylvusbeing,inthe
ancientPelasgianand/EolianGreek,fromwhichthe
1Sat.i.c.22.

80. TheWorshipofPriapus
Latinisderived,thesameasty;foritiswellknown
toallwhohavecomparedthetwolanguagesattent-
ively,thattheSigmaandVauareletters,theoneof
whichwaspartially,andtheothergenerallyomitted
bytheGreeks,intherefinementoftheirpronuncia-
tionandorthographywhichtookplaceafterthe
emigrationoftheLatianandEtruscancolonies.The
ChorusintheAjaxofSophoclesaddressPanby
thetitleof‘Adix\ayxtos,2probablybecausehewas
worshippedontheshoresofthesea;waterbeing
reckonedthebestandmostprolificofthesubordi-
nateelements,”uponwhichtheSpiritofGod,accord-
ingtoMoses,orthePlasticNature,accordingtothe
Platonics,operating,producedlifeandmotionon
earth.HencetheoceanissaidbyHomertobethe
sourceofallthings;*andhencetheuseofwaterin
baptism,whichwastoregenerate,and,inamanner,
newcreatethepersonbaptised;forthesoul,sup-
posedbymanyoftheprimitiveChristianstobe
naturallymortal,wasthensupposedtobecomeim-
mortal.Uponthesameprinciple,thefigureofPan,°
1Ver.703.
2Pindar. Olymp.i.ver1.Diodor.Sic.lib.i.p.1.
Il.©,ver.246,and[,ver.196.
4Clementina,Hom.xii.Arnob.adv.Gentes,lib.ii.
5SeePlatev.Fig.1Theoriginalisamong theantiquities
foundinHerculaneum, nowintheMuseum ofPortici.
72

81. TheWorshipofPriapus
ca
isrepresentedpouringwaterupontheorganofgen-
eration;thatis,invigoratingtheactivecreativepower
bytheprolificelementuponwhichitacted;forwater
wasconsideredastheessenceofthepassiveprin-
ciple,asfirewasoftheactive;theonebeingofter-
restrial,andtheotherofetherealorigin.Hence,St.
JohntheBaptist,whomighthaveacquiredsome
knowledgeoftheancienttheology,throughitsre-
vivers,theEclecticJews,says:I,indeed,baptiseyou
inwatertorepentance;buthethatcomethafterme,
whoismorepowerfulthanIam,shallbaptiseyouin
theHolySpirit,andinfire:'thatis,Ionlypurify
andrefreshthesoul,byacommunionwiththeter-
restrialprincipleoflife;buthethatcomethafterme,
willregenerateandrestoreit,byacommunionwith
theetherealprinciple.2,Panisagainaddressedin
theSalaminianChorusofthesametragedyofSopho-
cles,bythetitlesofauthoranddirectorofthedances
ofthegods(Oewvyogonovava),asbeingtheauthor
anddisposeroftheregularmotionsoftheuniverse,
ofwhichthesedivinedancesweresymbols,which
aresaidinthesamepassagetobe(avtodan)self-
1Matth. c.iii.
2Itistheavowed intention ofthelearned andexcellent work
ofGrotius,toprovethatthereisnothingnewinChristianity.
WhatIhavehereadduced,mayservetoconfirmandillustrate
thediscoveriesofthatgreatendgoodman. SeedeVeritate
Relig.Christ.lib.iv,c.12.
73

82. SSS
SS LE
TheWorshipofPriapus
EPEATSee itn.seriASEsledDrieSE
taughttohim.BoththeGnossianandNysiandances
arehereincluded,?theformersacredtoJupiter,and
thelattertoBacchus;forPan,beingtheprincipleof
universalorder,partookofthenatureofalltheother
gods.Theywerepersonificationsofparticular
modesofactingofthegreatall-rulingprinciple;and
he,ofhisgenerallawandpre-establishedharmony
bywhichhegovernstheuniverse.Henceheisoften
representedplayingonapipe;musicbeingthe
naturalemblemofthisphysicalharmony.Accord-
ingtoPlutarch,theJupiterAmmonoftheAfricans
wasthesameasthePanoftheGreeks.Thisex-
plainsthereasonwhytheMacedoniankingsassumed
thehornsofthatgod;for,thoughAlexanderpre-
tendedtobehisson,hissuccessorsneverpretended
toanysuchhonour;andyettheyequallyassumedthe
symbols,asappearsfromtheirmedals.Thecaseis,
thatPan,orAmmon,beingtheuniverse,andJupiter
atitleoftheSupremeGod(aswillbeshownhere-
after),thehorns,theemblemsofhispower,seemed
theproperestsymbolsofthatsupremeanduniversal
dominiontowhichtheyall,aswellasAlexander,
1Ver.708.
2DeIs.etOs.
3SeePlate1v.Fig4,engravedfromoneofLysimachus, of
exquisitebeauty,belongingtome.Antigonusputtheheadof
Panuponhiscoins,whicharenotuncommon.
ese?
74

83. TheWorshipofPriapus
hadtheambitiontoaspire.ThefigureofAmmon
wascompounded oftheformsoftheram,asthatof
Panwasofthegoat;thereasonofwhichisdifficult
toascertain,unlesswesupposethatgoatswereun-
knowninthecountrywherehisworshiparose,and
thattheramexpressedthesameattribute.Inagem
intheMuseumofCharlesTownley,Esq.,theheadof
theGreekPanisjoinedtothatofaram,onthe
bodyofacock,overwhoseheadistheasteriskofthe
sun,andbelowittheheadofanaquaticfowl,at
tachedtothesamebody.?Thecockisthesymbolof
thesun,probablyfromproclaiminghisapproachin
themorning;andtheaquaticfowlistheemblemof
water;sothatthiscomposition,apparentlysowhim-
sical,representstheuniversebetweenthetwogreat
prolificelements,theonetheactive,andtheother
thepassivecauseofallthings.
TheCreatorbeingbothmaleandfemale,theema-
nationsofhiscreativespirit,operatinguponuni-
versalmatter,producedsubordinateministersof
bothsexes,andgave,ascompanionstothefaunsand
satyrs,thenymphsofthewaters,themountainsand
thewoods,signifyingthepassiveproductivepowers
1Pausanias (lib.ii.)saysheknewthemeaningofthissymbol,
butdidnotchoosetorevealit,itbeingapartofthemystic
worship.
2Platem1.Fig.1.
75

84. TheWorshipofPriapus
ofeach,subdividedanddiffused.Ofthesame
classaretheTevetvidudes,mentionedbyPausaniasas
companionstoVenus,’who,aswellasCeres,Juno,
Diana,Isis,&c.,wasonlyapersonificationofnature,
orthepassiveprincipleofgeneration,operatingin
variousmodes.ApuleiusinvokesIsisbythenames
oftheEleusinianCeres,CelestialVenus,andProser-
pine;and,whentheGoddessanswershim,she
describesherselfasfollows:“Iam,”saysshe,
“nature,theparentofthings,thesovereignofthe
elements,theprimaryprogenyoftime,themostex-
altedofthedeities,thefirstoftheheavenlyGods
andGoddesses,thequeenoftheshades,theuniform
countenance;whodispose,withmynod,thelumi-
nousheightsofheaven,thesalubriousbreezesofthe
sea,andthemournfulsilenceofthedead;whosesin-
gleDeitythewholeworldvenerates,inmanyforms,
withvariousrites,andvariousnames.TheEgyp-
tians,skilledinancientlearning,worshipmewith
properceremonies,andcallmebymytruename,
QueenIsis.”?
AccordingtotheEgyptians,Isiscopulatedwithher
brotherOsirisinthewomboftheirmother;from
whencesprungArueris,orOrus,theApolloofthe
1Lib.i.
2Metamorph. lib.xi.

85. PLATE Ix
COINSANDMEDALS

87. TheWorshipofPriapus
Greeks.Thisallegorymeansnomorethanthatthe
activeandpassivepowersofcreationunitedinthe
wombofnight;wheretheyhadbeenimplantedby
theunknownfather,Koovoc,ortime,andbytheir
unionproducedtheseparationordeliveryoftheele-
mentsfromeachother;forthenameApolloisonly
atitlederivedfromazolvw,todeliverfrom2They
madetherobesofIsisvariousintheircoloursand
complicatedintheirfolds,becausethepassiveor
materialpowerappearedinvariousshapesand
modes,asaccommodatingitselftotheactive;butthe
dressofOsiriswassimple,andofoneluminous
colour,toshowtheunityofhisessence,anduni-
versalityofhispower;equallythesamethrough
allthings.*Theluminous,orflamecolour,repre-
sentedthesun,who,inthelanguageofthetheolo-
gists,wasthesubstanceofhissacredpower,andthe
visibleimageofhisintellectualbeing.*Heiscalled,
intheOrphicLitanies,thechainwhichconnectsall
thingstogether(08’avedgapeSeopoganavtwv),°asbe-
ingtheprincipleofattraction;andthedeliverer
(Avotos),®asgivinglibertytotheinnatepowersof
1Plutarch,deIs.etOs.
2Damm. Ler.Etym.
8Plutarch. deIs.etOs.
4Ibid.
5Hymn.xlvi..
6Hymn. xlix.theinitialsofthisepithetarewiththebullon
79

88. TheWorshipofPriapus
nature,andthusfertilisingmatter.Theseepithets
notonlyexpressthetheological,butalsothephysical
systemoftheOrphicschool;accordingtowhichthe
sun,beingplacedinthecentreoftheuniverse,with
theplanetsmovinground,was,byhisattractiveforce,
thecauseofallunionandharmonyinthewhole;
and,bytheemanationofhisbeams,thecauseofall
motionandactivityintheparts.Thissystemisal-
ludedtobyHomerintheallegoryofthegolden
chain,bywhichJupitersuspendsallthings;*though
thereiseveryreasontobelievethatthepoethim-
selfwasignorantofitsmeaning,andonlyrelatedit
ashehadheardit.TheAmmonianPlatonicsadopted
thesamesystemofattraction,butchangeditscentre
fromthesuntotheirmetaphysicalabstractionorin-
comprehensibleunity,whoseemanationspervaded
allthings,andheldallthingstogether.’
BesidestheFauns,Satyrs,andNymphs,theincar-
nateemanationsoftheactiveandpassivepowers
oftheCreator,weoftenfindintheancientsculptures
amedalofNaplesbelongingtomeThebullhasahumancounte-
nance,andhasthereforebeencalledaminotaurbyantiquarians;
notwithstanding heistobefcundondifferentmedals,accom-
paniedwithallthesymbolsbothofBacchusandApollo,andwith
theinitialsofmostoftheepithetstobefoundintheOrphic
Litanies.
11].@,ver.xix.
2ProclusinTheol.Plat.lib.i.c.21.
en ee ee
80

89. TheWorshipofPriapus
certainandrogynousbeingspossessedofthecharac-
teristicorgansofbothsexes,whichItaketorepre-
sentorganizedmatterinitsfirststage;thatis,im-
mediatelyafteritwasreleasedfromchaos,and
beforeitwasanimatedbyaparticipationofthe
etherealessenceoftheCreator.Inabeautifulgem
belongingtoR.Wilbraham,Esq.,1oneofthesean-
drogynousfiguresisrepresentedsleeping,withthe
organsofgenerationcovered,andtheeggofchaos
brokenunderit.OntheothersideisBacchus,the
Creator,bearingatorch,theemblemofetherealfire,
andextendingittowardsthesleepingfigure;whilst
oneofhisagentsseemsonlytowaithispermission
tobegintheexecutionofthatoffice,which,according
toeveryoutwardandvisiblesign,heappearsableto
dischargewithenergyandeffect.TheCreatorhim-
selfleansupononeofthosefigurescommonlycalled
Sileni;butwhich,fromtheirheavyunwieldyforms,
wereprobablyintendedaspersonificationsofbrute
inertmatter,fromwhichallthingsareformed,but
which,beingincapableofproducinganythingof
itself,isproperlyrepresentedasthesupportofthe
creativepower,thoughnotactivelyinstrumentalin
hiswork.Thetotalbaldnessofthisfigurerepre-
sentstheexhausted,unproductivestateofmatter,
1SeePlatev.Fig.3.

90. rT
aooaaS=E=aoamnnnaa»yeamRR———————————
TheWorshipofPriapus
whenthegenerativepowerswereseparatedfromit;
foritwasanopinionoftheancients,whichIremem-
bertohavemetwithinsomepartoftheworksof
Aristotle,towhichIcannotatpresentrefer,that
everyactofcoitionproducedatransientchillinthe
brain,bywhichsomeoftherootsofthehairwere
loosened;sothatbaldnesswasamarkofsterility
acquiredbyexcessiveexertion.ThefiguresofPan
havenearlythesameformswiththatwhichIhave
heresupposedtorepresentinertmatter;onlythat
theyarecompoundedwiththoseofthegoat,thesym-
bolofthecreativepower,bywhichmatterwasfruc-
tifiedandregulated.Tothisissometimesaddedthe
organofgeneration,ofanenormousmagnitude,to
signifytheapplicationofthispowertoitsnoblest
end,theprocreationofsensitiveandrationalbeings.
ThiscompositionformsthecommonPriapusofthe
Romanpoets,who.wasworshippedamongtheother
personagesoftheheathenmythology,butunder-
stoodbyfewofhisancientvotariesanybetterthan
bythegoodwomenofIsernia.Hischaracteristic
organissometimesrepresentedbytheartistsinthat
stateoftensionandrigidity,whichitassumeswhen
abouttodischargeitsfunctions,’andatothertimes
inthatstateoftumidlanguor,whichimmediately
1Platev.Fig.1,fromabronzeintheMuseum atPortici.
82

91. TheWorshipofPriapus
succeedstheperformance.’ Inthelattercaseheap-
pearsloadedwiththeproductionsofnature,there-
sultofthoseprolificefforts,whichintheformercase
heappearedsowellqualifiedtoexert.Ihavein
Platev.givenafigureofhimineachsituation,one
takenfromabronzeintheRoyalMuseumofPortici,
andtheotherfromoneinthatofCharlesTownley,
Esq.Itmaybeobserved,thatintheformerthe
musclesofthefaceareallstrainedandcontracted,
sothateverynerveseemstobeinastateoftension;
whereasinthelatterthefeaturesarealldilated
andfallen,thechinreposedonthebreast,andthe
wholefigureexpressiveoflanguorandfatigue.
IftheexplanationwhichIhavegivenofthesean-
drogynousfiguresbethetrueone,thefaunsand
satyrs,whichusuallyaccompanythem,mustrepre-
sentabstractemanations,andnotincarnationsofthe
creativespirit,aswhenincopulationwiththegoat.
TheCreatorhimselfisfrequentlyrepresentedina
humanform;anditisnaturalthathisemanations
shouldpartakeofthesame,thoughwithouthaving
anythingreallyhumanintheircomposition.It
seems,however,tohavebeentheopinioninsome
partsofAsia,thattheCreatorwasreallyofahuman
form.TheJewishlegislatorsaysexpressly,thatGod
1Platev.Fig2,fromabronzeintheMuseum ofC.Townley,
Esq.
83

92. TheWorshipofPriapus
mademaninhisownimage,and,priortothecreation
ofwoman,createdhimmaleandfemale,’ashehim-
selfconsequentlywas.2,Henceaningeniousauthor
hassupposedthattheseandrogynousfiguresrepre-
sentedthefirstindividualsofthehumanrace,who,
possessingtheorgansofbothsexes,producedchil-
drenofeach.Thisseemstobethesenseinwhich
theywererepresentedbysomeoftheancientartists;
butIhavenevermetwithanytraceofitinanyGreek
author,exceptPhilotheJew;norhaveIeverseen
anymonument ofancientart,inwhichtheBacchus,
orCreatorinahumanform,wasrepresentedwith
thegenerativeorgansofbothsexes.Inthesymboli-
calimages,thedoublenatureisfrequentlyexpressed
bysomeandrogynousinsect,suchasthesnail,which
isendowedwiththeorgansofbothsexes,andcan
copulatereciprocallywitheither:butwhenthere-
finementofartadoptedthehumanform,itwasrep-
resentedbymixingthecharactersofthemaleand
femalebodiesineverypart,preservingstillthedis-
tinctiveorgansofthemale.HenceEuripidescalls
BacchusdAvpoegos,?andtheChorusofBachannals
inthesametragedyaddresshimbymasculineand
1Genes.c.1.
2Philo.de.Leg.Alleg.lib.ii.
8Bach.v.358.

93. TheWorshipofPriapus
feminineepithets.:_Ovidalsosaystohim,
Tibi,cumsinecornibusadstas,
Virgineum caputest.2
alludinginthefirstlinetohistaurine,andinthe
secondtohisandrogynousfigure.
Theancienttheologistswere,likethemodern,di-
videdintosects;but,astheseneverdisturbedthe
peaceofsociety,theyhavebeenverylittlenoticed.I
havefollowedwhatIconceivetobethetrueOrphic
system,inthelittleanalysiswhichIhavehereen-
deavouredtogive.Thiswasprobablythetruecatho-
licfaith,thoughitdiffersconsiderablyfromanother
ancientsystem,describedbyAristophanes;*whichis
morepoetical,butlessphilosophical.Accordingto
this,Chaos,Night,Erebus,andTartarus,werethe
primitivebeings.Night,intheinfinitebreastof
Erebus,broughtforthanegg,fromwhichsprung
Love,whomixedallthingstogether;andfromthence
sprungtheheaven,theocean,theearth,andthegods.
ThissystemisalludedtobytheepithetQoyevoc,ap-
pliedtotheCreatorinoneoftheOrphicLitanies:¢
butthiscouldneverhavebeenapartoftheorthodox
1QBoopte,Booute,Tled5wvetovosevootxnotvia.Vers.504.
2Metam.lib.iv.v.18.
3Oow?d.Vers.693.
4Hymnv.

94. eTeae 8 Oo
TheWorshipofPriapus
seein cecpenimnnlesspssececsemcpgcsacs taana a
faith;fortheCreatorisusuallyrepresentedasbreak-
ingtheeggofchaos,andthereforecouldnothave
sprungfromit.Intheconfusedmedleysofallegories
andtraditionscontainedintheTheogonyattributed
toHesiod,LoveisplacedafterChaosandtheEarth,
butanteriortoeverythingelse.Thesedifferences
arenottobewonderedat;forAristophanes,suppos-
ingthatheunderstoodthetruesystem,couldnotwith
safetyhaverevealedit,orevenmentioneditany
otherwisethanundertheusualgarboffictionand
allegory;andasfortheauthoroftheTheogony,it
isevident,fromthestrangejumbleofincoherent
fableswhichhehasputtogether,thatheknewvery
littleofit.ThesystemalludedtointheOrphic
versesquotedintheArgonautics,isinallprobability
thetrueone;foritisnotonlyconsistentinallits
parts,butcontainsaphysicaltruth,whichthegreat-
estofthemoderndiscoverieshasonlyconfirmedand
explained.Theothersseemtohavebeenonlypoeti-
calcorruptionsofit,which,extendingbydegregs,
producedthatunwieldlysystemofpoeticalmyth-
ology,whichconstitutedthevulgarreligionofGreece.
Thefaunsandsatyrs,whichaccompanythean-
drogynousfiguresontheancientsculptures,areusu-
allyrepresentedasministeringtotheCreatorby
exertingtheircharacteristicattributesuponthem,as
wellasuponthenymphs,thepassiveagentsofpro-
86

95. PLATE X
SYSTRUM, WITH VARIOUS MEDALS

96. ’
+
¥oresonsthtls.aymeervesatus
a
=
a
ys

97. TheWorshipofPriapus
creation:butwhathaspuzzledthelearnedinthese
monuments,andseemsacontradictiontothegeneral
systemofancientreligion,isthatmanyofthese
groupsareinattitudeswhichareratheradaptedto
thegratificationofdisorderedandunnaturalappe-
tites,thantoextendprocreation.Butalearned
author,whohasthrowninfinitelightuponthesesub-
jects,haseffectuallyclearedthemfromthissuspi-
cion,byshowingthattheyonlytookthemostcon-
venientwaytogetatthefemaleorgansofgeneration,
inthosemixedbeingswhopossessedboth.’Thisis
confirmedbyLucretius,whoasserts,thatthisatti-
tudeisbetteradaptedtothepurposesofgeneration
thananyother.2,Wemaythereforeconclude,that
insteadofrepresentingthemintheactofgratifying
anydisorderlyappetites,theartistsmeanttoshow
theirmodestyinnotindulgingtheirconcupiscence,
butindoingtheirdutyinthewaybestadaptedto
answertheendsproposedbytheCreator.
OntheGreekmedals,wherethecowisthesymbol
ofthedeity,sheisfrequentlyrepresentedlickinga
calf,whichissuckingher.Thisisprobablymeant
toshowthatthecreativepowercherishesandnour-
1Recherches surlesArts,‘iv.i.c.3.
2Lib.iv.v.1260.
3SeePlate1v.Fig.3,fromamedalofDyrrachium, belonging
tome.
ae
89

98. TheWorshipofPriapus
ishes,aswellasgenerates;for,asallquadrupeds
licktheiryoung,torefreshandinvigoratethemim-
mediatelyafterbirth,itisnaturaltosuppose,ac-
cordingtothegeneralsystemofsymbolicalwriting,
thatthisactionshouldbetakenasanemblemofthe
effectitwasthoughttoproduce.Onothermedals
thebullorcowisrepresentedlickingitself;*which,
uponthesameprinciple,mustrepresentthestrength
ofthedeityrefreshedandinvigoratedbytheexertion
ofitsownnutritiveandplasticpoweruponitsown
being.Onothersagainisahumanheadofanan-
drogynouscharacter,likethatoftheBacchusd:qvyg,
withthetongueextendedoverthelowerlip,asifto
licksomething.?Thiswasprobablythesamesymbol,
expressedinalessexplicitmanner;itbeingthecom-
monpracticeoftheGreekartiststomakeapartofa
compositionsignifythewhole,ofwhichIshallsoon
haveoccasiontogivesomeincontestableexamples.
OnaParianmedalpublishedbyGoltzius,thebull
lickinghimselfisrepresentedononeside,accom-
paniedbytheasteriskofthesun,andontheother,
theheadwiththetongueextended,havingserpents,
theemblemsoflife,forhair.sThesamemedalisin
1SeePlatem1.Fig.5,fromcneofGortyna,intheHunterCol-
lection;andPlatemor.Fig.4,fromoneofParium,belonging
tome.
2SeePlateur.Fig.4,andPlatemi.Fig.6,fromPellerin.
8Goltz.Insul.Tab.xxx.Fig.8.
90

99. TheWorshipofPriapus
mycollection,exceptthattheserpentsarenotat-
tachedtothehead,butplacedbyitasdistinctsym-
bols,andthattheanimallickingitselfisafemale
accompaniedbytheinitialofthewordQOcos,in-
steadoftheasteriskofthesun.Antiquarianshave
calledthisheadaMedusa;but,hadtheyexamined
itattentivelyonanywell-preservedcoin,theywould
havefoundthattheexpressionofthefeaturesmeans
lust,andnotrageorhorror.’Thecaseis,thatanti-
quarianshavebeencontinuallyledintoerror,by
seekingforexplanationsofthedevicesontheGreek
medalsinthewildandcapriciousstoriesofOvid’s
Metamorphoses,insteadofexaminingthefirstprin-
ciplesofancientreligioncontainedintheOrphic
Fragments,thewritingsofPlutarch,Macrobius,and
Apuleius,andtheChoralOdesoftheGreektragedies.
Theseprincipleswerethesubjectsoftheancient
mysteries,anditistothesethatthesymbolsonthe
medalsalwaysrelate;fortheywerethepublicacts
ofthestates,andthereforecontainthesenseof
nations,andnotthecapricesofindividuals.
AsM.D’Hancarville foundacompleterepresenta-
tionofthebullbreakingtheeggofchaosinthesculp-
turesoftheJapanese,whenonlyapartofitappears
ontheGreekmonuments; sowemayfindinacuri-
1SeePlateim.Fig.4.

100. eT
TheWorshipofPriapus
ousOrientalfragment,latelybroughtfromthesacred
cavernsofElephanta,nearBombay,acompleterep-
resentationofthesymbolsoenigmaticallyexpressed
bytheheadabovementioned.Thesecavernsare
ancientplacesofworship,hewninthesolidrock
withimmenselabouranddifficulty.Thatfrom
whichthefragmentinquestionwasbrought,is130
feetlongby110wide,adornedwithcolumnsand
sculpturesfinishedinastyleverydifferentfromthat
oftheIndianartists.Itisnowneglected;butothers
ofthesamekindarestillusedasplacesofworship
bytheHindoos,whocangivenoaccountofthe
antiquityofthem,whichmustnecessarilybevery
remote,fortheHindoosareaveryancientpeople;
andyetthesculpturesrepresentaraceofmenvery
unlikethem,oranyofthepresentinhabitantsof
India.Aspecimenofthesewasbroughtfromthe
islandofElephanta,intheCumberlandman-of-war,
andnowbelongstothemuseumofMr.Townley.It
containsseveralfigures,inveryhighrelief;theprin-
cipalofwhichareamanandwoman,inanattitude
whichIshallnotventuretodescribe,butonlyob-
serve,thattheaction,whichIhavesupposedtobe
asymbolofrefreshmentandinvigoration,ismutually
appliedbybothtotheirrespectiveorgansofgenera-
1Archoel.vol.viii.p.289.
Cr
92

101. TheWorshipofPriapus
tion,’theemblemsoftheactiveandpassivepowers
ofprocreation,whichmutuallycherishandinvigo-
rateeachother.
TheHindoosstillrepresentthecreativepowersof
thedeitybytheseancientsymbols,themaleand
femaleorgansofgeneration;andworshipthemwith
thesamepiousreverenceastheGreeksandEgyp-
tiansdid.Likethemtootheyhaveburiedtheorigi-
nalprinciplesoftheirtheologyunderamassof
poeticalmythology,sothatfewofthemcangive
anymoreperfectaccountoftheirfaith,thanthat
theymeantoworshiponefirstcause,towhomthe
subordinatedeitiesaremerelyagents,ormoreprop-
erlypersonifiedmodesofaction.’Thisisthedoc-
trineinculcated,andveryfullyexplained,inthe
BagvatGeeta;amoralandmetaphysicalworklately
translatedfromtheSanscritlanguage,andsaidto
havebeenwrittenupwardsoffourthousandyears
ago.Kreshna,orthedeitybecomeincarnateinthe
shapeofman,inordertoinstructallmankind,is
introduced,revealingtohisdisciplesthefunda-
mentalprinciplesoftruefaith,religion,andwisdom;
whicharetheexactcounterpartofthesystemof
emanations,sobeautifullydescribedinthelinesof
1SeePlatexi.
2Sonnerat, VoyageauxInes.T.1.p.180.
3Niebuhr,Voyages,vol.1.p.17.
93

102. TheWorshipofPriapus
Virgilbeforecited.Weherefind,thoughinamore
mysticgarb,thesameoneprincipleoflifeuniversally
emanatedandexpanded,andeverpartiallyreturning
tobeagainabsorbedintheinfiniteabyssofintel-
lectualbeing.Thisreabsorption,whichisthrough-
outrecommended astheultimateendofhuman
perfection,canonlybeobtainedbyalifeofinward
meditationandabstractthought,toosteadytobe
interruptedbyanyworldlyincidents,ordisturbed
byanytransitoryaffections,whetherofmindor
body.Butassuchalifeisnotinthepowerofany
butaBrahman,inferiorrewards,consistingof
gradualadvancementsduringthetransmigrationsof
thesoul,areheldouttothesoldier,thehusbandman,
andmechanic,accordinglyastheyfulfillthedutiesof
theirseveralstations.Eventhosewhoserveother
godsarenotexcludedfromthebenefitsawarded
toeverymoralvirtue;for,asthedivineTeacher
says,Iftheydoitwithafirmbelief,insodoingthey
involuntarilyworshipevenme.Iamhewhopar-
takethofallworship,andIamtheirreward.’This
universaldeity,beingthecauseofallmotion,isalike
thecauseofcreation,preservation,anddestruction;
whichthreeattributesareallexpressedinthemystic
syllableom.Torepeatthisinsilence,withfirm
1BagvatGeeta,p.81.

103. PLATE XI
SCULPTURE FROM ELEPHANTA

104. oeWises!

105. TheWorshipofPriapus
devotion,andimmoveable attention,isthesurest
meansofperfection,?andconsequentreabsorption,
sinceitleadstothecontemplationoftheDeity,in
histhreegreatcharacteristicattributes.
Thefirstandgreatestofthese,thecreativeorgen-
erativeattribute,seemstohavebeenoriginally
representedbytheunionofthemaleandfemale
organsofgeneration,which,underthetitleofthe
Lingam,stilloccupiesthecentralandmostinterior
recessesoftheirtemplesorpagodas;andisalso
worn,attachedtobracelets,roundtheirnecksand
arms.?Inalittleportabletemplebroughtfromthe
Rohillacountryduringthelatewar,andnowinthe
BritishMuseum,thiscompositionappearsmounted
onapedestal,inthemidstofasquarearea,sunkin
ablockofwhitealabaster.?Roundthepedestalisa
serpent,theemblemoflife,withhisheadrested
uponhistail,todenoteeternity,ortheconstantre-
turnoftimeuponitself,whilstitflowsthroughper-
petualduration,inregularrevolutionsandstated
periods.Fromunderthebodyoftheserpentsprings
thelotusorwaterlily,theNelumboofLinnzus,
whichoverspreadsthewholeoftheareanotoccu-
piedbythefiguresatthecorners.Thisplantgrows
1BagvatGeetap.74.
2Sonnerat,VoyageauxIndes,liv.il.p.180.Planche.Liv.
8SeePlatexu.
97

106. A
LS
TheWorshipofPriapus
inthewater,and,amongstitsbroadleaves,puts
forthaflower,inthecenterofwhichisformedthe
seed-vessel,shapedlikeabellorinvertedcone,and
punctuatedonthetopwithlittlecavitiesorcells,in
whichtheseedsgrow.Theorificesofthesecells
beingtoosmalltolettheseedsdropoutwhenripe,
theyshootforthintonewplants,intheplaceswhere
theywereformed;thebulbofthevesselservingas
amatricetonourishthem,untiltheyacquiresucha
degreeofmagnitudeastoburstitopenandrelease
themselves;afterwhich,likeotheraquaticweeds,
theytakerootwhereverthecurrentdepositsthem.
Thisplanttherefore,beingthusproductiveofitself,
andvegetatingfromitsownmatrice,withoutbeing
fosteredintheearth,wasnaturallyadoptedasthe
symboloftheproductivepowerofthewaters,upon
whichtheactivespiritofthecreatoroperatedin
givinglifeandvegetationtomatter.Weaccordingly
finditemployedineverypartofthenorthernhemi-
sphere,wherethesymbolicalreligion,improperly
calledidolatry,doesoreverdidprevail.Thesacred
imagesoftheTartars,Japonese,andIndians,are
almostallplaceduponit;ofwhichnumerousin-
stancesoccurinthepublicationsofKempfer,Chappe
D’Auteroche,andSonnerat.Theupperpartofthe
1SeePlatexx.Fig.1.
SSS
98

107. TheWorshipofPriapus
baseoftheLingamalsoconsistsofthisflower,
blendedandcomposedwiththefemaleorganofgen-
erationwhichitsupports:andtheancientauthorof
theBagvatGeetaspeaksofthecreatorBrahmaas
sittinguponhislotusthrone.ThefiguresofIsis,
upontheIsiacTable,holdthestemofthisplant,
surmountedbytheseed-vesselinonehand,andthe
cross,”representingthemaleorgansofgeneration,in
theother;thussignifyingtheuniversalpower,both
activeandpassive,attributedtothatgoddess.On
thesameIsiacTableisalsotherepresentationofan
Egyptiantemple,thecolumnsofwhichareexactly
liketheplantwhichIsisholdsinherhand,except
thatthestemismadelarger,inordertogiveitthat
stabilitywhichisnecessarytosupportaroofand
entablature.?Columnsandcapitalsofthesamekind
arestillexisting,ingreatnumbers,amongtheruins
ofThebes,inEgypt;andmoreparticularlyupon
thoseverycuriousonesintheislandofPhil,on
thebordersofEthiopia,whichare,probably,the
mostancientmonuments ofartnowextant;atleast,
ifweexcepttheneighbouringtemplesofThebes.
Bothwerecertainlybuiltwhenthatcitywastheseat
ofwealthandempire,whichitwas,eventoa
1Page91.
2SeePlatexvi.Fig.2,fromPignorius.
8SeePlatexvur.Fig.1,fromPignorius.
99

108. TheWorshipofPriapus
proverb,duringtheTrojanwar.’Howlongithad
thenbeenso,wecanformnoconjecture;butthatit
soonafterdeclined,therecanbelittledoubt;for,
whentheGreeks,inthereignofPsammeticus(gen-
erallycomputedtohavebeenabout530yearsafter
theSiegeofTroy),firstbecamepersonallyac-
quaintedwiththeinteriorpartsofthatcountry,
Memphishadbeenformanyagesitscapital,and
Thebeswasinamannerdeserted.Homermakes
Achillesspeakofitsimmensewealthandgrandeur,
asamattergenerallyknownandacknowledged;so
thatitmusthavebeenoflongestablishedfame,even
inthatremoteage.Wemaythereforefairlycon-
clude,thatthegreatestpartofthesuperbedifices
nowremaining,wcreexecuted,oratleastbegun,be-
forethattime;manyofthembeingsuchascouldnot
havebeenfinishcc,butinalongtermofyears,even
ifwesupposethewealthandpoweroftheancient
kingsofEgypttohaveequalledthatofthegreatesi
oftheRomaneinpcrors..ThefinishingofTrajan’s
columninthreeycars,hasbeenjustlythoughtavery
extraordinary¢.:0.i,fortheremusthavebeen,at
least,threehundicegoodsculptorsemployedupon
it:andyet,int).acighbourhoodofThebes,wefind
wholetemplesofcnormousmagnitude,coveredwith
1Hom.[liad.i,ver.381.
100

109. TheWorshipofPriapus
figurescarvedinthehardandbrittlegraniteofthe
Libyanmountains,insteadofthesoftmarblesof
ParosandCarrara.Travellers,whohavevisitedthat
countryhavegivenusimperfectaccountsofthe
mannerinwhichtheyarefinished;but,ifonemay
judgebythoseupontheobeliscofRameses,now
lyinginfragmentsatRome,theyareinfinitelymore
labouredthanthoseofTrajan’sColumn.Anemi-
nentsculptor,withwhomIexaminedthatobelisc,
wasdecidedlyofopinion,thattheymusthavebeen
finishedinthemannerofgems,withagravingtool;
itappearingimpossibleforachiseltocutredgranite
withsomuchneatnessandprecision.Theageof
Ramesesisuncertain;butthegeneralityofmodern
chronologerssupposethathewasthesameperson
asSesostris,andreignedatThebesabout1500years
beforetheChristianzra,andabout300beforethe
SiegeofTroy.Theirdatesarehowevermerelycou-
jectural,whenappliedtoeventsofthisremotean-
tiquity.TheEgyptianpriestsoftheAugustanage
hadatradition,whichtheypretendedtoconfirmby
recordswritteninhieroglyphics,thattheircountry
hadoncepossestthedominionofallAsiaand
Ethiopia,whichtheirkingRamses,orRameses,had
conquered.t.Thoughthisaccountmaybeexagge-
1Tacit,Ann.lib.ii.c.60.
101

110. ST
—SSISSIIEeea=SaS=aaoaaeeeee—————E—E—E—E——————————
TheWorshipofPriapus
rated,therecanbenodoubt,fromthebuildingsstill
remaining,butthattheywereonceattheheadofa
greatempire;forallhistoriansagreethattheyab-
horrednavigation,hadnosea-port,andneveren-
joyedthebenefitsofforeigncommerce,without
which,Egyptcouldhavenomeansofacquiringa
sufficientquantityofsuperfluouswealthtoerectsuch
expensivemonuments,unlessfromtributaryprov-
inces;especiallyifallthelowerpartofitwasan
uncultivatedbog,asHerodotus,withgreatappear-
anceofprobability,tellsusitancientlywas.Yet
Homer,whoappearstohaveknownallthatcouldbe
knowninhisage,andtransmittedtoposterityallhe
knew,seemstohaveheardnothingoftheirempireor
conquests.Thesewereobliteratedandforgottenby
theriseofnewempires;buttherenownoftheir
ancientwealthstillcontinued,andaffordedafamil-
iarobjectofcomparison,asthatoftheMoguldoes
atthisday,thoughheisbecomeoneofthepoorest
sovereignsintheworld.
ButfarastheseEgyptianremainsleadusinto
unknown ages,thesymbolstheycontainappearnot
tohavebeeninventedinthatcountry,buttohave
beencopiedfromthoseofsomeotherpeople,still
anterior,whodweltontheothersideoftheEry-
threanocean.Oneofthemostobviousofthemis
thehoodedsnake,whichisareptilepeculiartothe
102

111. PLATE XII
INDIAN TEMPLE, SHOWING THELINGAM

112. eiteee.
aeeSeyFe‘a'
Paste25+heeLELO
alse.aeeae:
SUE alstic.<cenaineiee
ysaitoseedee
fae“taevyah2 Sheger
phoety, ’ataed
rad ‘i.-ees
r~.5 aw. we-
;ielatina} :ae
oy;ee tee§ise42 parSAS
ae’cian_<ie ae
=];-:Lhddale—_—:pearei
c iiseeeeeo~PRGGe
wry 2
.he *ze tes>
Se
rswan
a
hieBe‘wie
Oa:Aikmees
ook
alVY
ana
raeameeseS
anSake‘otawe,alltpegaplliaagiled
esanaedeesiheOluiaig¥a
hh

113. TheWorshipofPriapus
south-easternpartsofAsia,butwhichIfoundrepre-
sented,withgreataccuracy,upontheobeliscof
Rameses,andhavealsoobservedfrequentlyrepeated
ontheIsiacTable,andothersymbolicalworksof
theEgyptians.Itisalsodistinguishableamongthe
sculpturesinthesacredcavernsoftheislandof
Elephanta;+andappearsfrequentlyadded,asa
characteristicsymbol,tomanyoftheidolsofthe
modernHindoos,whoseabsurdtalesconcerningits
meaningarerelatedatlengthbyM.Sonnerat;but
theyarenotworthrepeating.Probablyweshould
beabletotracetheconnexionthroughmanymore
instances,couldweobtainaccuratedrawingsofthe
ruinsofUpperEgypt.
BycomparingthecolumnswhichtheEgyptians
formedinimitationoftheNelumboplant,witheach
other,andobservingtheirdifferentmodesofdeco-
ratingthem,wemaydiscovertheoriginofthatorder
ofarchitecturewhichtheGreekscalledCorinthian,
fromtheplaceofitssupposedinvention.Wefirst
findtheplainbell,orseed-vessel,usedasacapital,
withoutanyfurtheralterationthanbeingalittle
expandedatbottom,togiveitstability.?Inthenext
instance,thesameseed-vesselissurroundedbythe
1Niebuhr,Voyage,vol.ii.
2SeePlatexrx.Fig.6,fromNorden.
105

114. TheWorshipofPriapus
leavesofsomeotherplant;whichisvariedindif-
ferentcapitalsaccordingtothedifferentmeanings
intendedtobeexpressedbytheseadditionalsymbols.
TheGreeksdecorateditinthesamemanner,with
theleavesoftheacanthus,andothersortsoffoliage;
whilstvariousothersymbolsoftheirreligionwere
introducedasornamentsontheentablature,instead
ofbeingcarveduponthewallsofthecell,orshafts
ofthecolumns.Oneofthese,whichoccursmost
frequently,isthatwhichthearchitectscallthehoney-
suckle,butwhich,asSirJosephBanks(towhomI
amindebtedforallthatIhavesaidconcerningthe
Lotus)clearlyshewedme,mustbemeantforthe
youngshootsofthisplant,viewedhorizontally,just
whentheyhavebursttheseed-vessel,andareupon
thepointoffallingoutofit.Theornamentisvari-
ouslycomposedondifferentbuildings;itbeingthe
practiceoftheGreekstomakevegetable,aswellas
animalmonsters,bycombiningdifferentsymbolical
plantstogether,andblendingthemintoone;whence
theyareoftenextremelydifficulttobediscovered.
ButthespecimenIhavegiven,issostronglycharac-
terised,thatitcannoteasilybemistaken.?Itappears
onmanyGreekmedalswiththeanimalsymbolsand
personifiedattributesoftheDeity;whichfirstledme
1SeePlatex1x.Fig.7,fromNorden.
2Platexrx.Fig.3,fromtheIonianAntiquities,Ch.fi.Pl.xm.
106

115. TheWorshipofPriapus
toimaginethatitwasnotamereornament,buthad
somemysticmeaning,asalmosteverydecoration
employedupontheirsacrededificesindisputably
had.
Thesquarearea,overwhichtheLotusisspread,
intheIndianmonumentbeforementioned,wasoc-
casionallyfloatedwithwater;which,bymeansofa
forcingmachine,wasfirstthrowninaspoutuponthe
Lingam.Thepouringofwateruponthesacredsym-
bols,isamodeofworshipverymuchpractisedby
theHindoos,particularlyintheirdevotionstothe
BullandtheLingam.Itsmeaninghasbeenalready
explained,intheinstanceoftheGreekfigureofPan,
representedintheactofpayingthesamekindof
worshiptothesymbolofhisownprocreativepower.*
TheareasoftheGreektempleswere,inlikeman-
ner,insomeinstances,floatedwithwater;ofwhich
Ishallsoongiveanexample.Wealsofind,notun-
frequently,littleportabletemples,nearlyofthesame
form,andofGreekworkmanship: theareasof
whichwereequallyfloatedbymeansofafountain
inthemiddle,andwhich,bythefiguresinreliefthat
adornthesides,appearevidentlytohavebeendedi-
catedtothesameworshipofPriapus,ortheLingam.?
Thesquareareaislikewiseimpresseduponmany
1SeePlatev.Fig.1.
2SeePlatexiv.fromoneinthecollectionofMr.Townley.
107

116. TheWorshipofPriapus
ancientGreekmedals,sometimesdividedintofour,
andsometimesintoagreaternumberofcompart-
ments.:Antiquarianshavesupposedthistobe
merelytheimpressionofsomethingputunderthe
coin,tomakeitreceivethestrokeofthediemore
steadily;but,besidesthatitisveryilladaptedto
thispurpose,wefindmanycoinswhichappear,evi-
dently,tohavereceivedthestrokeofthehammer
(forstrikingwithabalanceisoflatedate)onthe
sidemarkedwiththissquare.Butwhatputsthe
questionoutofalldoubt,is,thatimpressionsof
exactlythesamekindarefounduponthelittleTalis-
mans,ormysticpastes,takenoutoftheEgyptian
Mummies, whichhavenoimpressionwhateveron
thereverse.?-OnalittlebrassmedalofSyracuse,we
alsofindtheasteriscoftheSunplacedinthecentre
ofthesquare,inthesamemannerastheLingamis
ontheIndianmonument.? Whythisquadrangular
formwasadopted,inpreferencetoanyother,we
havenomeansofdiscovering,fromanyknown
1SeePlatexu.Fig.1,fromoneofSelinus,andFig.3,from
oneofSyracuse,belongingtome.
2SeePlatexm.Fig.2,fromoneinthecollectionofMr.
Townley.
8SeePlatexn1.Fig.3.Themedalisextremelycommon, and
thequadrangular impressionisobservableuponagreatnumber
ofthemoreancientGreekmedals,generallywithsomesymbol
oftheDeityinthecentre.SeethoseofAthens,Lyttus,
Maronea,&c.
i Ee
108

117. PLATE XIII
CELTIC TEMPLE ANDGREEK MEDALS

119. ———==—=—SSSSSSXXX—XSX—X—X—X__
TheWorshipofPriapus
GreekorEgyptiansculptures;butfromthislittle
Indiantemple,wefindthatthefourcornerswere
adaptedtofourofthesubordinatedeities,orper-
sonifiedmodesofactionofthegreatuniversalGen-
erator,representedbythesymbolinthemiddle,to
whichtheothersarerepresentedaspayingtheir
adorations,withgesturesofhumilityandrespect.
Whatistheprecisemeaningofthesefoursymboli-
calfigures,itisscarcelypossibleforustodiscover,
fromthesmallfragmentsofthemysticlearningof
theancientswhicharenowextant.Thattheywere
howeverintendedaspersonifiedattributes,wecan
havenodoubt;forwearetaughtbythevenerable
authorityoftheBagvatGeeta,thatallthesubordi-
natedeitiesweresuch,orelsecanonisedmen,which
thesefiguresevidentlyarenot.Asforthemythologi-
caltalesnowcurrentinIndia,theythrowthesame
degreeoflightuponthesubject,asOvid’sMeta-
morphosesdoontheancienttheologyofGreece;
thatis,justenoughtobewilderandperplexthose
whogiveuptheirattentiontoit.Theancientauthor
beforecitedisdeservingofmorecredit;buthehas
saidverylittleuponthesymbolicalworship.His
work,nevertheless,clearlyprovesthatitsprinciples
werepreciselythesameasthoseoftheGrecksand
1SeePlatexm.
111

120. TheWorshipofPriapus
Egyptians,amongwhoseremainsofartorliterature,
wemay,perhaps,findsomeprobableanalogiestoaid
conjecture.Theelephantis,however,anewsymbol
inthewest;theGreeksneverhavingseenoneof
thoseanimalsbeforetheexpeditionofAlexander,’
althoughtheuseofivorywasfamiliaramongthem
eveninthedaysofHomer.UponthisIndianmonu-
menttheheadoftheelephantisplaceduponthe
bodyofamanwithfourhands,twoofwhichare
heldupaspreparedtostrikewiththeinstruments
theyhold,andtheothertwopointeddownasin
adorationoftheLingam.ThisfigureiscalledGon-
nisandPollearbythemodernHindoos;butneither
ofthesenamesistobefoundintheGeeta,wherethe
deityonlysays,thatthelearnedbeholdhimalike
inthereverendBrahmanperfectedinknowledge,in
theox,andintheelephant.Whatpeculiarattributes
theelephantwasmeanttoexpress,theancientwriter
hasnottoldus;but,asthecharacteristicproperties
ofthisanimalarestrengthandsagacity,wemaycon-
cludethathisimagewasintendedtorepresentideas
somewhatsimilartothosewhichtheGreeksrepre-
sentedbythatofMinerva,whowasworshippedas
thegoddessofforceandwisdom,ofwarandcounsel.
TheIndianGonnisisindeedmale,andMinervafe-
1Pausan. lib.i.c.12.
112

121. ES
nen
TheWorshipofPriapus
male;butthisdifferenceofsexes,howeverimportant
itmaybeinaphysical,isofverylittleconsequence
inmetaphysicalbeings,Minervabeing,liketheother
Greekdeities,eithermaleorfemale,orboth On
themedalsofthePtolemies,underwhomtheIndian
symbolsbecamefamiliartotheGreeksthroughthe
commerceofAlexandria,wefindherrepeatedlyrep-
resentedwiththeelephant’sskinuponherhead,in-
steadofahelmet;andwithacountenancebetween
maleandfemale,suchastheartistwouldnaturally
giveher,whenheendeavoured toblendtheGreek
andIndiansymbols,andmouldthemintoone.”
MinervaissaidbytheGreekmythologiststohave
beenbornwithoutamotherfromtheheadofJupiter,
whowasdeliveredofherbytheassistanceofVulcan.
This,inplainlanguage,meansnomorethanthatshe
wasapureemanationofthedivinemind,operating
bymeansoftheuniversalagentfire,andnot,like
othersoftheallegoricalpersonages,sprungfromany
oftheparticularoperationsofthedeityuponex-
ternalmatter.Hencesheissaidtobenextindignity
toherfather,andtobeendowedwithallhisat-
tributes;*for,aswisdomisthemostexaltedquality
ofthemind,andthedivinemindtheperfectionof
2AgoevxaBndveeqvs.Orph.gicAdnv-
2SeePlatexu.Fig.5,engravedfromonebelongingtome.
8Hor.lib.i.Od.12.Callimach. stgAdny-
113

122. TheWorshipofPriapus
wisdom,allitsattributesaretheattributesofwis-
dom,underwhosedirectionitspowerisalways
exerted.Strengthandwisdomtherefore,whencon-
sideredasattributesofthedeity,areinfactoneand
thesame.TheGreekMinervaisusuallyrepresented
withthespearupliftedinherhand,inthesameman-
nerastheIndianGonnisholdsthebattle-axe.1_Both
aregiventodenotethedestroyingpowerequallybe-
longingtodivinewisdom,asthecreativeorpreserv-
ing.ThestatueofJupiteratLabrandainCariaheld
inhishandthebattle-axe,insteadofthunder;and
onthemedalsofTenedosandThyatira,wefindit
representedaloneasthesymbolofthedeity,inthe
samemannerasthethunderisuponagreatvariety
ofothermedals.Iamthethunderbolt,saysthe
deityintheBagvatGeeta;*andwhenwefindthis
supposedengineofdivinevengeanceuponthe
medals,wemustnotimaginethatitismeantforthe
weaponofthesupremegod,butforthesymbolofhis
destroyingattribute.WhatinstrumenttheGonnis
holdsinhisotherhand,isnoteasilyascertained,it
beingalittleinjuredbythecarriage.Inoneofthose
pointeddownwardsheholdstheLotusflower,tode-
notethathehasthedirectionofthepassivepowers
1SeePlatexm.Fig.1,fromamedalofSeleucusI.belonging
tome.
2Page86.
SS?
114

123. TheWorshipofPriapus
ofproduction;andintheother,agoldenringordisc,
which,Ishallsoonshew,wasthesymbolbywhich
manynationsoftheEastrepresentedthesun.His
headisdrawnintoaconical,orpyramidalform,
andsurroundedbyanornamentwhichevidentlyrep-
resentsflames;theIndians,aswellastheGreeks,
lookinguponfireastheessenceofallactivepower;
whenceperpetuallampsarekeptburningintheholy
ofholiesofallthegreatpagodasinIndia,asthey
wereancientlyinthetempleofJupiterAmmon,and
manyothersbothGreekandBarbarian;andthein-
carnategodintheBagvatGeetasays,Iamthefirere-
sidinginthebodiesofallthingswhichhavelife.2Upon
theforeheadoftheGonnisisacrescentrepresenting
themoon,whosepoweroverthewatersoftheocean
causedhertoberegardedasthesovereignofthe
greatnutritiveelement,andwhosemildrays,being
accompaniedbytherefreshingdewsandcooling
breezesofthenight,madehernaturallyappearto
theinhabitantsofhotcountriesasthecomforterand
restoreroftheearth.Jamthemoon(saysthedeity
intheBagvatGeeta)whosenatureitistogivethe
qualityoftasteandrelish,andtocherishtheherbs
andplantsofthefield?Thelightofthesun,moon,
1SeePlut.deOrac.defect.
2Page113.
8Page113.
115

124. TheWorshipofPriapus
andfire,werehoweverallbutone,andequallyema-
nationsofthesupremebeing.Know,saysthedeity
inthesameancientdialogue,thatthelightwhich
proceedethfromthesun,andilluminateththeworld,
andthelightwhichisinthemoonandinthefire,are
mine.Ipervadeallthingsinnature,andguardthem
withmybeams.Inthefigurenowunderconsidera-
tionakindofpre-eminenceseemstobegiventothe
moonoverthesun;proceedingprobablyfromthe
Hindoosnotpossessingthetruesolarsystem,which
musthoweverhavebeenknowntothepeoplefrom
whomtheylearnttocalculateeclipses,whichthey
stillcontinuetodo,thoughuponprinciplesnotun-
derstoodbythemselves.Theynowplacetheearth
inthecentreoftheuniverse,asthelaterGreeksdid,
amongwhomwealsofindthesamepreferencegiven
tothelunarsymbol;Jupiterbeingrepresented,ona
medalofAntiochusVIIL,withthecrescentuponhis
head,andtheasteriscofthesuninhishand.Ina
passageoftheBagvatGeetaalreadycitedwefindthe
elephantandbullmentionedtogetherassymbolsof
thesamekind;andonamedalofSeleucusNicator
wefindthemunitedbythehornsoftheonebeing
placedontheheadoftheother.ThelaterGreeks
1SeePlut.deOrac.defect.
2Platexi.Fig.10,fromonebelongingtome.
8SeePlatexi.Fig.9,andGesner,Num.Reg.Syr.Tab.vim.
Fig.23.
116

125. ——————es=eses=s SS
TheWorshipofPriapus
ae ne eS
alsosometimesemployedtheelephantastheuni-
versalsymbolofthedeity;inwhichsenseheisrep-
resentedonamedalofAntiochusVI.bearingthe
torch,theemblemoftheuniversalagent,fire,inhis
proboscis,andthecornucopia,theresultofitsexer-
tion,inhistail.
OnanothercornerofthelittleIndianpagoda,isa
figurewithfourheads,allofthesamepoint:dform
asthatoftheGonnis.ThisItaketorepresent
Brahma,towhomtheHindoosattributefourmouths,
andsaythatwiththemhedictatedthefourBeads,
orVeads,themysticvolumesoftheirreligion.?,The
fourheadsareturneddifferentways,bu!exactly
resembleeachother.Thebeardshavebeenpainted
black,andaresharpandpointed,likethoseofgoats,
whichtheGreeksgavetoPan,andhissubordinate
emanations,theFaunsandSatyrs.Hence!amin-
clinedtobelieve,thattheBrahmaoftheIndiansis
thesameasthePanoftheGreeks;thatis,thecre-
ativespiritofthedeitytransfusedthroughmatter,
andactinginthefourelementsrepresentedbythe
fourheads.TheIndiansindeedadmitofafifthele-
ment,astheGreeksdidlikewise;butthisisnever
classedwiththerest,beingofan«xtherialandmore
1SeePlatexm.Fig.8,andGesner,Num.Reg.Syr.Tab.vm.
Fig.1.
2BagvatGeeta,Note41.
117

126. TheWorshipofPriapus
exaltednature,andbelongingpeculiarlytothedeity.
Somecallitheaven,somelight,andsomeether,
saysPlutarch.1TheHindoosnowcallitOccus,by
whichtheyseemtomeanpureetheriallightorfire.
Thismodeofrepresentingtheallegoricalper-
sonagesofreligionwithmanyheadsandlimbsto
expresstheirvariousattributes,andextensiveopera-
tion,isnowuniversalintheEast,?andseems
ancientlynottohavebeenunknown totheGreeks,
atleastifwemayjudgebytheepithetsusedby
Pindarandotherearlypoets.Theunionoftwo
symbolicalheadsiscommonamongthespecimensof
theirartnowextant,asmaybeseenuponthemedals
ofSyracuse,Marseilles,andmanyothercities.Upon
agemofthissortinthecollectionofMr.Townley,
thesameideaswhichareexpressedontheIndian
pagodabythedistinctfiguresBrahmaandGonnis,
areexpressedbytheunitedheadsofAmmon and
Minerva.Ammon,asbeforeobserved,wasthePan
oftheGreeks,andMinervaishereevidentlythesame
astheGonnis,beingrepresentedaftertheIndian
manner,withtheelephant’sskinonherhead,instead
ofahelmet.*Boththeseheadsappearseparateupon
1HiapudDelph.
2SeeKempfer,ChappeD’Auteroche,Sonnerat,&c.
8SuchasFeegy EXATOVTAXAVOS,EXATOYXELOOSG,KC.
4SeePlatexi.Fig.7
118

127. —_——e——e—eeaeaeaeaeE—_—_—_ye_—a_elea—"—*"_—S=—X—S
TheWorshipofPriapus
differentmedalsofthePtolemies,tunderoneof
whomthisgemwasprobablyengraved,Alexandria
havingbeenforalongtimethegreatcentreofreli-
gions,aswellasoftradeandscience.
NexttothefigureofBrahmaonthepagodaisthe
cowofplenty,orthefemaleemblemofthegenera-
tiveornutritivepoweroftheearth;andattheother
corner,nexttotheGonnis,isthefigureofawoman,
withaheadofthesameconicorpyramidalform,
anduponthefrontofitaflameoffire,fromwhich
hangsacrescent.?Thisseemstobethefemaleper-
sonificationofthedivineattributesrepresentedby
theGonnisorPollear;fortheHindoos,likethe
Greeks,worshipthedeityunderbothsexes,though
theydonotattempttounitebothinonefigure.Jam
thefatherandthemotheroftheworld,saysthein-
carnategodintheBagvatGeeta.Amongstcattle,
addsheinasubsequentpart,JamthecowKamad-
hook.IamtheprolificKandarp,thegodoflove.*
Thesetwosentences,bybeingplacedtogether,seem
toimplysomerelationbetweenthisgodofloveand
thecowKamadhook;and,werewetoreadthewords
withoutpunctuation,astheyareinallancientor-
1SeePlatexu.Fig.5and6.
2SeePlatexu.
8Page80.
4Page86.
119

128. TheWorshipofPriapus
thography,weshouldthinktheauthorplacedthe
godofloveamongstthecattle;whichhewould
naturallydo,ifitwerethecustomofhisreligionto
representhimbyananimalsymbol.Amongthe
Egyptians,asbeforeobserved,thecowwasthesym-
bolofVenus,thegoddessoflove,andpassivegenera-
tivepowerofnature.Onthecapitalsofoneofthe
templesofPhilzewestillfindtheheadsofthisgod-
dessrepresentedofamixedform;thehornsand
earsofthecowbeingjoinedtothebeautifulfeatures
ofawomanintheprimeoflife;+suchastheGreeks
attributedtothatVenus,whomtheyworshippedas
themotheroftheprolificgodoflove,Cupid,who
wasthepersonificationofanimaldesireorconcu-
piscence,astheOrphiclove,thefatherofgodsand
men,wasofuniversalattraction.TheGreeks,who
representedthemotherundertheformofabeautiful
woman,naturallyrepresentedthesonunderthe
formofabeautifulboy;butapeoplewhorepresented
themotherundertheformofacow,wouldas
naturallyrepresentthesonundertheformofacalf.
ThisseemstobethecasewiththeHindoos,aswell
aswiththeEgyptians;whereforeKandarpmaybe
veryproperlyplacedamongthecattle.
Byfollowingthisanalogy,wemaycometothe
1SeePlatexvi.Fig.3.

129. PLATE XIV
PORTABLE TEMPLE DEDICATED TOPRIAPUS ORTHELINGAM

131. TheWorshipofPriapus
truemeaningofamuch-celebratedobjectofdevo-
tion,recordedbyanotherancientwriter,ofamore
venerablecharacter.When theIsraelitesgrew
clamorousonaccountoftheabsenceofMoses,and
calleduponAarontomakethemagodtogobefore
them,hesetupagoldencalf;towhichthepeople
sacrificedandfeasted,andthenroseup(asthe
translatorsays)toplay;butintheoriginaltheterm
ismorespecific,andmeans,initsplaindirectsense,
thatparticularsortofplaywhichrequiresthecon-
currenceofbothsexes,andwhichwasthereforea
veryproperconclusionofasacrificetoCupid,though
highlydispleasingtothegodwhohadbroughtthem
outofEgypt.TheEgyptianmythologists,whoap-
pearedtohaveinventedthissecondarydeityoflove,
wereprobablytheinventorslikewiseofasecondary
Priapus,whowasthepersonificationofthatparticu-
largenerativefaculty,whichspringsfromanimalde-
sire,astheprimaryPriapuswasofthegreatgenera-
tiveprincipleoftheuniverse.Hence,inthealle-
goriesofthepoets,thisdeityissaidtobeasonof
BacchusandVenus;thatis,theresultoftheactive
andpassivegenerativepowersofnature.Thestory
ofhisbeingthesonofaGrecianconqueror,andborn
atLampsacus,seemstobeacorruptionofthis
allegory.
1Exod. xxxii.
123

132. TheWorshipofPriapus
OfallthenationsofantiquitythePersianswere
themostsimpleanddirectintheworshipofthe
creator.Theywerethepuritansoftheheathen
world,andnotonlyrejectedallimagesofgodorhis
agents,butalsotemplesandaltars,accordingto
Herodotus,whoseauthorityIprefertoanyother,
becausehehadanopportunityofconversingwith
thembeforetheyhadadoptedanyforeignsupersti-
tions.2,Astheyworshippedtheetherialfirewithout
anymediumofpersonificationorallegory,they
thoughtitunworthyofthedignityofthegodtobe
representedbyanydefiniteform,orcircumscribed
toanyparticularplace.Theuniversewashis
temple,andtheall-pervadingelementoffirehisonly
symbol.TheGreeksappearoriginallytohaveheld
similaropinions;fortheywerelongwithoutstatues;
andPausaniasspeaksofatempleatSicyon,builtby
Adrastus,*wholivedanagebeforetheTrojanwar;
whichconsistedofcolumnsonly,withoutwallor
roof,liketheCeltictemplesofourNorthernan-
cestors,orthePyrztheiaofthePersians,whichwere
1Lib.1.
2Hyde,Anquetil,andothermodernwriters,havegivenusthe
operosesuperstitionsofthepresentParseesforthesimpletheism
oftheancientPersians.
8Pauson, lib.vii.andix.
4Lib.fi.
—_—_——————————————————
124

133. TheWorshipofPriapus
circlesofstones,inthecentreofwhichwaskindled
thesacrenfire,’thesymbolofthegod.Homerfre-
quentlyspeaksofplacesofworshipconsistingofan
areaandaltaronly(teyevosBooste),whichwere
probablyinclosuresliketheseofthePersians,with
analtarinthecentre.Thetemplesdedicatedtothe
creatorBacchus,whichtheGreekarchitectscalled
hypaethral,seemtohavebeenancientlyofthesame
kind;whenceprobablycamethetitlexeguovov
(surroundedwithcolumns)attributedtothatgod
intheOrphiclitanies.2,Theremainsofoneofthese
arestillextantatPuzzuolinearNaples,whichthe
inhabitantscalltheTempleofSerapis:buttheorna-
mentsofgrapes,vases,&c.foundamongtheruins,
proveittohavebeenofBacchus.Serapiswasin-
deedthesamedeityworshippedunderanotherform,
beingequallyapersonificationofthesun.2The
architectureisoftheRomantimes;buttheground
planisprobablythatofaveryancientone,which
thiswasmadetoreplace;foritexactlyresembles
thatofaCeltictempleinZeeland,publishedin
Stukeley’sitinerary.Therangesofsquarebuild-
ingswhichincloseitarenotproperlypartsofthe
1Strab.lib.xv.
2Hymn.46.
8Diodor.Sic.lib.1.Macrob.Sat.lib.i.c.20.
4SeePlatexv.Fig.1and2,andPlatexm.Fig.4.
125

134. TheWorshipofPriapus
temple,butapartmentsofthepriests,placesforvic-
timsandsacredutensils,andchapelsdedicatedto
subordinatedeitiesintroducedbyamorecompli-
catedandcorruptworship,andprobablyunknown
tothefoundersoftheoriginaledifice.Theportico,
whichrunsparallelwiththesebuildings,’inclosed
thetemenos,orareaofsacredground,whichinthe
pyrethiaofthePersianswascircular,butishere
quadrangular,asintheCeltictempleinZeeland,and
theIndianpagodabeforedescribed.Inthecentre
wastheholyofholies,theseatofthegod,consisting
ofacircleofcolumnsraiseduponabasement,with-
outrooforwalls,inthemiddleofwhichwasprob-
ablythesacredfire,orsomeothersymbolofthe
deity.2Thesquareareainwhichitstood,wassunk
belowthenaturalleveloftheground,‘and,likethat
ofthelittleIndianpagoda,appearstohavebeen
occasionallyfloatedwithwater,thedrainsandcon-
duitsbeingstilltobeseen,®asalsoseveralfragments
ofsculpturerepresentingwaves,serpents,andvari-
ousaquaticanimals,whichonceadornedthebase-
ment.?TheBacchuszeguxiovioghereworshipped,was,
1Platexv.Fig.2,a—a.
2Platexv.Fig.2,b—d.
8SeePlatexv.Fig.1,a,andFig.2,c.
#SeePlatexv.Fig.1,b—d.
5SeePlatexv.Fig.1,c—c.
6SeePlatexvir.Fig.1.
te
126

135. PLATE XV
TEMPLE DEDICATED TOBACCHUS ATPUZZUOLI

137. TheWorshipofPriapus
aswelearnfromtheOrphichymnabovecited,the
suninhischaracterofextinguisherofthefireswhich
oncepervadedtheearth.Thishewassupposedto
havedonebyexhalingthewatersoftheocean,and
scatteringthemovertheland,whichwasthussup-
posedtohaveacquireditspropertemperatureand
fertility.Forthisreasonthesacredfire,theessen-
tialimageofthegod,wassurroundedbytheelement
whichwasprincipallyemployedingivingeffectto
thebeneficialexertionsofhisgreatattribute.
TheseOrphictempleswere,withoutdoubt,em-
blemsofthatfundamentalprincipleofthemystic
faithoftheancients,thesolarsystem;fire,thees-
senceofthedeity,occupyingtheplaceofthesun,
andthecolumnssurroundingitasthesubordinate
partsoftheuniverse.Remainsoftheworshipof
firecontinuedamongtheGreekseventothelast,as
appearsfromthesacredfireskeptintheinterior
apartment,orholyofholies,ofalmostalltheir
temples,andplacesofworship:and,thoughtheAm-
monianPlatonics,thelastprofessorsoftheancient
religion,endeavouredtoconceivesomethingbeyond
thereachofsenseandperception,astheessenceof
theirsupremegod;yet,whentheywantedtoillus-
trateandexplainthemodesofactionofthismeta-
physicalabstraction,whowasmoresubtlethan
129

138. TheWorshipofPriapus
intelligenceitself,theydoitbyimagesandcompari-
sonsoflightandfire.’
FromapassageofHecateus,preservedby
DiodorusSiculus,IthinkitisevidentthatStone-
henge,andalltheothermonuments ofthesame
kindfoundintheNorth,belongedtothesamere-
ligion,whichappears,atsomeremoteperiod,to
haveprevailedoverthewholenorthernhemisphere.
Accordingtothatancienthistorian,theHyperbore-
ansinhabitedanislandbeyondGaul,aslargeas
Sicily,inwhichApollowasworshippedinacircular
templeconsiderableforitssizeandriches.2.Apollo,
weknow,inthelanguageoftheGreeksofthatage,
canmeannootherthanthesun,which,accordingto
Cesar,wasworshippedbytheGermans,whenthey
knewofnootherdeitiesexceptfireandthemoon.*
TheislandIthinkcanbenootherthanBritain,which
atthattimewasonlyknowntotheGreeksbythe
vaguereportsofPhoenicianmariners,souncertain
andobscure,thatHerodotus,themostinquisitiveand
credulousofhistorians,doubtsofitsexistence.*The
circulartempleofthesunbeingnoticedinsuch
1SeeProclus.inTheol.Platon.lib.1.c.19.
2Naovavodoyov,avadnpactmoogxex0opNpEvOV,
opaiooedyntwoynatt. Diod.Sic.lib.fi.
8DeB.Gal.lib.vi.
4Lib.ili.c.16.
130

139. PLATE XVI
ORNAMENT FROM PUZZUOLI TEMPLE

140. ee
meagerpapelBaPavet
: well,thewGoMBe§
..
‘\
i
=e-
—me,.
SealedaLi
i
ae:i.
~
ht
¥
ca
Sete
3
Je>»
3wan
oeeeSseee
.
:
i
oak
ee

141. OOOO
TheWorshipofPriapus
amen tanSacheetnaoeSea
slightandimperfectaccounts,provesthatitmust
havebeensomethingsingularandimportant;for,if
ithadbeenaninconsiderablestructure,itwouldnot
havebeenmentionedatall;and,iftherehadbeen
manysuchinthecountry,thehistorianwouldnot
haveemployedthesingularnumber.Stonehenge
hascertainlybeenacirculartemple,nearlythesame
asthatalreadydescribedoftheBacchuszeoimoviocg
atPuzzuoli,exceptthatinthelattertheniceexecu-
tion,andbeautifulsymmetryoftheparts,arein
everyrespectthereverseoftherudebutmajestic
simplicityoftheformer;intheoriginaldesignthey
differbutintheformofthearea.Itmaytherefore
bereasonablysupposed,thatwehavestilltheruins
oftheidenticaltempledescribedbyHecatzus,who,
beinganAsiaticGreek,mighthavereceivedhisin-
formationfromsomePheenicianmerchant,whohad
visitedtheinteriorpartsofBritainwhentrading
therefortin.Macrobiusmentionsatempleofthe
samekindandformuponMountZilmissusinThrace,
1SeePlatexv.Fig.2and3.IhavepreferredWebb’splanof
Stonehenge toStukeley’sandSmith’s,aftercomparing eachwith
theruinsnowexisting. Theydiffermaterially onlyinthe
cell,whichWebbsupposestohavebeenahexagon,andStukeley
asectionofanellipsis.Thepositionofthealtarismerelycon-
jectural;whereforeIhaveomittedit;andImuchdoubtwhether
eitherberightintheirplansofthecell,whichseems,asinother
Druidicaltemples,tohavebeenmeantforacircle,butincorrectly
executed.
133

142. TheWorshipofPriapus
dedicatedtothesununderthetitleofBacchus
Sebazius.’Thelargeobeliscsofstonefoundinmany
partsoftheNorth,suchasthoseatRudstone,’?and
nearBoroughbridgeinYorkshire,*belongtothesame
religion;obeliscsbeing,asPlinyobserves,sacredto
thesun,whoseraystheyrepresentedbothbytheir
formandname.*AnancientmedalofApolloniain
Illyria,belongingtotheMuseumofthelateDr.
Hunter,hastheheadofApollocrownedwithlaurel
ononeside,andontheotheranobeliscterminating
inacross,theleastexplicitrepresentationofthe
maleorgansofgeneration.’Thishasexactlytheap-
pearanceofoneofthosecrosses,whichwereerected
inchurch-yardsandcrossroadsfortheadorationof
devoutpersons,whendevotionwasmoreprevalent
thanatpresent.Manyofthesewereundoubtedly
erectedbeforetheestablishmentofChristianity,and
converted,togetherwiththeirworshippers,tothe
truefaith.Ancicntlytheyrepresentedthegenerative
poweroflight,theessenceofGod;forGodislight,
andneverbutinunapproachedlightdweltfrom
1Sat.lib.i.c.18.
2Archaeologia, vol.v.
3Now calledtheDevil’sArrows. SeeStukeley’s Itin.vol.i.
Tablexc.
4Hist.Nat.lib.xxxvi.sec.14.
5Platex.Fig.1,andNummi Pop.&Urb. Tablex.Fig.7.
134

143. TheWorshipofPriapus
eternity,saysMilton,whointhis,aswellasmany
otherinstances,hasfollowedtheAmmonian Pla-
tonics,whowereboththerestorersandcorrupters
oftheancienttheology.Theyrestoreditfromthe
massofpoeticalmythology,underwhichitwas
buried,butrefinedandsublimateditwithabstract
metaphysics,whichsoaredasfarabovehumanrea-
sonasthepoeticalmythologysunkbelowit.From
theancientsolarobeliscscamethespiresandpin-
nacleswithwhichourchurchesarestilldecorated,
somanyagesaftertheirmysticmeaninghasbeen
forgotten.Happilyforthebeautyoftheseedifices,it
wasforgotten;otherwisethereformersofthelast
centurywouldhavedestroyedthem,astheydid
thecrossesandimages;fortheymightwithequal
proprietyhavebeenpronouncedheathenishand
prophane.
Astheobeliscwasthesymboloflight,sowasthe
pyramidoffire,deemedtobeessentiallythesame.
TheEgyptians,amongwhomtheseformsarethe
mostfrequent,heldthatthereweretwoopposite
powersintheworld,perpetuallyactingcontraryto
eachother,theonecreating,andtheotherdestroy-
ing:theformertheycalledOsiris,andthelatter
Typhon.'Bythecontentionofthesetwo,thatmix-
1Plutarch.deIs.¢Os.
135

144. TheWorshipofPriapus
tureofgoodandevil,which,accordingtosomeverses
ofEuripidesquotedbyPlutarch,’constitutedthehar-
monyoftheworld,wassupposedtokeproduced.
Thisopinionofthenecessarymixtureofgoodand
evilwas,accordingtoPlutarch,ofimmemorialan-
tiquity,derivedfromtheoldesttheologistsandlegis-
lators,notonlyintraditionsandreports,butin
mysteriesandsacrifices,bothGreekandbarbarian.?
Firewastheefficientprincipleofboth,and,accord-
ingtosomeoftheEgyptians,thatzetherialfirewhich
concentredinthesun.ThisopinionPlutarchcon-
troverts,sayingthatTyphon,theevilordestroying
power,wasaterrestrialormaterialfire,essentially
differentfromtheextherial.ButPlutarchherear-
guesfromhisownprejudices,ratherthanfromthe
evidenceofthecase;forhebelievedinanoriginal
evilprinciplecoeternalwiththegood,andactingin
perpetualoppositiontoit;anerrorintowhichmen
havebeenledbyformingfalsenotionsofgoodand
evil,andconsideringthemasself-existinginherent
properties,insteadofaccidentalmodifications,vari-
ablewitheverycircumstancewithwhichcausesand
eventsareconnected.Thiserror,thoughadoptedby
individuals,neverformedaparteitherofthethe-
1Plutarch. deIs.&Os.
2Ibid.Ed.Reiskii.
rr
136

145. TheWorshipofPriapus
ologyormythologyofGreece.Homer,inthebeauti-
fulallegoryofthetwocasks,makesJupiter,the
supremegod,thedistributorofbothgoodandevil.
ThenameofJupiter,Zevc,wasoriginallyoneofthe
titlesorepithetsofthesun,signifying,accordingto
itsetymology,awefulorterrible;?inwhichsenseit
isusedintheOrphiclitanies.2|Pan,theuniversal
substance,iscalledthehornedJupiter(Zevco
xegaotns);andinanOrphicfragmentpreserved
byMacrobius‘thenamesofJupiterandBacchus
appeartobeonlytitlesoftheall-creatingpowerof
thesun.
AyiasZev,Avovvoe,natelmovtov,matetans,
“Hatenayyevetoc.
Inanotherfragmentpreservedbythesameauthor,'
thenameofPluto,Atdyg¢,isusedasatitleofthesame
deity;whoappearsthereforetohavepresidedover
thedeadaswellasovertheliving,andtohavebeen
thelordofdestructionaswellascreationandpreser-
vation.Weaccordinglyfindthatinoneofthe
Orphiclitaniesnowextant,heisexpresslycalledthe
giveroflife,andthedestroyer.®
1Jl.w,v.527.
2Damm.Lez.Etymol.
8Hymn.x.v.13.
4Sat.lib.i.c.23.
5Sat.lib.i.c.8.
6Hymn. 1xxii.Ed.Gesn.
137

146. Ss
Hen
TheWorshipofPriapus
TheEgyptiansrepresentedTyphon,thedestroying
power,underthefigureofthehippopotamusor
river-horse,themostfierceanddestructiveanimal
theyknew; andtheChorusintheBacchaeof
EuripidesinvoketheirinspirerBacchustoappear
undertheformofabull,amany-headedserpent,
orflaminglion;*whichshewsthatthemostbloody
anddestructive,aswellasthemostusefulofanimals,
wasemployedbytheGreekstorepresentsomeper-
sonifiedattributeofthegod.M.D’Hancarvillehas
alsoobserved,thatthelionisfrequentlyemployedby
theancientartistsasasymbolofthesun;*andIam
inclinedtobelievethatitwastoexpressthisdestroy-
ingpower,nolessrequisitetopreservetheharmony
oftheuniversethanthegencrating.Inmostofthe
monumentsofancientartwherethelionisrepre-
sented,heappearswithexpressionsofrageandvio-
lence,andoftenintheactofkillinganddevouring
someotheranimal.Onanancientsarcophagus
foundinSicilyheisrepresenteddevouringahorse,*
andonthemedalsofVeliainItaly,devouringa
deer;°theformer,assacredtoNeptune,represented
1Plutarch. deIs.¢Os.
2V.1015.
8Recherches surlesArts.SeealsoMacrob. Sat.i.c.21.
4Houel, Voyage delaSicile.Fiatexxxvi.
5Platerx.Fig.5,engravedfromcnebelongingtome.
SSS
138

147. PLATE XVII
ORNAMENT FROM PUZZUOLI THMPLHD

149. TheWorshipofPriapus
thesea;andthelatter,assacredtoDiana,the
produceoftheearth;forDianawasthefertility
oftheearthpersonified,andthereforeissaidtohave
receivedhernymphsorproductiveministersfrom
theocean,thesourceoffecundity.:.Thelion,there-
fore,intheformerinstance,appearsasasymbolof
thesunexhalingthewaters;andinthelatter,as
witheringandputrifyingtheproduceoftheearth.
OnthefriezeoftheTempleofApolloDidymeus,
nearMiletus,aremonsterscomposedofthemixt
formsofthegoatandlion,restingtheirforefeet
uponthelyreofthegod,whichstandsbetweenthem.?
Thegoat,asIhavealreadyshewn,representedthe
creativeattribute,andthelyre,harmonyandorder;
therefore,ifweadmitthatthelionrepresentedthe
destroyingattribute,thiscompositionwillsignify,in
thesymbolicallanguageofsculpture,theharmony
andorderoftheuniversepreservedbytheregular
andperiodicaloperationsofthecreativeanddestruc-
tivepowers.Thisisanotiontowhichmenwould
benaturallyledbyobservingthecommonorderand
progressionofthings.Thesameheatofthesun,
whichscorchedandwitheredthegrassinsummer,
ripenedthefruitsinautumn,andcloathedtheearth
1Callimach. Hymn adDian.v.13.GenitorNympharum
Oceanus. CatullusinGell.v.84.
2Ionian Antiquities,vol.i.c.3.Platerx.
141

150. eT
oIoouuanaaeaeaeaeaESaEaaEaSaaEeeeee————E—E—E——
TheWorshipofPriapus
eT eeeen iOeee
withverdureinthespring.Inoneseasonitdried
upthewatersfromtheearth,andinanotherre-
turnedtheminrain.Itcausedfermentationand
putrefaction,whichdestroyonegenerationofplants
andanimals,andproduceanotherinconstantand
regularsuccession.Thiscontentionbetweenthe
powersofcreationanddestructionisrepresentedon
anancientmedalofAcanthus,inthemuseumofthe
lateDr.Hunter,byacombatbetweenthebulland
lion.t_Thebullaloneisrepresentedonothermedals
inexactlythesameattitudeandgestureaswhen
fightingwiththelion;?whenceIconcludethatthe
lionisthereunderstood.OnthemedalsofCelenderis,
thegoatappearsinsteadofthebullinexactlythe
sameattitudeofstruggleandcontention,butwithout
thelion;*andinacuriousoneofveryancientbut
excellentworkmanship,belongingtome,theivyof
Bacchusisplacedoverthebackofthegoat,todenote
thepowerwhichherepresents.‘
Themutualoperationwhichwastheresultofthis
contentionwassignified,inthemythologicaltales
ofthepoets,bythelovesofMarsandVenus,theone
1Platerx.Fig.4,dNummi Vet.Pop.&Urb.Table1.Fig.16.
2Platerm.Fig.12,fromoneofAspendus inthesameCollec
tion.SeeNummi Vet.Pop.éUrb.Tablevm.Fig.20.
8Nummi Vet.Pop.éUrb.Tablexvi.Fig.13.
4Plate1x.Fig.13.
142

151. TheWorshipofPriapus
theactivepowerofdestruction,andtheotherthe
passivepowerofgeneration.Fromtheirunionis
saidtohavesprungthegoddessHarmony,whowas
thephysicalorderoftheuniversepersonified.The
fableofCeresandProserpineisthesameallegory
inverted;Ceresbeingtheprolificpoweroftheearth
personified,andhencecalledbytheGreeksMother
Earth({orAn-pytnt).TheLatinnameCeresalso
signifyingEarth,theRomanCbeingthesameorigi-
nally,bothinfigureandpowerastheGreekI,
whichHomeroftenusesasameregutturalaspirate,
andaddsitarbitrarilytohiswords,tomakethem
moresolemnandsonorous.”Thegutturalaspirates
andhissingterminationsmoreparticularlybelonged
totheKolicdialect,fromwhichtheLatinwasde-
rived;whereforeweneednotwonderthatthesame
word,whichbytheDoriansandIonianswaswritten
EoaandEge,shouldbytheZoliansbewrittenTegec
orCeres,theGreeksalwaysaccommodatingtheir
orthographytotheirpronunciation.Inanancient
bronzeatStrawberryHillthisgoddessisrepresented
sitting,withacupinonehand,andvarioussortsof
fruitsintheother;andthebull,theemblemofthe
poweroftheCreator,inherlap.*Thiscomposition
1SeeS.C.Marcian,andthemedalsofGelaandAgrigentum.
2Asinthewordegudwxoc,usuallywrittenbyhimeguydwaoc.
3SeePlatevim.
143

152. OOOO
TheWorshipofPriapus
ree nceeyeentSE ge aearner
shewsthefructificationoftheearthbythedescentof
thecreativespiritinthesamemannerasdescribed
byVirgil:—
Veretumentterre,etgenitaliaseminaposcunt;
Tumpateromnipotensfeecundisimbribusether
Conjugisingremium letedescendit,&omnes
Magnusalit,magnocommixtuscorpore,fetus.?
‘Etherandwaterarehereintroducedbythepoetas
thetwoprolificelementswhichfertilizetheearth,
accordingtotheancientsystemofOrphicphil-
osophy,uponwhichthemystictheologywas
founded.Proserpine,orHegoigovero,thedaughterof
Ceres,was,asherGreeknameindicates,thegoddess
ofdestruction,inwhichcharactersheisinvokedby
AlthzeaintheninthIliad;butneverthelessweoften
findherontheGreekmedalscrownedwithearsof
corn,asbeingthegoddessoffertilityaswellas
destruction.?Sheis,infact,apersonificationofthe
heatorfirethatpervadestheearth,whichisatonce
thecauseandeffectoffertilityanddestruction,for
itisatoncethecauseandeffectoffermentation,
fromwhichbothproceed.TheLibitina,orgoddess
ofdeathoftheRomans,wasthesameasthePersi-
phoneiaoftheGreeks;andyet,asPlutarchobserves,
1Georgic.lib.ii..v.324.
2Plateiv.Fig.5,fromamedalofAgathocles,belongingtome.
Thesameheadisuponmanyothers,ofSyracuse,Metapontum,&c.
144

153. PLATE XVIII
EGYPTIAN FIGURES ANDORNAMENTS

154. a |ceeaseme -:
AW aaalg Aone
esaoefy
hespeuayt.
- A:—
a ioe©Sond
I
ea
‘eesonyil%“34 :
5 7 ’|ae
taayoe
a.Ce
mlwatesphot 4
—“
,
begymeene
bear|
PSeh
“fee
aof
La
feybeere
oe
im
oh
aa
sitEREALSSs
BAnat2MOKi
“akeCNGleet,lpGogoneiiaI
-“~el cetee

155. TheWorshipofPriapus
themostlearnedofthatpeopleallowedhertobe
thesameasVenus,thegoddessofgeneration.
IntheGalleryatFlorenceisacollossalimageof
theorganofgeneration,mountedonthebackparts
ofalion,andhungroundwithvariousanimals.By
thisisrepresentedtheco-operationofthecreating
anddestroyingpowers,whicharebothblendedand
unitedinonefigure,becausebotharederivedfrom
onecause.Theanimalshungroundshowlikewise
thatbothacttothesamepurpose,thatofreplenish-
ingtheearth,andpeoplingitwithstillrisinggenera-
tionsofsensitivebeings.TheChimeraofHomer,of
whichthecommentatorshavegivensomanywhim-
sicalinterpretations,wasasymbolofthesamekind,
whichthepoetprobably,havingseeninAsia,and
notknowingitsmeaning(whichwasonlyrevealed
totheinitiated)supposedtobeamonsterthathad
onceinfestedthecountry.Hedescribesitascom-
posedoftheformsofthegoat,thelion,andtheser-
pent,andbreathingfirefromitsmouth.?Theseare
thesymbolsofthecreator,thedestroyer,andthe
preserver,unitedandanimatedbyfire,thedivine
essenceofallthree.2Onagem,publishedinthe
1InNuma.
21.¢.v.223.
8Forthenaturalpropertiesattributedbytheancientstofire,
seePlutarch,inCamillo,Plin.Hist.Nat.lib.xxxvi.c.68.
eT
147

156. ET
asa ET
TheWorshipofPriapus
MemoirsoftheAcademyofCortona,'thisunionof
thedestroyingandpreservingattributesisrepre-
sentedbytheunitedformsofthelionandserpent
crownedwithrays,theemblemsofthecausefrom
whichbothproceed.Thiscompositionformsthe
ChnoubisoftheEgyptians.
Bacchusisfrequentlyrepresentedbytheancient
artistsaccompaniedbytigers,whichappear,insome
instances,devouringclustersofgrapes,thefruitpe-
culiarlyconsecratedtothegod,andinothersdrink-
ingtheliquorpressedfromthem.Theauthorof
theRecherchessurlesArtshasinthisinstancefol-
lowedthecommonaccountsoftheMythologists,and
assertedthattigersarereallyfondofgrapes;?which
issofarfrombeingtrue,thattheyareincapableof
feedinguponthem,oruponanyfruitwhatever,be-
ingbothexternallyandinternallyformedtofeed
uponfleshonly,andtoprocuretheirfoodbydestroy-
ingotheranimals.HenceIampersuaded,thatin
theancientsymbols,tigers,aswellaslions,repre-
sentthedestroyingpowerofthegod.Sometimeshis
chariotappearsdrawnbythem;andthentheyrep-
resentthepowersofdestructionprecedingthepow-
ersofgeneration,andextendingtheiroperation,as
putrefactionprecedes,andincreasesvegetation.On
1Vol.iv.p.32.SeealsoPlatev.Fig.4,copiedfromit.
2Liv.i.c.3.
148

157. TheWorshipofPriapus
amedalofMaronea,published‘byGesner,'agoatis
coupledwiththetigerindrawinghischariot;by
whichcompositiontheartisthasshewnthegeneral
activepowerofthedeity,conductedbyhistwogreat
attributesofcreationanddestruction.OntheCho-
ragicmonument ofLysicratesatAthens,Bacchus
isrepresentedfeedingatiger;whichshowsthe
activepowerofdestruction.2,Onabeautifulcameo
inthecollectionoftheDukeofMarlborough,the
tigerissuckingthebreastofanymph;whichrepre-
sentsthesamepowerofdestruction,nourishedby
thepassivepowerofgeneration.*Inthemuseumof
CharlesTownley,Esq.,isagroup,inmarble,ofthree
figures;*themiddleoneofwhichgrowsoutofavine
inahumanform,withleavesandclustersofgrapes
springingoutofitsbody.OnonesideistheBacchus
duqvns,orcreatorofbothsexes,knownbytheeffemi-
natemoldofhislimbsandcountenance;andon
theother,atiger,leapingup,anddevouringthe
grapeswhichspringfromthebodyofthepersonified
vine,thehandsofwhichareemployedinreceiving
1Tablexliii.Fig.26.
2Stuart’sAthens,vol.i.c.4,Platex.
3SeePlatexxm1.engravedmerelytoshowthecomposition,it
notbeingpermittedtomakeanexactdrawingofit.
4SeePlatexx1.Fig.7.
eS SD
149

158. Ss
a
TheWorshipofPriapus
chweespingeeacantices
anotherclusterfromtheBacchus.Thiscomposition
representsthevinebetweenthecreatinganddestroy-
ingattributesofgod;theonegivingitfruit,andthe
otherdevouringitwhengiven.Thetigerhasagar-
landofivyroundhisneck,toshowthatthedestroyer
wasco-essentialwiththecreator,ofwhomivy,as
wellasallotherever-greens,wasanemblemrepre-
sentinghisperpetualyouthandviridity.*
Themutualandalternateoperationofthetwo
greatattributesofcreationanddestruction,wasnot
confinedbytheancientstoplantsandanimals,and
suchtransitoryproductions,butextendedtotheuni-
verseitself.Firebeingtheessentialcauseofboth,
theybelievedthattheconflagrationandrenovation
oftheworldwereperiodicalandregular,proceeding
fromeachotherbythelawsofitsownconstitution,
implantedinitbythecreator,whowasalsothede-
stroyerandrenovator;?for,asPlatosays,allthings
arisefromone,andintooneareallthingsresolved.®
Itmustbeobserved,that,whentheancientsspeakof
creationanddestruction,theymeanonlyformation
1Strabo,lib.xv.p.712.
2Brucker,Hist.Crit.Philos.vol.i.part2,lib.i.Plutarchde
Placit.Philos.lib.ii.c.18.Lucretius,lib.v.ver.92.Cic.deNat.
Deor.lib.fi.
SEEévoctanavtayeveodat,xaretct”GuvtovavaAvecdat,
inPhed.Thesamedogmaisstillmoreplainlyinculcatedbythe
ancientIndianauthorbeforecited,seeBagvatGeeta,Lect.ix.
150

159. TheWorshipofPriapus
anddissolution;itbeinguniversallyallowed,through
allsystemsofreligion,orsectsofphilosophy,that
nothingcouldcomefromnothing,andthatnopower
whatevercouldannihilatethatwhichreallyexisted.
Theboldandmagnificentideaofacreationfrom
nothingwasreservedforthemorevigorousfaith,
andmoreenlightenedmindsofthemoderns,’who
needseeknoauthoritytoconfirmtheirbelief;for,
asthatwhichisself-evidentadmitsofnoproof,
sothatwhichisinitselfimpossibleadmitsofno
refutation.
ThefableoftheserpentPythobeingdestroyed
byApollo,probablyarosefromanemblematical
composition,inwhichthatgodwasrepresentedas
thedestroyeroflife,ofwhichtheserpentwasa
symbol.PlinymentionsastatueofhimbyPraxiteles,
whichwasmuchcelebratedinhistime,called
Lavooxtwv(theLizard-killer.)?Thelizard,being
supposedtoliveuponthedewsandmoistureofthe
earth,isemployedasthesymbolofhumidityingen-
eral;sothatthegoddestroyingit,signifiesthesame
astheliondevouringthehorse.ThetitleApollo,I
1ThewordinGenesisuponwhichitisfounded,conveyedno
suchsensetotheancients;fortheSeventytranslateditexoinoe,
whichsignifiesformed,orfashioned.
2Hist.Nat.lib.xxxiv.c.8.Many copiesofitarestillextant.
Winkleman haspublished onefromabronzeofCardinalAlbani’s.
Monum. Antichi.inediti,Platex1.
a
151

160. TheWorshipofPriapus
aminclinedtobelieve,meantoriginallytheDe-
stroyer,aswellastheDeliverer;for,astheancients
supposeddestructiontobemerelydissolution,the
powerwhichdeliveredtheparticlesofmatterfrom
thebondsofattraction,andbrokethedeopovxegiBordy
eowtos,wasinfactthedestroyer.Itis,probably,
forthisreason,thatsuddendeath,plagues,andepi-
demicdiseases,aresaidbythepoetstobesentby
thisgod;whois,atthesametime,describedasthe
authorofmedicine,andalltheartsemployedto
preservelife.Theseattributesarenotjoinedmerely
becausethedestroyerandpreserverwereessentially
thesame;butbecausediseasenecessarilyprecedes
cure,andisthecauseofitsbeinginvented.The
GodofHealthissaidtobehisson,becausethehealth
andvigourofonebeingaresupportedbythedecay
anddissolutionofotherswhichareappropriatedto
itsnourishment.Thebowandarrowsaregivento
himassymbolsofhischaracteristicattributes,as
theyaretoDiana,whowasthefemalepersonifica-
tionofthedestructive,aswellastheproductiveand
preservingpowers.Dianaishencecalledthetriple
Hecate,andrepresentedbythreefemalebodies
1TheverbAv@,fromwhichApolloisderived,signifiesin
Homerbothtofreeandtodissolveordestroy,Il.a,ver.20;
Il,i,ver.25.Macrobius derivesthetitlefromaxoAAuut,to
destroy;butthiswordisderivedfromAvaSat.lib.i.¢.17.
152

161. PLATE XIX
EGYPTIAN FIGURES ANDORNAMENTS

162. ieSpeenaEeenndea
mettag=tp!faettedesieyens“@
‘hetrepinnristactosdeat
mapleMsteset,;Heiabidesdesenher
ts,4ibegan r
Waite:BartSeesxtiewe
oe,datebttheatot(oeSeegI
uta5aed@sithee
bi

163. TheWorshipofPriapus
joinedtogether.Herattributeswerehoweverwor-
shippdseparately;andsomenationsreveredher
underonecharacter,andothersunderanother.
DianaofEphesuswastheproductiveandnutritive
power,asthemanybreastsandothersymbols
onherstatuesimply;whilstBowo,theTauricor
ScythicDiana,apearstohavebeenthedestructive,
andthereforewasappeasedwithhumansacrifices,
andotherbloodyrites.2,Sheisrepresentedsome-
timesstandingonthebackofabull,’andsometimes
inachariotdrawnbybulls;¢whencesheiscalledby
thepoetsTavgoxoka®andBowvshateioa.*.Bothcom-
positionsshowthepassivepowerofnature,whether
creativeordestructive,sustainedandguidedbythe
generalactivepowerofthecreator,ofwhichthesun
wasthecentre,andthebullthesymbol.
Itwasobservedbytheancients,thatthedestruc-
tivepowerofthesunwasexertedmostbyday,and
thecreativebynight:foritwasintheformerseason
thathedriedupthewaters,witheredtheherbs,and
1Hieron.Comment. inPaulEpist.adEphes.
2Pausan. lib.iii.c.16.
3SeeamedalofAugustus,publishedbySpanheim. Not.in
Callim.Hymn.adDian.ver.113.
4Platev1.,fromabronzeinthemuseum ofC.Townley,Esq.
5SophoclisAjaz,ver.172.
6NonniDionys,lib.1.thetitleTavooxoAoc wassometimes
giventoApollo,Eustath.ScholinDionys.Tleounyne..ver.609.
155

164. TheWorshipofPriapus
produceddiseaseandputrefaction;andinthelatter,
thathereturnedtheexhalationsindews,tempered
withthegenialheatwhichhehadtransfusedinto
theatmosphere,torestoreandreplenishthewasteof
theday.Hence,whentheypersonifiedtheattributes,
theyreveredtheoneasthediurnal,andtheother
asthenocturnalsun,andintheirmysticworship,as
Macrobiussays,‘calledtheformerApollo,andthe
latterDionysusorBacchus.Themythologicalper-
sonagesofCastorandPollux,wholivedanddied
alternately,wereallegoriesofthesamedogma;
hencethetwoasteriscs,bywhichtheyaredistin-
guishedonthemedalsofLocri,Argos,andother
cities.
Thepzans,orwar-songs,whichtheGreekschanted
attheonsetoftheirbattles,?wereoriginallysungto
Apollo,’whowascalledPzon;andMacrobiustells
us,*thatinSpain,thesunwasworshippedasMars,
thegodofwaranddestruction,whosestatuethey
adornedwithrays,likethatoftheGreekApollo.
OnaCeltiberianorRunicmedalfoundinSpain,of
barbarousworkmanship, isaheadsurroundedby
1Sat.lib.i.c.18.
2Thucyd.lib.vil.
8Homer. JI.a,v.472.
4Sat.lib.1.c19.
nS
156

165. TheWorshipofPriapus
obeliscsorrays,whichItaketobeofthisdeity.1The
hairsappearerect,toimitateflames,astheydoon
manyoftheGreekmedals;andonthereverseisa
beardedhead,withasortofpyramidalcapon,
exactlyresemblingthatbywhichtheRomanscon-
ferredfreedomontheirslaves,andwhichwasthere-
forecalledthecapofliberty.2.OnotherCeltiberian
medalsisafigureonhorseback,carryingaspearin
hishand,andhavingthesamesortofcaponhis
head,withthewordHelmanwrittenunderhim,?in
characterswhicharesomething betweentheold
RunicandPelasgian;butsoneartothelatter,that
theyareeasilyunderstood. Thisfigureseemstobe
ofthesamepersonasisrepresentedbytheheadwith
thecapontheprecedingmedal,whocanbenoother
thantheangelorministerofthedeityofdeath,as
thenameimplies;forHelaorHel,was,amongthe
1PlatexFig.2,engravenfromonebelongingtome.Ihave
sincebeenconfirmedinthisconjecturebyobservingthecharac-
tersofMarsandApollomixtonGreekcoins.OnaMamertine
onebelongingtomeistheheadwiththeyouthfulfeaturesand
laurelcrownofApollo;butthehairisshort,andtheinscription
ontheexerguedenotesittobeMars.SeePlatexvi.Fig2.
2Itmaybeseenwiththedaggeronthemedals ofBrutus.
83SeePlaterx.Fig.9,fromonebelongingtome.
4Thefirstisamixture oftheRunicHagleandGreekH.The
second istheRunicLaugur, which isalsotheoldGreekA,asit
appears onthevaseoftheCalydonian BoarinitheBritishMu-
seum. Theotherthreedifferlittlefromthecommon Greek.
157

166. eee
eT
TheWorshipofPriapus
Northernnations,thegoddessofdeath,’inthesame
mannerasPersiphoneiaorBrimowasamongthe
Greeks.Thesamefigureappearsonmanyancient
Britishmedals,andalsoonthoseofseveralGreek
cities,particularlythoseofGela,whichhavethe
TaurineBacchusorCreatoronthereverse.?The
headwhichIhavesupposedtobetheCeltiberian
Mars,ordestructivepowerofthediurnalsun,is
beardlessliketheApollooftheGreeks,and,asfar
ascanbediscoveredinsuchbarbaroussculpture,has
thesameandrogynousfeatures.Wemaytherefore
reasonablysuppose,that,liketheGreeks,theCelti-
berianspersonifiedthedestructiveattributeunder
thedifferentgenders,accordinglyastheyappliedit
tothesun,orsubordinateelements;andthenunited
them,tosignifythatbothwereessentiallythesame.
TheHelman therefore,whowasthesameasthe
MovigayyntysorAtoxtwooftheGreeks,maywithequal
proprietybecalledtheministerofbothoreither.The
spearinhishandisnottobeconsideredmerelyas
theimplementofdestruction,butasthesymbolof
powerandcommand, whichitwasinGreeceand
Italy,aswellasallovertheNorth.Henceevdvwvew
1Edda.Fab.xvi.D’Hancarville,Recherches surlesArts,liv.
fi.c.1.
2SeePlaterx.Fig.o,fromonebelongingtome.
8SeePlatex.Fig.2.
158

167. PLATE XX
THE LOTUS AND MEDALS OFMELITA

168. es
a
he.
7
7
‘
7
7
:as..

169. TheWorshipofPriapus
d001wastogovern,’andveniresubhastd,—tobe
soldasaslave.TheancientCeltesandScythians
paiddivinehonorstothesword,thebattle-axe,and
thespear;thefirstofwhichwasthesymbolbywhich
theyrepresentedthesupremegod:hencetoswear
bytheedgeoftheswordwasthemostsacredand
inviolableofoaths.”Euripidesalludestothisancient
religionwhenhecallsaswordogxovEwpos;and
fEschylusshowsclearly,thatitonceprevailedin
Greece,whenhemakestheheroesoftheThebaid
swearbythepointofthespear(opvvorSatypnv*).
Homersometimesusesthewordaogyngstosignifythe
GodofWar,andsometimesaweapon:andwehave
sufficientproofofthisword’sbeingofCelticorigin
initsaffinitywithourNorthernwordWar;for,if
wewriteitintheancientmanner,withthePelasgian
Vau,orZEolianDigamma,Faoys(Wares),itscarcely
differsatall.
Behind thebearded head,onthefirst-mentioned
Celtiberianmedalisaninstrumentlikeapairoffire-
tongs,orblacksmith’spincers;*fromwhichitseems
thatthepersonage hererepresented isthesameas
the‘Hqaotos orVulcan oftheGreekandRoman
1Eurip.Hecuba.
2Mallet,Introd.dUVHist.deDanemare, c.9.
8*ExtaonmtOnBac,v.535.
4Platex.Fig.2.
161

170. TheWorshipofPriapus
mythology.Thesameideasareexpressedsomewhat
moreplainlyonthemedalsof/£serniainItaly,
whichareexecutedwithalltherefinementandele-
ganceofGrecianart...OnonesideisApollo,the
diurnalsun,mountinginhischariot;andonthe
otherabeardlesshead,withthesamecapon,and
thesameinstrumentbehindit,butwiththeyouthful
featuresandelegantcharacterofcountenanceusu-
allyattributedtoMercury,who,aswellasVulcan,
wastheGodofArtandMechanism; andwhosepe-
culiarofficeitalsowastoconductthesoulsofthe
deceasedtotheireternalmansions,fromwhence
cametheepithetAtoxtwt,appliedtohimbyHomer.
Hewas,therefore,inthisrespect,thesameasthe
HelmanoftheCeltesandScythians,whowassup-
posedtoconductthesoulsofallwhodiedaviolent
death(whichalonewasaccountedtrulyhappy)to
thepalaceofValhala.2_Itseemsthattheattributes
ofthedeitywhichtheGreeksrepresentedbythe
mythologicalpersonagesofVulcanandMercury,
wereunitedintheCelticmythology. Czsartellsus
thattheGermansworshippedVulcan,orfire,with
thesunandmoon;andIshallsoonhaveoccasionto
showthattheGreeksheldfiretobetherealcon-
1SeePlatex.Fig.6,fromonebelongingtome.
2Mallet,Hist.deDanemarc. Introd.c.9.
162

171. TheWorshipofPriapus
ductorofthedead,andemancipatorofthesoul.The
/Esernians,borderingupontheSamnites,aCeltic
nation,mightnaturallybesupposedtohaveadopted
thenotionsoftheirneighbours,or,whatismore
probable,preservedthereligionoftheirancestors
morepurethantheHellenicGreeks.Hencethey
representedVulcan,who,fromtheinscriptiononthe
exergueoftheircoins,appearstohavebeentheir
tutelargod,withthecharacteristicfeaturesofMer-
cury,whowasonlyadifferentpersonificationofthe
samedeity.
AtLycopolisinEgyptthedestroyingpowerofthe
sunwasrepresentedbyawolf;which,asMacrobius
says,wasworshippedthereasApollo.Thewolf
appearsdevouringgrapesintheornamentsofthe
templeofBacchuszegimoviogatPuzzuoli;?andon
themedalsofCarthaheissurroundedwithrays,
whichplainlyprovesthatheistheremeantasa
symbolofthesun.?Heisalsorepresentedonmost
ofthecoinsofArgos,*whereIhavealreadyshown
thatthediurnalsunApollo,thelight-extendinggod,
waspeculiarlyworshipped.Wemaythereforecon-
clude,thatthisanimalismeantforoneofthemys-
1Sat.lib.i.ce.17.
2Platexvi.Fig.1.
8Platex,Fig.8,fromonebelongingtome.
4Plate1x,Fig.7,fromonebelongingto.me.
163

172. SS
rr
TheWorshipofPriapus
ticsymbolsoftheprimitiveworship,andnot,as
someantiquarianshavesupposed,tocommemorate
themythologicaltalesofDanausorLycaon,which
wereprobablyinvented,likemanyothersofthe
samekind,tosatisfytheinquisitiveignoranceofthe
vulgar,fromwhomthemeaningofthemysticsym-
bols,theusualdevicesonthemedals,wasstrictly
concealed.IntheCelticmythology,thesamesymbol
wasemployed,apparentlyinthesamesense,Lok,the
greatdestroyingpoweroftheuniverse,beingrepre-
sentedundertheformofawolf.
TheApolloDidymeus,ordoubleApollo,wasprob-
ablythetwopersonifications,thatofthedestroying,
andthatofthecreatingpower,united;whencewe
‘mayperceivethereasonwhytheornamentsbefore
describedshouldbeuponhistemple.2Onthe
medalsofAntigonus,kingofAsia,isafigurewithhis
hairhanginginartificialringletsoverhisshoulders,
likethatofawoman,andthewholecomposition,
bothofhislimbsandcountenance,remarkablefor
extremedelicacy,andfeminineelegance.’Heissit-
tingontheprowofaship,asgodofthewaters;and
weshould,withouthesitation,pronouncehimtobe
1Mallet,[email protected].
2SeeIonianAntig.vol.i.c.3,Pl.rx.
3SeePlatex.Fig.7,fromonebelongingtome.Similarfigures
areonthecoinsofmostoftheSeleucid.
164

173. TheWorshipofPriapus
theBacchusd:puns,wereitnotforthebowthathe
carriesinhishand,whichevidentlyshowshimto
beApollo.ThisItaketobethefigureunderwhich
therefinementofart(andmorewasnevershown
thaninthismedal)representedtheApolloDidy-
meus,orunionofthecreativeanddestructivepow-
ersofbothsexesinonebody.
Asfirewastheprimaryessenceoftheactiveor
malepowersofcreationandgeneration,sowaswater
ofthepassiveorfemale.Appiansays,thatthegod-
dessworshippedatHierapolisinSyriawascalled
bysomeVenus,byothersJuno,andbyothersheld
tobethecausewhichproducedthebeginningand
seedsofthingsfromhumidity...Plutarchdescribes
hernearlyinthesamewords;?andtheauthorof
thetreatiseattributedtoLucian*says,shewasNa-
ture,theparentofthings,orthecreatress.Shewas
thereforethesameasIsis,whowastheprolificma-
terialuponwhichboththecreativeanddestructive
attributesoperated*Aswaterwasherterrestrial
essence,sowasthemoonhercelestialimage,whose
attractivepower,heavingthewatersoftheocean,
naturallyledmentoassociatethem.Themoonwas
1DeBelloParthico.
2InCrasso.
3DeDeaSyrid.
4Plutarch. deJs.¢Os.
165

174. TheWorshipofPriapus
alsosupposedtoreturnthedewswhichthesunex-
haledfromtheearth;andhenceherwarmthwas
reckonedtobemoistening,asthatofthesunwas
drying.TheEgyptianscalledhertheMotherofthe
World,becauseshesowedandscatteredintotheair
theprolificprincipleswithwhichshehadbeenim-
pregnatedbythesun.?.Theseprinciples,aswellas
thelightbywhichshewasillumined,beingsup-
posedtoemanatefromthegreatfountainofalllife
andmotion,partookofthenatureofthebeingfrom
whichtheywerederived.HencetheEgyptiansat-
tributedtothemoon,aswellastothesun,theactive
andpassivepowersofgeneration,’whichwereboth,
tousethelanguagesofthescholastics,essentiallythe
same,thoughformallydifferent.Thisunionisrep-
resentedonamedalofDemetriusthesecond,kingof
Syria,*wherethegoddessofHierapolisappearswith
themaleorgansofgenerationstickingoutofher
robe,andholdingthethyrsusofBacchus,theemblem
offire,inonehand,andtheterrestrialglobe,repre-
sentingthesubordinateelements,intheother.Her
headiscrownedwithvariousplants,andoneach
sideisanasteriscrepresenting(probably)thediur-
1Calorsolisarefacit,lunarishumectat. Macrob. Sat.vir.c.10.
2Plutarch. deIs.€Os.
3Ibid.
4Platex.Fig.5,fromHaym.Tes.Brit.p.70.
EE
166

175. TheWorshipofPriapus
nalandnocturnalsun,inthesamemanneraswhen
placedoverthecapsofCastorandPollux.:Thisis
nottheformunderwhichshewasrepresentedinthe
templeatHierapolis,whentheauthoroftheaccount
attributedtoLucianvisitedit;whichisnottobe
wonderedat,forthefiguresofthisuniversalgod-
dess,beingmerelyemblematical,werecomposed
accordingtotheattributeswhichtheartistsmeant
particularlytoexpress.Sheisprobablyrepresented
hereintheformunderwhichshewasworshipped
intheneighbourhoodofCyzicus,whereshewas
calledAgteutsIlouantvyn,thePriapicDiana.?Inthe
templeatHierapolistheactivepowersimpartedto
herbytheCreatorwererepresentedbyimmense
imagesofthemaleorgansofgenerationplacedon
eachsideofthedoor.Themeasuresofthesemust
necessarilybecorruptinthepresenttextofLucian;
butthattheywereofanenormoussizewemaycon-
cludefromwhatisrelatedofaman’sgoingtothe
topofoneofthemeveryyear,andresidingthere
sevendays,inordertohaveamoreintimatecom-
municationwiththedeity,whileprayingforthe
prosperityofSyria.*Athenzusrelates,thatPtolemy
Philadelphushadoneof120cubitslongcarriedin
1SeePlaterm.Fig.7.
2Plutarch.inLucullo.
8Lucian. deDeaSyrid.
167

176. a
rr
TheWorshipofPriapus
ENA Ren32.)Se eS
processionatAlexandria,’ofwhichthepoetmight
justlyhavesaid—
Horrendum protencitMentulacon‘um
QuantaqueatvastosThetidisspumantishiatus;
QuantaqueatpriscamqueRheam,magnamque parentem
Naturam, solidisnaturam impleremedullis,
Siforetimmensos, quotadastravolantiacurrunt,
Conceptura globos,ettelatrisulcatonantis,
Etvagaconcussummoturatonitruamundum.
Thiswastherealmeaningoftheenormousfigures
atHierapolis:—theywerethegenerativeorgansof
thecreatorpersonified,withwhichhewassupposed
tohaveimpregnatedtheheavens,theearth,andthe
waters.Withinthetempleweremanysmallstatues
ofmenwiththeseorgansdisproportionablylarge.
Theseweretheangelsorattendantsofthegoddess,
whoactedasherministersofcreationinpeoplingand
fructifyingtheearth.Thestatueofthegoddessher-
selfwasinthesanctuaryofthetemple;andnearit
wasthestatueofthecreator,whomtheauthorcalls
Jupiter,ashedoesthegoddess,Juno;bywhichhe
onlymeansthattheywerethesupremedeitiesof
thecountrywhereworshipped.Shewasborneby
lions,andhebybulls,toshowthatnature,thepas-
siveproductivepowerofmatter,wassustainedby
anteriordestruction,whilsttheetherialspirit,orac-
tiveproductivepower,wassustainedbyhisown
1Deipnos.lib.
—SS
168

177. TheWorshipofPriapus
strengthonly,ofwhichthebullsweresymbols.Be-
tweenbothwasathirdfigure,withadoveonhis
head,whichsomethoughttobeBacchus.2.Thiswas
theHolySpirit,thefirst-begottenlove,orplasticna-
ture,(ofwhichthedovewastheimagewhenit
reallydeignedtodescenduponman,*)proceeding
from,andconsubstantialwithboth;forallthree
werebutpersonificationsofone.Thedove,orsome
fowllikeit,appearsonthemedalsofGortynain
Crete,actingthesamepartwithDictynna,theCretan
Diana,astheswanisusuallyrepresentedactingwith
Leda.*Thiscompositionhasnearlythesamesignifi-
cationasthatbeforedescribedofthebullinthelap
ofCeres,Dianabeingequallyapersonificationofthe
productivepoweroftheearth.Itmayseemextra-
ordinary,thatafterthisadventurewiththedove,she
shouldstillremainavirgin;butmysteriesofthis
kindaretobefoundinallreligions.Junoissaid
tohaverenewedhervirginityeveryyearbybathing
1Theactiveandpassivepowers ofcreationarecalledmaleand
female bytheAmmonian Platonics. SeeProclus inTheol.
Platon.lib.i.¢.28.
2Lucian,deDeaSyrid.
8Matth.ch.iii.ver.17.
4SeePlatem.Fig.5.KadyoudetyhvAoctepivOgaxes
Bevdetav,KontesdeAtxtuvvav.Paleph.deIncred.Tab,xxx.
SeealsoDiodor.Sic.lib.v.&Euripid.Hippol.v.145.
169

178. eS
SaaS
TheWorshipofPriapus
inacertainfountain;'amiraclewhichIbelieveeven
modernlegendscannotparallel.
InthevisionofEzekiel,Godisdescribedasde-
scendinguponthecombinedformsoftheeagle,the
bull,andthelion,?theemblemsoftheetherialspirit,
thecreativeanddestructivepowers,whichwereall
unitedinthetrueGod,thoughhypostaticallydivided
intheSyriantrinity.Manwascompounded with
them,asrepresentingtherealimageofGod,accord-
ingtotheJewishtheology.Thecherubimonthe
arkofthecovenant,betweenwhichGoddwelt,’were
alsocompoundedofthesameforms,‘sothattheidea
ofthemmusthavebeenpresenttotheprophet’s
mind,previoustotheapparitionwhichfurnished
himwiththedescription.Eventhoseonthearkof
thecovenant,thoughmadeattheexpresscommand
ofGod,donotappeartohavebeenoriginal;fora
figureexactlyansweringtothedescriptionofthem
appearsamongthosecuriousruinsexistingatChil-
minar,inPersia,whichhavebeensupposedtobe
thoseofthepalaceofPersepolis,burntbyAlex-
ander;butforwhatreason,itisnoteasytocon-
jecture.Theydonot,certainly,answertoanyancient
1Pausan.lib.fi.c.38,
2Ezek.ch.i.ver.10,withLowth’s Comm.
8Exod.ch.xxv.ver.22.
«SpencerdeLeg.RitualVet.Hebreor,lib.iii.dissert.5.
seen
170

179. PLATE XXI
BACCHUS AND MEDALS OFCAMARINA AND SYRACUSE

180. ~ a : ’aaa %ie &
A
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.
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181. TheWorshipofPriapus
descriptionextantofthatcelebratedpalace;but,as
faraswecanjudgeofthemintheirpresentstate,
appearevidentlytohavebeenatemple.’Butthe
Persians,asbeforeobserved,hadnoinclosedtemples
orstatues,whichtheyheldinsuchabhorrence,that
theytriedeverymeanspossibletodestroythoseof
theEgyptians;thinkingitunworthyofthemajesty
ofthedeitytohavehisall-pervadingpresence
limitedtotheboundaryofanedifice,orlikenedto
animageofstoneormietal.Yet,amongtheruinsat
Chilminar,wenotonlyfindmanystatues,whichare
evidentlyofidealbeings,?butalsothatremarkable
emblemofthedeity,whichdistinguishesalmostall
theEgyptiantemplesnowextant.Theportalsare
alsoofthesameformasthoseatThebesandPhilz;
and,exceptthehieroglyphicswhichdistinguishthe
latter,arefinishedandornamentednearlyinthe
samemanner.Unless,therefore,wesupposethe
Persianstohavebeensoinconsistentastoerect
templesindirectcontradictiontothefirstprinciples
oftheirownreligion,anddecoratethemwithsym-
1SeeLeBruyn,VoyageenPerse,Planchecxxiii.
2SeeLeBruynandNiebubr.
8SeePlatexvi.Fig.1fromtheIsiacTable,andPlatexm.
Fig5fromNiebuhr’sprintsofChilminar. SeealsoPlatexvi.
Fig.2andPlatexix.Fig.1fromtheIsiacTablesandtheEgyp-
tianPortalspublishedbyNordenandPococke,oneveryoneof
whichthissingularemblem occurs.
173

182. i————anaewananaa—ee—ee rr 88 OO
TheWorshipofPriapus
bolsandimages,whichtheyheldtobeimpiousand
abominable,wecannotsupposethemtobethe
authorsofthesebuildings.Neithercanwesuppose
theParthians,orlaterPersians,tohavebeenthe
buildersofthem;forboththestyleofworkmanship
inthefigures,andtheformsofthelettersinthein-
scriptions,denoteamuchhigherantiquity,aswill
appearevidentlytoanyonewhowilltakethetrouble
ofcomparingthedrawingspublishedbyLeBruyn
andNiebuhrwiththecoinsoftheArsacideand
Sassanidz.Almostallthesymbolicalfiguresareto
befoundrepeatedupondifferentPheeniciancoins;
butthelettersofthePhoenicians,whicharesaidto
havecometothemfromtheAssyrians,aremuch
lesssimple,andevidentlybelongtoanalphabet
muchfurtheradvancedinimprovement. Someof
thefiguresarealsoobservableupontheGreekcoins,
particularlythebullandlionfighting,andthemystic
flower,whichistheconstantdeviceoftheRhodians.
Thestyleofworkmanshipisalsoexactlythesame
asthatoftheveryancientGreekcoinsofAcanthus,
Celendaris,andLesbos;thelinesbeingverystrongly
marked,andthehairexpressedbyroundknobs.The
wingslikewiseofthefigure,whichresemblesthe
Jewishcherubim,arethesameasthoseuponseveral
Greeksculpturesnowextant;suchasthelittle
imagesofPriapusattachedtotheancientbracelets,
174

183. snownanloeftheTapoftheHead13.0
doe
ZEXPLANATION.oftheChestfo
LengthfromthehindLegtotheChatoa.cccersicersvese
BreadthoftheChest
‘umferenceroundtheNeckara
HelghtfromtheBottom
Cire
PLATE XXII
EEE
StatusofaBullinthePagodaofTanjore,
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wep
i
BY
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p44
LIEUVIVID
:Mesttueaude,
4,
TAT]
!,4
Li
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g
MhEfYibsGO0bGV)

184. .
re
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ina

185. TheWorshipofPriapus
thecompoundfiguresofthegoatandlionuponthe
friezeoftheTempleofApolloDidymezus,&c.&c.1
Theyarelikewisejoinedtothehumanfigureonthe
medalsofMelitaandCamarina,?aswellasupon
manyancientsculpturesinrelieffoundinPersia.®
Thefeathersinthesewingsareturnedupwardslike
thoseofanostrich,*towhichhowevertheyhaveno
resemblanceinform,butseemratherlikethoseofa
fowlbrooding,thoughmoredistortedthananyIever
observedinnature.Whetherthisdistortionwas
meanttoexpresslustorincubation,Icannotdeter-
mine;butthecompositions,towhichthewingsare
added,leavelittledoubt,thatitwasmeantforthe
oneortheother.Iaminclinedtobelievethatitwas
forthelatter,aswefindonthemedalsofMelitaa
figurewithfourofthesewings,whoseemsbyhis
attitudetobebroodingoversomething.’Onhishead
isthecapofliberty,whilstinhisrighthandheholds
thehookorattractor,andinhisleftthewinnowor
separator;sothatheprobablyrepresentstheEews,
orgenerativespiritbroodingovermatter,andgiving
1SeeLeBruyn,Plancheexxiii.JonianAntiquities,vol.i.¢.3.
Plate1x.,andPlatem.Fig.2.
2SeePlatexx.Fig.2,fromoneofMelita,belongingtome.
8SeeLeBruyn,Planchecxxi.
4AsthoseonFiguresdescribedbyEzekielwere.See.i.v.m1.
5SeePlatexx.Fig.2,engravedfromonebelongingtome.
a ET
177

186. ne ___
He TEESE
TheWorshipofPriapus
libertytoitsproductivepowers,bytheexertionofhis
ownattributes,attractionandseparation.Onavery
ancientPhenicianmedalbroughtfromAsiabyMr.
Pullinger,andpublishedveryincorrectlybyMr.
SwintoninthePhilosophicalTransactionsof1760,is
adiscorringsurroundedbywingsofdifferentforms,
ofwhichsomeofthefeathersaredistortedinthe
samemanner.:Thesamedisc,surroundedbythe
samekindofwings,inclosestheasteriscofthesun
overthebullApis,orMnevis,ontheIsiacTable,?
whereitalsoappearswithmanyoftheotherEgyp-
tiansymbols,particularlyovertheheadsofIsisand
Osiris.Itisalsoplacedovertheentrancesofmost
oftheEgyptiantemplesdescribedbyPocockeand
NordenaswellasonthatrepresentedontheIsiac
Table,‘thoughwithseveralvariations,andwithout
theasterisc.Wefinditequallywithouttheasterisc,
butwithlittleornovariation,ontheruinsatChilme-
nar,andothersupposedPersianantiquitiesinthat
neighbourhood:* butuponsomeoftheGreek
medalstheasteriscaloneisplacedoverthebullwith
1SeePlaterm.Fig.9,engravedfromtheoriginalmedal,now
belongingtome.
2SeePlatex1x,Fig.1,fromPignorius.
8SeePlatexvim.Fig.2,fromPignorius.
4SeePlatexvi.Fig.1,fromPignorius.
5SeeNiebuhrandLeBruyn,andPlatexrx.Fig.2,fromthe
former.
SSS
178

187. TheWorshipofPriapus
thehumanface,’whoisthenthesameastheApisor
MnevisoftheEgyptians;thatis,theimageofthe
generativepowerofthesun,whichissignifiedby
theasteriscontheGreekmedals,andbythekneph,
orwingeddisc,ontheOrientalmonuments. The
Greekshoweversometimesemployedthislattersym-
bol,butcontrived,accordingtotheirusualpractice,
tojoinittothehumanfigure,asmaybeseenona
medalofCamarina,publishedbyPrinceTorrem-
muzzi.2.Onothermedalsofthiscitythesameidea
isexpressed,withoutthediscorasterisc,byawinged
figure,whichappearshoveringoveraswan,the
emblemofthewaters,toshowthegenerativepower
ofthesunfructifyingthatelement,oraddingthe
activetothepassivepowersofproduction.’Onthe
medalsofNaples,awingedfigureofthesamekind
isrepresentedcrowningtheTaurineBacchuswitha
wreathoflaurel.Thisantiquarianshavecalleda
VictorycrowningtheMinotaur;butthefabulous
monstercalledtheMinotaurwasneversaidtohave
beenvictorious,evenbythepoetswhoinventedit;
andwheneverthesculptorsandpaintersrepresented
1SeePlaterv.Fig.2,andPlatexrx.Fig.4,fromamedalof
Cales,belongingtome.
2SeePlatexxr.Fig.2,copiedfromit.
8SeePlatexxz.Fig.3,fromonebelongingtome.
4SeePlatexrx.Fig.5.Thecoinsarecommon inallcollections.
179

188. TheWorshipofPriapus
it,theyjoinedtheheadofabulltoahumanbody,
asmaybeseeninthecelebratedpictureofTheseus,
publishedamongtheantiquitiesofHerculaneum,
andonthemedalsofAthens,struckaboutthetime
ofSeverus,whenthestyleofartwastotallychanged,
andthemystictheologyextinct.Thewingedfigure,
whichhasbeencalledaVictory,appearsmounting
inthechariotofthesun,onthemedalsofqueen
Philistis,and,onsomeofthoseofSyracuse,flying
beforeitintheplacewheretheasteriscappearson
othersofthesamecity.2,Iamthereforepersuaded,
thattheseareonlydifferentmodesofrepresenting
oneidea,andthatthewingedfiguremeansthesame,
whenplacedovertheTaurineBacchusoftheGreeks,
asthewingeddiscovertheApisorMnevisofthe
Egyptians.The/&gis,orsnakybreastplate,andthe
Medusa’shead,arealso,asDr.Stukeleyjustlyob-
served,’Greekmodesofrepresentingthiswinged
discjoinedwiththeserpents,asitfrequentlyis,both
intheEgyptiansculptures,andthoseofChilmenarin
Persia.Theexpressionsofrageandviolence,which
usuallycharacterisethecountenanceofMedusa,sig-
nifythedestroyingattributejoinedwiththegenera-
tive,asbothwereequallyunderthedirectionof
1SeePlatexx1.Fig.4,fromonebelongingtome.
2SeePlatexx1.Fig.5and6,fromcoinsbelongingtome.
®Abury,p.93.
180

189. TheWorshipofPriapus
Minerva,ordivinewisdom.Iaminclinedtobelieve,
thatthelargerings,towhichthelittlefiguresof
Priapusareattached,’hadalsothesamemeaning
asthedisc;for,ifintendedmerelytosuspendthem
by,theyareofanextravagantmagnitude,andwould
notanswertheirpurposesowellasacommonloop.
OnthePheeniciancoinabovementioned,thissym-
bol,thewingeddisc,isplacedoverafiguresitting,
whoholdsinhishandsanarrow,whilstabow,ready
bent,oftheancientScythianform,liesbyhim.2,On
hisheadisalargeloosecap,tiedunderhischin,
whichItaketobethelion’sskin,worninthesame
mannerasontheheadsofHercules,uponthemedals
ofAlexander;buttheworkissosmall,thoughexe-
cutedwithextremenicetyandprecision,andper-
fectlypreserved,thatitisdifficulttodecidewith
certaintywhatitrepresents,inpartsofsuchminute-
ness.Thebowandarrows,weknow,wercthe
ancientarmsofHercules;*andcontinuedso,until
theGreekpoetsthoughtpropertogivehimtheclub.‘
Hewasparticularlyworshipped atTyre,theme-
tropolisofPhenicia;*andhisheadappearsinthe
1SeePlaten.Fig.1,andPlatem.Fig.2.
2SeePlate1x.Fig.100b.
3Homer’sOdyss.A,ver.606.
4Strabo,lib.xiv.
5Macrob. Sat.lib.i.ec.20.
181

190. TheWorshipofPriapus
usualform,onmanyofthecoinsofthatpeople.
Wemayhenceconcludethatheisthepersonhere
represented,notwithstandingthedifferenceinthe
styleandcompositionofthefigure,whichmaybe
accountedforbythedifferenceofart.TheGreeks,
animatedbythespiritoftheirancientpoets,andthe
glowingmelodyoftheirlanguage,weregrandand
poeticalinalltheircompositions;whilstthePheeni-
cians,whospokeaharshanduntuneabledialect,
wereunacquaintedwithfinepoetry,andconse-
quentlywithpoeticalideas;forwordsbeingthe
typesofideas,andthesignsormarksbywhichmen
notonlycommunicatethemtoeachother,butar-
rangeandregulatethemintheirownminds,the
geniusofalanguagegoesagreatwaytowardsform-
ingthecharacterofthepeoplewhouseit.Poverty
ofexpressionwillproducepovertyofconception;
formenwillneverbeabletoformsublimeideas,
whenthelanguageinwhichtheythink(formenal-
waysthinkaswellasspeakinsomelanguage)is
incapableofexpressingthem.Thismaybeonerea-
sonwhythePheeniciansneverrivalledtheGreeks
intheperfectionofart,althoughtheyattaineda
degreeofexcellencelongbeforethem;forHomer,
wheneverhehasoccasiontospeakofanyfinepiece
ofart,takescaretoinformusthatitwasthework
ofSidonians.HealsomentionsthePhenicianmer-
182

191. TheWorshipofPriapus
chantsbringingtoysandornamentsofdresstosell
totheGreeks,andpracticingthosefraudswhich
merchantsandfactorsareapttopracticeuponigno-
rantpeople.’Itisprobablethattheirprogressinthe
finearts,likethatoftheDutch(whoarethePheni-
ciansofmodernhistory),neverwentbeyondastrict
imitationofnature;which,comparedtothemore
elevatedgracesofidealcomposition,islikeanews-
papernarrativecomparedwithoneofHomer’s
battles.AfigureofHercules,therefore,executedby
aPhenicianartist,ifcomparedtoonebyPhidiasor
Lysippus,wouldbelikeapictureofMosesorDavid,
paintedbyTeniers,orGerardDow,comparedtoone
ofthesame,paintedbyRaphaelorAnnibalCaracci.
Thisisexactlythedifferencebetweenthefigureson
themedalnowunderconsideration,andthoseonthe
coinsofGeloorAlexander.Ofallthepersonagesof
theancientmythology,Herculesisperhapsthemost
difficulttoexplain;forphysicalallegoryandfabu-
loushistoryaresoentangledintheaccountswehave
ofhim,thatitisscarcelypossibletoseparatethem.
Heappearshowever,likealltheothergods,tohave
beenoriginallyapersonifiedattributeofthesun.
TheeleventhoftheOrphicHymns?isaddressedto
1Homer.Odyss.0,ver.414.
«Hd.Gesner.
183

192. ee
~IIIICCLIlIasS=S=aeeoeaeaEeaSaEaSS—E—E———————
TheWorshipofPriapus
himasthestrengthandpowerofthesun;andMa-
crobiussaysthathewasthoughttobethestrength
andvirtueofthegods,bywhichtheydestroyedthe
giants;andthat,accordingtoVarro,theMarsand
HerculesoftheRomanswerethesamedeity,and
worshippedwiththesamerites...AccordingtoVarro
_then,whoseauthorityisperhapsthegreatestthatcan
becited,Herculeswasthedestroyingattributerep-
resentedinahumanform,insteadofthatofalion,
tiger,orhippopotamus.Hencetheterriblepicture
drawnofhimbyHomer,whichalwaysappearedto
metohavebeentakenfromsomesymbolicalstatue,
whichthepoetnotunderstanding,supposedtobeof
theThebanhero,whohadassumedthetitleofthe
deity,andwhosefabuloushistoryhewaswellac-
quaintedwith.Thedescriptionhoweverappliesin
everyparticulartotheallegoricalpersonage.Hisatti-
tude,everfixedintheactoflettingflyhisarrow,?
withthefiguresoflionsandbears,battlesandmur-
ders,whichadornhisbelt,alluniteinrepresenting
himasthedestructiveattributepersonified.But
howhappensitthenthatheissofrequentlyrepre-
sentedstranglingthelion,thenaturalemblemofthis
power?Isthisanhistoricalfablebelongingtothe
1Sat.lib.1.¢.20.
?AvetBakeovtréovxmc.Odyss.},ver.607.
i
184

193. TheWorshipofPriapus
Thebanhero,oraphysicalallegoryofthedestruc-
tivepowerdestroyingitsownforcebyitsownexer-
tions?Oristhesingleattributepersonifiedtaken
forthewholepowerofthedeityinthis,asinother
instancesalreadymentioned? TheOrphicHymn
abovecitedseemstofavourthislastconjecture;for
heisthereaddressedbothasthedevourerandgener-
atorofall(Ilanqaye,nayyevetwC).Howeverthismay
be,wemaysafelyconcludethattheHerculesarmed
withthebowandarrow,asheappearsonthepresent
medal,isliketheApollo,thedestroyingpowerof
thediurnalsun.
Ontheothersideofthemedal®isafigure,some-
whatliketheJupiteronthemedalsofAlexanderand
Antiochus,sittingwithabeadedsceptreinhisright
hand,whichherestsupontheheadofabull,that
projectsfromthesideofthechair.Above,onhis
rightshoulder,isabird,probablyadove,thesymbol
oftheHolySpirit,descendingfromthesun,but,as
thispartofthemedalislessperfectthantherest,
thespecicscannotbeclearlydiscovered.Inhisleft
handheholdsashortstaff,fromtheuppersideof
whichspringsanearofcorn,andfromthelowera
bunchofgrapes,whichbeingthetwomostesteemed
productionsoftheearth,werethenaturalemblems
1SeePlaterx.Fig.10a.
185

194. TheWorshipofPriapus
ofgeneralfertilization.Thisfigureisthereforethe
generator,asthatontheothersideisthedestroyer,
whilstthesun,ofwhoseattributesbotharepersoni-
fications,isplacedbetweenthem.Thelettersonthe
sideofthegeneratorarequiteentire,and,according
tothePheenicianalphabetpublishedbyMr.Dutens,
areequivalenttotheRomanoneswhichcomposethe
wordsBaalThrz,ofwhichMr.SwintonmakesBaal
Tarz,andtranslatesJupiterofTarsus;whencehecon-
cludesthatthiscoinwasstruckatthatcity.Butthe
firstletterofthelastwordisnotaTeth,butaThau,
oraspiratedT;and,asthePheenicianshadavowel
answeringtotheRomanA,itisprobabletheywould
haveinsertedit,hadtheyintendedittobesounded:
butwehavenoreasontobelievethattheyhadanyto
expresstheUorY,whichmustthereforebecom-
prehendedintheprecedingconsonantwheneverthe
soundisexpressed.HenceIconcludethattheword
heremeantisThyrzorThurz,theThororThurof
theCeltesandSarmatians,theThurraoftheAs-
syrians,theTuranoftheTyrrheniansorEtruscans,
theTaurineBacchusoftheGreeks,andthedeity
whomtheGermanscarriedwiththemintheshape
ofabull,whentheyinvadedItaly;fromwhomthe
cityofTyre,aswellasTyrrhenia,orTuscany,prob-
ablytookitsname.Hissymbolthebull,towhich
thenamealludes,isrepresentedonthechairor
186

195. TheWorshipofPriapus
throneinwhichhesits;andhissceptre,theemblem
ofhisauthority,restsuponit.Theotherword,Baal,
wasmerelyatitleinthePhenicianlanguage,signi-
fyingGod,orLord;?andusedasanepithetofthe
sun,aswelearnfromthenameBaal-bec(thecity
ofBaal),whichtheGreeksrenderedHeliopolis(the
cityofthesun).
Thusdoesthissingularmedalshowthefunda-
mentalprinciplesoftheancientPhenicianreligion
tobethesameasthosewhichappeartohavepre-
vailedthroughalltheothernationsofthenorthern
hemisphere.Fragmentsofthesamesystemevery
whereoccur,variouslyexpressedastheywerevari-
ouslyunderstood,andoftentimesmerelypreserved
withoutbeingunderstoodatall;theancientrever-
encebeingcontinuedtothesymbols,whentheir
meaningwaswhollyforgotten.Thehypostaticaldi-
visionandessentialunityofthedeityisoneofthe
mostremarkablepartsofthissystem,andthefar-
thestremovedfromcommonsenseandreason;and
yetthisisperfectlyreasonableandconsistent,if
consideredtogetherwiththerestofjt:fortheemana-
tionsandpersonificationswereonlyfigurativeab-
stractionsofparticularmodesofactionandexistence,
ofwhichtheprimarycauseandoriginalessencestill
continuedoneandthesame—
1Cleric.Comm. in2Reg.c.i.ver.2.
187

196. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thattheydrawintoitthewholebody,andgiveita
bendcurvedbackwards,havingtheirarmshalf
turned;sothatmostofthemhavethebellycommon-
lygreat,pushedforward,andswollen,andalittlein-
clininginfront.Iknownotwhetherthisbecausedby
thedanceorbytheordureandwretchedprovisions
theyaremadetoeat.Butthefactis,theydancevery
seldomonebyone,thatisonemanalonewithone
womanorgirl,aswedoinourgalliards;sotheyhave
toldandassuredus,thattheyonlydancedtherethree
sortsofbranles,orbrawls,usuallyturningtheir
shoulderstooneanother,andthebackofeachlook-
ingtowardstheroundofthedance,andtheface
turnedoutwards.ThefirstistheBohemiandance,
forthewanderingBohemiansarealsohalfdevils;I
meanthoselong-hairedpeoplewithoutcountry,who
areneitherEgytians(gipsies),norofthekingdomof
Bohemia,butareborneverywhere,astheypursue
theirroute,andpasscountries,inthefields,andun-
derthetrees,andtheygoaboutdancingandplaying
conjuringtricks,asattheSabbath.Sotheyare
numerousinthecountryofLabourd,onaccountof
theeasypassagefromNavarreandSpain.
“Thesecondiswithjumping,asourworkingmen
practiseintownsandvillages,alongthestreetsand
fields;andthesetwoareinround.Thethirdisalso
withthebackturned,butallholdingtogetherin
saeenncersmearteipeinteLeeninseninrannnssinniensemsusasceenapa
188

197. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Iength,and,withoutdisengaginghands,theyap-
proachsonearastotouch,andmeetbacktoback,
amanwithawoman;andatacertaincadencethey
pushandstriketogetherimmodestlytheirtwopos-
teriors.Anditwasalsotoldusthatthedevil,in
hisstrangehumours,didnotcausethemalltobe
placedinorder,withtheirbacksturnedtowardsthe
crownofthedance,asiscommonly saidbyevery-
body;butonehavingthebackturned,andtheother
not,andsoontotheendofthedance....They
dancetothesoundofthetaborandflute,andsome-
timeswiththelonginstrumenttheycarryattheneck,
andthencestretchingtonearthegirdle,whichthey
beatwithalittlestick;sometimeswithaviolin(fid-
dle).Butthesearenottheonlyinstrumentsofthe
Sabbath,forwehavelearntfrommanyofthemthat
allsortsofinstrumentsareseenthere,withsuch
harmonythatthereisnoconcertintheworldtobe
comparedtoit.”
Nothingismoreremarkablethanthesortofpruri-
entcuriositywithwhichthesehonestcommissioners
interrogatedthewitnessesastothesexualpeculiari-
tiesandcapabilitiesofthedemon,andthesortof
satisfactionwithwhichDeLancrereducesallthisto
writing.Theyalltendtoshowtheidentityofthese
orgieswiththoseoftheancientworshipofPriapus,
whoisundoubtedlyfiguredintheSatanoftheSab-
189

198. TheWorshipofPriapus
passive.Theclatteringnoise,andvariousmotions
oftherattlesbeingadoptedasthesymbolsofthe
movementandmixtureoftheelementsfromwhich
allthingsareproduced;thesoundofmetalsingen-
eralbecameanemblemofthe’samekind.Hence,
theringingofbells,andclatteringofplatesofmetal,
wereusedinalllustrations,sacrifices,&c.1_Thetitle
Priapus,appliedtothecharacteristicattributeofthe
creator,andsometimestotheCreatorhimself,is
probablyacorruptionofBgtaxvoe(clamorousor
loud);fortheBandIIbeingbothlabials,thechange
oftheonefortheotheriscommonintheGreek
language.Westillfindmanyancientimagesofthis
symbol,withbellsattachedtothem,?astheywere
tothesacredrobeofthehighpriestoftheJews,in
whichheadministeredtotheCreator.Thebellsin
bothwereofapyramidalform,*toshewtheetherial
igneousessenceofthegod.Thisformisstillretained
inthoseusedinourchurches,aswellasinthelittle
onesrungbytheCatholicpriestsattheelevationof
thehost.Theuseofthemwasearlyadoptedbythe
Christians,inthesamesenseastheywereemployed
1Clem.Alex.IIgott.p.9.ScholinTheocrit.Idyll.||.ver.36.
2Bronzidell‘Hercol.Tom.vi.Platexcvm.
8Exod.ch.xxvili.
4Bronzi dell’Hercol.Tom.vi.Platexcvim. Maimonides in
Patrick’sCommentary onExodus,ch.xxvili.
190

199. TheWorshipofPriapus
bythelaterheathens;thatis,as,acharmagainstevil
dzmons;*for,beingsymbolsoftheactiveexertions
ofthecreativeattributes,theywereproperlyop-
posedtotheemanationsofthedestructive.TheLace-
demoniansusedtobeatapanorkettle-drumatthe
deathoftheirking,?toassistintheemancipationof
hissoulatthedissolutionofthebody.Wehavea
similarcustomoftollingabellonsuchoccasions,
whichisverygenerallypractised,thoughthemean-
ingofithasbeenlongforgotten.Thisemancipation
ofthesoulwassupposedtobefinallyperformedby
fire;which,beingthevisibleimageandactivees-
senceofboththecreativeanddestructivepowers,
wasverynaturallythoughttobethemediumthrough
whichmenpassedfromthepresenttoafuturelife.
TheGreeks,andalltheCelticnations,accordingly,
burnedthebodiesofthedead,astheGentoosdoat
thisday;whiletheEgyptians,amongwhomfuelwas
extremelyscarce,placedtheminpyramidalmonu-
ments,whichwerethesymbolsoffire;hencecome
thoseprodigiousstructureswhichstill.adornthat
country.Thesoulwhichwastobeemancipated
wasthedivineemanation,thevitalsparkofheavenly
flame,theprincipleofreasonandperception,which
1Qvid.Fast.lib.v.ver.441. Schol.inTheocrit Idyll.fi.
ver.36.
2Schol.inTheocrit. Idyll.m.ver.36.
191

200. TheWorshipofPriapus
waspersonifiedintothefamiliardemon,orgenius,
supposedtohavethedirectionofeachindividual,
andtodisposehimtogoodorevil,wisdomorfolly,
andalltheirconsequencesofprosperityandadver-
sity.Henceproceededthedoctrines,souniformly
inculcatedbyHomerandPindar,?ofallhumanac-
tionsdependingimmediatelyuponthegods;which
wereadopted,withscarcelyanyvariations,bysome
oftheChristiandivinesoftheapostolicage.Inthe
PastorofHermas,andRecognitionsofClemens,we
findtheangelsofjustice,penitence,andsorrow,in-
steadofthegenii,ordemons,whichtheancients
supposedtodirectmen’smindsandinspirethem
withthoseparticularsentiments.St.Pauladopted
thestillmorecomfortabledoctrineofgrace,which
servedfullaswelltoemancipatetheconsciencesof
thefaithfulfromtheshacklesofpracticalmorality.
Thefamiliardemons,ordivineemanations,were
supposedtoresideintheblood;whichwasthought
tocontaintheprinciplesofvitalheat,andwasthere-
foreforbiddenbyMoses.?Homer,whoseemstohave
1Pindar.Pyth.v.ver.164.Sophocl.Trachin.ver.922.Hor.
lib.ii.epist.ii.ver.187.
*ExOswvpayavornyoatBooteatsagetats,xacoor,xar
7£00Brator,neguykwooo.t’eqlv.PindarPyth.1.ver.79
Passagestothesamepurposeoccurinalmosteverypageofthe
IliadandOdyssey.
8Levit.ch.xvii.ver.11&14.
192

201. TheWorshipofPriapus
collectedlittlefragmentsoftheancienttheology,and
introducedthemhereandthere,amidstthewild
profusionofhispoeticalfables,representstheshades
ofthedeceasedasvoidofperception,untiltheyhad
tastedofthebloodofthevictimsofferedbyUlysses;'
bywhichtheirfacultieswererenewedbyareunion
withthedivineemanation,fromwhichtheyhad
beenseparated.ThesoulofTiresiasissaidtobe
entireinhell,andtopossessalonethepowerof
perception,becausewithhimthisdivineemanation
stillremained.TheshadeofHerculesisdescribed
amongtheotherghosts,thoughhehimself,asthe
poetsays,wastheninheaven;thatis,theactiveprin-
cipleofthoughtandperceptionreturnedtoitsnative
heaven,whilstthepassive,ormerelysensitive,re-
mainedonearth,fromwhenceitsprung.?Thefinal
separationofthesetwodidnottakeplacetillthe
bodywasconsumedbyfire,asappearsfromthe
ghostofElpenor,whosebodybeingstillentire,he
retainedboth,andknewUlyssesbeforehehadtasted
oftheblood.Itwasfromproducingthisseparation,
thattheuniversalBacchus,ordoubleApollo,the
creatoranddestroyer,whoseessencewasfire,was
1Odyss.Cver.152.
2Thosewhowishtoseethedifferencebetween sensation and
perceptionclearlyandfullyexplained,mayberatisfiedbyread-
ingtheEssaianalytiquesurVAme,byMr.Bonnet.
193

202. TheWorshipofPriapus
alsocalledAwxwtys,thepurifier,byametaphor
takenfromthewinnow,whichpurifiedthecornfrom
thedustandchaff,asfirepurifiedthesoulfromits
terrestrialpollutions.Hencethisinstrumentis
calledbyVirgilthemysticwinnowofBacchus.?The
AmmonianPlatonicsandGnosticChristiansthought
thatthisseparation,orpurification,mightbeeffected
inadegreeevenbeforedeath.Itwasforthispur-
posethattheypractisedsuchrigidtemperance,and
gavethemselvesuptosuchintensestudy;for,by
subduingandextenuatingtheterrestrialprinciple,
theyhopedtogivelibertyandvigourtothecelestial,
sothatitmightbeenabledtoascenddirectlytothe
intellectualworld,pureandunincumbered.* The
clergyafterwardsintroducedPurgatory,insteadof
abstractmeditationandstudy;whichwastheancient
modeofseparationbyfire,removedintoanun-
knowncountry,whereitwassaleabletoallsuchof
theinhabitantsofthisworldashadsufficientwealth
andcredulity.
Itwasthecelestialoretherialprincipleofthe
humanmind,whichtheancientartistsrepresented
underthesymbolofthebutterfly,whichmaybe
1Orph.Hymn.45.
2MysticavannusIacchi.Georg.i.ver.166.
§Plotin.Ennead. vi.lib.iv.ch.16.Mosheim, NotyinCudw.
Syst.Intell.ch.v.sect.20.
ontnereeeuegespeeingee
194

203. TheWorshipofPriapus
consideredasoneofthemostelegantallegoriesof
theirelegantreligion.Thisinsect,whenhatched
fromtheegg,appearsintheshapeofagrub,crawl-
ingupontheearth,andfeedingupontheleavesof
plants.Inthisstate,itwasaptlymadetheemblem
ofman,inhisearthlyform,inwhichtheetherial
vigourandactivityofthecelestialsoul,thedivine
particulamentis,wassupposedtobecloggedand
incumberedwiththematerialbody.Whenthegrub
waschangedtoachrysalis,itsstillness,torpor,and
insensibilityseemedtopresentanaturalimageof
death,ortheintermediatestatebetweenthecessa-
tionofthevitalfunctionsofthebodyandthefinal
releasementofthesoulbythefire,inwhichthebody
wasconsumed.Thebutterflybreakingfromthetor-
pidchrysalis,andmountingintheair,wasnoless
naturalanimageofthecelestialsoulburstingfrom
therestraintsofmatter,andmixingagainwithits
nativeether.TheGreekarfists,alwaysstudiousof
elegance,changedthis,aswellasotheranimalsym-
bols,intoahumanform,retainingthewingsasthe
characteristicmembers,bywhichthemeaningmight
beknown.Thehumanbody,whichtheyaddedto
them,isthatofabeautifulgirl,sometimesintheage
ofinfancy,andsometimesofapproachingmaturity.
Sobeautifulanallegoryasthiswouldnaturallybea
favouritesubjectofartamongapeoplewhosetaste
195

204. a
TheWorshipofPriapus
ik hnea peaeieaae
hadattainedtheutmostpitchofrefinement.Weac-
cordinglyfindthatithasbeenmorefrequentlyand
morevariouslyrepeatedthananyotherwhichthe
systemofemanations,sofavourabletoart,could
afford.
Althoughallmenweresupposedtopartakeofthe
divineemanationinadegree,itwasnotsupposed
thattheyallpartookofitinanequaldegree.Those
whoshowedsuperiorabilities,anddistinguished
themselvesbytheirsplendidactions,weresupposed
tohavealargershareofthedivineessence,andwere
thereforeadoredasgods,andhonouredwithdivine
titles,expressiveofthatparticularattributeofthe
deitywithwhichtheyseemedtobemostfavoured.
Newpersonageswerethusenrolledamongthealle-
goricaldeities;andthepersonifiedattributesofthe
sunwereconfoundedwithaCretanandThessalian
king,anAsiaticconqueror,andaThebanrobber.
HencePindar,whoappearstohavebeenavery
orthodoxheathen,says,thattheraceofmenand
godsisone,thatbothbreathefromonemother,and
onlydifferinpower.Thisconfusionofepithetsand
titlescontributed,asmuchasanything,toraisethat
vastandextravagantfabricofpoeticalmythology,
which,inamanner,overwhelmedtheancientthe-
1Nem.v.ver.I.
ee
196

205. TheWorshipofPriapus
ology,whichwastoopureandphilosophicaltocon-
tinuelongapopularreligion.Thegrandandex-
altedsystemofageneralfirstcause,universally
expanded,didnotsuitthegrossconceptionsofthe
multitude;whohadnootherwayofconceivingthe
ideaofanomnipotentgod,butbyforminganex-
aggeratedimageoftheirowndespot,andsupposing
hispowertoconsistinanunlimitedgratificationof
hispassionsandappetites.Hencetheuniversal
Jupiter,theawefulandvenerable,thegeneralprin-
cipleoflifeandmotion,wastransformedintothe
godwhothunderedfromMountIda,andwaslulled
tosleepintheembracesofhiswife;andhencethe
godwhosespiritmoved'uponthefaceofthewaters,
andimpregnatedthemwiththepowersofgenera-
tion,becameagreatkingaboveallgods,wholed
forthhispeopletosmitetheungodly,androotedout
theirenemiesfrombeforethem.
Anothergreatmeansofcorruptingtheancientthe-
ology,andestablishingthepoeticalmythology,was
thepracticeoftheartistsinrepresentingthevarious
attributesofthecreatorunderhumanformsofvari-
ouscharacterandexpression.Thesefigures,being
1Sothetranslatorshaverendered theexpressionofthe
original,whichliterallymeansbroodingasafowlonitseggs,
andalludestothesymbolsoftheancienttheology,whichIhave
beforeobservedvyon.SeePatrick’sCommentary.
197

206. TheWorshipofPriapus
distinguishedbythetitlesofthedeitywhichtheywere
meanttorepresent,becameintimetobeconsidered
asdistinctpersonages,andworshippedasseparate
subordinatedeities.Hencethemany-shapedgod,
thexoAvpooqosandpigupoeposoftheancienttheo-
logists,becamedividedintomanygodsandgod-
desses,oftendescribedbythepoetsasatvariance
witheachotherandwranglingaboutthelittlein-
triguesandpassionsofmen.Hencetoo,asthe
symbolsweremultiplied,particularoneslosttheir
dignity;andthatvenerableonewhichisthesubject
ofthisdiscourse,becamedegradedfromtherepre-
sentativeofthegodofnaturetoasubordinaterural
deity,asupposedsonoftheAsiaticconquerorBac-
chus,standingamongthenymphsbyafountain,'and
expressingthefertilityofagarden,insteadofthe
generalcreativepowerofthegreatactiveprinciple
oftheuniverse.Hisdegradationdidnotstopeven
here;forwefindhim,intimesstillmoreprophane
andcorrupt,madeasubjectofrailleryandinsult,as
answeringnobetterpurposethanholdinguphis
rubicundsnouttofrightenthebirdsandthieves.?His
talentswerealsopervertedfromtheirnaturalends,
andemployedinbaseandabortiveeffortsincon-
1Theocrit.Idyll.1.ver.21.
2Horat.lib.i.Sat.viii.Virg.Georg.iv.
198

207. TheWorshipofPriapus
formitytothetasteofthetimes;formennaturally
attributetheirownpassionsandinclinationstothe
objectsoftheiradoration;andasGodmademanin
hisownimage,somanreturnsthefavour,andmakes
Godinhis.Hencewefindthehighestattributeofthe
all-pervadingspiritandfirst-begottenlovefoully
prostitutedtopromiscuousvice,andcallingout,Hec
cunnum,caputhic,prebeatillenates.
Hecontinuedhoweverstilltohavehistemple,
priestessandsacredgeese,?andofferingsofthemost
exquisitekindweremadetohim:
Crissabitquetibiexcussispulcherrimalumbis
Hoeannoprimum expertapuellavirum.
Sometimes,however,theywerenotsoscrupulousin
theselectionoftheirvictims,butsufferedfrugality
torestraintheirdevotion:
Cum sacrum fieretDeosalaci
Conductaestpretiopuellaparvo.®
Thebridewasusuallyplaceduponhimimmediately
beforemarriage;not,asLactantiussays,utejus
pudicitiampriorDeusprelibassevideatur,butthat
shemightberenderedfruitfulbyhercommunion
withthedivinenature,andcapableoffulfillingthe
1Priap.Carm.21.
2Petron.Satyric.
8Priap.Carm.34.
199

208. ———
TheWorshipofPriapus
ne 5
dutiesofherstation.Inanancientpoem‘wefind
aladyofthenameofLalagepresentingthepictures
ofthe“Elephantis”tohim,andgravelyrequesting
thatshemightenjoythepleasuresoverwhichhe
particularlypresided,inalltheattitudesdescribedin
thatcelebratedtreatise.2Whetherornotshesuc-
ceeded,thepoethasnotinformedus;butwemay
safelyconcludethatshedidnottrustwhollytofaith
andprayer,but,contrarytotheusualpracticeof
moderndevotees,accompaniedherdevotionwith
suchgoodworksaswerelikelytocontributetothe
endproposedbyit.
Whenaladyhadservedasthevictiminasacrifice
tothisgod,sheexpressedhergratitudeforthebene-
fitsreceived,byofferinguponhisaltarcertainsmall
imagesrepresentinghischaracteristicattribute,the
numberofwhichwasequaltothenumberofmen
whohadactedaspriestsupontheoccasion.2?Onan
antiquegem,inthecollectionofMr.Townley,isone
ofthesefairvictims,whoappearsjustreturnedfrom
asacrificeofthiskind,anddevoutlyreturningher
thanksbyofferinguponanaltarsomeofthese
images,fromthenumberofwhichonemayobserve
1Priap.Carm.3.
2TheElephantis waswrittenbyonePhilenis, andseemsto
hevebeenofthesamekindwiththePuttana erranteofAretin.
8Priap.Carm.34.Ed.Scioppit.
———————____eee_e_eaOo—————
200

209. TheWorshipofPriapus
thatshehasnotbeenneglected.Thisofferingof
thankshadalsoitsmysticandallegoricalmeaning;
forfirebeingtheenergeticprincipleandessential
forceoftheCreator,andthesymbolabovemen-
tionedthevisibleimageofhischaracteristicat-
tribute,theunitingthemwasunitingthematerial
withtheessentialcause,fromwhosejointoperation
allthingsweresupposedtoproceed.
Thesesacrifices,aswellasallthosetothedeities
presidingovergeneration,wereperformedbynight:
henceHippolytus,inEuripides,says,toexpresshis
loveofchastity,thathelikesnoneofthegodsrevered
bynight.2,Theseactsofdevotionwereindeedat-
tendedwithsuchritesasmustnaturallyshockthe
prejudicesofachasteandtemperatemind,notliable
tobewarmedbythatecstaticenthusiasmwhichis
peculiartodevoutpersonswhentheirattentionis
absorbedinthecontemplationofthebeneficentpow-
ersoftheCreator,andalltheirfacultiesdirectedto
imitatehimintheexertionofhisgreatcharacteristic
attribute.Toheightenthisenthusiasm,themaleand
femalesaintsofantiquityusedtoliepromiscuously
togetherinthetemples,andhonourGodbyaliberal
displayandgeneralcommunicationofhisbounties.*
1SeePlatem1.Fig.3.
2Ver.613.
3Herodot. lib.ii.
201

210. —————
TheWorshipofPriapus
eine eya
Herodotus,indeed,exceptstheGreeksandEgyptians,
andDionysiusofHalicarnassus,theRomans,from
thisgeneralcustomofothernations;buttothetesti-
monyoftheformerwemayopposethethousand
sacredprostituteskeptateachofthetemplesof
CorinthandEryx;andtothatofthelattertheex-
presswordsofJuvenal,who,thoughhelivedanage,
later,livedwhenthesamereligion,andnearlythe
samemanners,prevailed.2,DiodorusSiculusalso
tellsus,thatwhentheRomanpretorsvisitedEryx,
theylaidasidetheirmagisterialseverity,andhon-
ouredthegoddessbymixingwithhervotaries,and
indulgingthemselvesinthepleasuresoverwhichshe
presided.’Itappears,too,thattheactofgeneration
wasasortofsacramentintheislandofLesbos;for
thedeviceonitsmedals(whichintheGreekrepub-
licshadalwayssomerelationtoreligion)isasex-
plicitasformscanmakeit.Thefiguresappear
indeedtobemysticandallegorical,themalehaving
evidentlyamixtureofthegoatinhisbeardand
features,andthereforeprobablyrepresentsPan,the
generativepoweroftheuniverseincorporatedin
universalmatter.Thefemalehasallthatbreadthand
1Strab.lib.viii.
2Sat.ix.ver.24.
8Lib.iv.Ed.Wessel.
4SeePlaterx.Fig.8,fromonebelongingtome.
202

211. TheWorshipofPriapus
fulnesswhichcharacterisethepersonificationofthe
passivepower,knownbythetitlesofRhea,Juno,
Ceres,&c.
Whenthereweresuchseminariesforfemaleed-
ucationasthoseofEryxandCorinth,weneednot
wonderthattheladiesofantiquityshouldbeex-
tremelywellinstructedinallthepracticaldutiesof
theirreligion.ThestoriestoldofJuliaandMessa-
linashowusthattheRomanladieswerenoways
deficient;andyettheywereasremarkablefortheir
gravityanddecencyastheCorinthianswerefortheir
skillanddexterityinadaptingthemselvestoallthe
modesandattitudeswhichtheluxuriantimagina-
tionsofexperiencedvotarieshavecontrivedforper-
formingtheritesoftheirtutelargoddess.’
Thereasonwhytheseriteswerealwaysperformed
bynightwasthepeculiarsanctityattributedtoitby
theancients,becausedreamswerethensupposedto
descendfromheaventoinstructandforewarnmen.
Thenights,saysHesiod,belongtotheblessedgods;”
andtheOrphicpoetcallsnightthesourceofall
things(xavtwvyeveots)todenotethatproductive
power,which,asIhavebeentold,itreallypossesses;
itbeingobservedthatplantsandanimalsgrowmore
1PhilodemiEpigr.Brunk.Analect.vol.ii.p.85.
2Eoy-ver.730.
203

212. eT
aS
TheWorshipofPriapus
bynightthanbyday.Theancientsextendedthis
powermuchfurther,andsupposedthatnotonlythe
productionsoftheearth,buttheluminariesof
heaven,werenourishedandsustainedbythebenign
influenceofthenight.Hencethatbeautifulapos-
tropheinthe“Electra”ofEuripides,Q2viv&pedatva,
YVSEWVaoTOWVTeogeE,&c.
Notonlythesacrificestothegenerativedeities,but
ingeneralallthereligiousritesoftheGreeks,were
ofthefestivekind.Toimitatethegods,was,intheir
opinion,tofeastandrejoice,andtocultivatethe
usefulandelegantarts,bywhichwearemadepar-
takersoftheirfelicityThiswasthecasewithal-
mostallthenationsofantiquity,exceptthe?Egyp-
tiansandtheirreformedimitatorstheJews,’who
beinggovernedbyahierarchy,endeavouredtomake
itawfulandvenerabletothepeoplebyanappear-
anceofrigourandausterity.Thepeople,however,
sometimesbrokethroughthisrestraint,andindulged
themselvesinthemorepleasingworshipoftheir
neighbours,aswhentheydancedandfeastedbefore
thegoldencalfwhichAaronerected,‘anddevoted
themselvestotheworshipofobsceneidols,generally
1Strabo,lib.x.
2Herodot. lib.ii.
8SeeSpencerdeLeg.Rit.Vet.Hebdreor.
4Exod.ch.xxxii.
ee
204

213. TheWorshipofPriapus
supposedtobeofPriapus,underthereignof
Abijam.*
TheChristianreligion,beingareformationofthe
Jewish,ratherincreasedthandiminishedtheaus-
terityofitsoriginal.Onparticularoccasionshow-
everitequallyabateditsrigour,andgavewayto
festivityandmirth,thoughalwayswithanairof
sanctityandsolemnity.Suchwereoriginallythe
feastsoftheEucharist,which,asthewordexpresses,
weremeetingsofjoyandgratulation;though,as
divinestellus,allofthespiritualkind:butthepar-
ticularmannerinwhichSt.Augustinecommandsthe
ladieswhoattendedthemtowearcleanlinen,?seems
toinfer,thatpersonalaswellasspiritualmatters
werethoughtworthyofattention.Tothosewhoad-
ministerthesacramentinthemodernway,itmay
appearoflittleconsequencewhetherthewomenre-
ceiveditincleanlinenornot;buttothegoodbishop,
whowastoadministertheholykiss,itcertainlywas
ofsomeimportance.Theholykisswasnotonly
appliedasapartoftheceremonialoftheEucharist,
butalsoofprayer,attheconclusionofwhichthey
welcomedeachotherwiththisnaturalsignoflove
andbenevolence.?Itwasupontheseoccasionsthat
1Reg.c.xv.ver.13Ed.Cleric.
2Aug.Serm.clii.
8JustinMartyr.Apolog.

214. OOOO
TheWorshipofPriapus
theyworkedthemselvesuptothosefitsofrapture
andenthusiasm,whichmadethemeagerlyrushupon
destructioninthefuryoftheirzealtoobtainthe
crownofmartyrdom.’Enthusiasmononesubject
naturallyproducesenthusiasmonanother;forthe
humanpassions,likethestringsofaninstrument,vi-
bratetothemotionsofeachother:henceparoxysms
ofloveanddevotionhaveoftentimessoexactlyac-
corded,asnottohavebeendistinguishedbythevery
personswhomtheyagitated.?,Thiswastoooftenthe
caseinthesemeetingsoftheprimitiveChristians.
Thefeastsofgratulationandlove,theayaxmand
nocturnalvigils,gavetooflatteringopportunitiesto
thepassionsandappetitesofmen,tocontinuelong,
whatwearetoldtheywereatfirst,pureexercises
ofdevotion.Thespiritualrapturesanddivineec-
stasiesencouragedontheseoccasions,wereoften
ecstasiesofaverydifferentkind,concealedunder
thegarbofdevotion;whencethegreatestirregu-
laritiesensued;anditbecamenecessaryfortherepu-
tationofthechurch,thattheyshouldbesuppressed,
astheyafterwardswerebythedecreesofseveral
councils.Theirsuppressionmaybeconsideredas
thefinalsubversionofthatpartoftheancientre-
1MartiniKempii deOsculisDissert.viii.
2SeeProcésdelaCadiere.
SNEED
206

215. TheWorshipofPriapus
ligionwhichIhavehereundertakentoexamine;for
solongasthosenocturnalmeetingswerepreserved,
itcertainlyexisted,thoughunderothernames,and
inamoresolemndress.Thesmallremainofitpre-
servedatIsernia,ofwhichanaccounthasherebeen
given,canscarcelybedeemedanexception;forits
meaningwasunknown tothosewhocelebratedit;
andtheobscurityoftheplace,addedtothevenerable
namesofS.CosimoandDamiano,wasallthatpre-
venteditfrombeingsuppressedlongago,asithas
beenlately,tothegreatdismayofthechastematrons
andpiousmonksofIsernia.Tracesandmemorials
ofitseemhowevertohavebeenpreserved,inmany
partsofChristendom,longaftertheactualcelebra-
tionofitsritesceased.Hencetheobscenefigures
observableuponmanyofourGothicCathedrals,and
particularlyupontheancientbrassdoorsofSt.
Peter’satRome,wheretherearesomegroupswhich
rivalthedevicesontheLesbianmedals.
Itiscurious,inlookingbackthroughtheannals
ofsuperstition,sodegradingtotheprideofman,to
tracetheprogressofthehumanmindindifferent
ages,climates,andcircumstances,uniformlyacting
uponthesameprinciples,andtothesameends.The
sketchheregivenofthecorruptionsofthereligionof
Greece,isanexactcounterpartofthehistoryofthe
corruptionsofChristianity,whichbeganinthepure
207 a

216. TheWorshipofPriapus
theismoftheeclecticJews,andbythehelpofinspi-
rations,emanations,andcanonizations,expandedit-
self,bydegrees,tothevastandunwieldlysystem
whichnowfillsthecreedofwhatiscommonlycalled
theCatholicChurch.Intheancientreligion,how-
ever,theemanationsassumedtheappearanceof
moralvirtuesandphysicalattributes,insteadof
ministeringspiritsandguardianangels;andthe
canonizationsordeificationswerebestowedupon
heroes,legislators,andmonarchs,insteadofpriests,
monks,andmartyrs.Thereisalsothisfurtherdiffer-
ence,thatamongthemodernsphilosophyhasim-
proved,asreligionhasbeencorrupted;whereas,
amongtheancients,religionandphilosophydeclined
together.Thetruesolarsystemwastaughtinthe
Orphicschool,andadoptedbythePythagoreans,the
nextregularly-establishedsect.TheStoicscorrupted
italittle,byplacingtheearthinthecentreofthe
universe,thoughtheystillallowedthesunitssu-
periormagnitude.?AtlengtharosetheEpicureans,
whoconfoundeditentirely,maintainingthatthesun
wasonlyasmallgiobeoffire,afewinchesindi-
1Compare thedoctrinesofPhilowiththosetaughtinthe
GospelofSt.John,andEpistlesofSt.Paul.
2Brucker, Hist.Crit.Philos.p.ii.lib.ii.c.9.s.1.
RS
208

217. PLATEXXIII
TIGERATTHEBREASTOFANYMPH

219. TheWorshipofPriapus
ameter,andthestarslittletransitorylights,whirled
aboutintheatmosphereoftheearth.?
Howillsoeveradaptedtheancientsystemofema-
nationswastoprocureeternalhappiness,itwascer-
tainlyextremelywellcalculatedtoproducetemporal
good;for,bytheendlessmultiplicationofsubordi-
natedeities,iteffectuallyexcludedtwoofthe
greatestcursesthateverafflictedthehumanrace,
dogmaticaltheology,anditsconsequentreligious
persecution.Farfromsupposingthatthegodsknown
intheirowncountryweretheonlyonesexisting,
theGreeksthoughtthatinnumerableemanationsof
thedivinemindwerediffusedthrougheverypartof
theuniverse;sothatnewobjectsofdevotionpre-
sentedthemselveswherevertheywent.Everymoun-
tain,spring,andriver,haditstutelarydeity,besides
thenumbersofimmortalspiritsthatweresupposed
towanderintheair,scatteringdreamsandvisions,
andsuperintendingtheaffairsofmen.
TotsyalpvororcrowemydovixovAdBoteron
Atavato.Zynvos,pudaxestvytwovavdownwv.?
Anadequateknowledgeofthesetheyneverpre-
sumedtothinkattainable,butmodestlycontented
1Lucret.lib.v.565,&seq.
2Hesiod.Eoyaxou"Hyco.ver.262,pvotol,&c.,arealways
usedastheancientGreekpoets.
211

220. ST
aaa
TheWorshipofPriapus
themselveswithreveringandinvokingthemwhen-
evertheyfeltorwantedtheirassistance.Whena
shipwreckedmarinerwascastuponanunknown
coast,heimmediatelyoffereduphisprayerstothe
godsofthecountry,whoevertheywere;andjoined
theinhabitantsinwhateverritestheythoughtproper
topropitiatethemwith.Impiousorprophanerites
heneverimaginedcouldexist,concludingthatall
expressionsofgratitudeandsubmissionmustbe
pleasingtothegods.Atheismwas,indeed,punished
atAthens,astheobsceneceremoniesoftheBaccha-
nalianswereatRome;butbothascivilcrimes
againstthestate;theonetendingtoweakenthe
bandsofsocietybydestroyingthesanctityofoaths,
andtheothertosubvertthatdecencyandgravityof
manners,uponwhichtheRomanssomuchprided
themselves.Theintroductionofstrangegods,with-
outpermissionfromthemagistrate,wasalsopro-
hibitedinbothcities;buttherestrictionextendedno
fartherthanthewalls,therebeingnootherpartsof
theRomanempire,exceptJudea,inwhichanykind
ofimpietyorextravagancemightnothavebeenmain-
tainedwithimpunity,provideditwasmaintained
merelyasaspeculativeopinion,andnotemployedas
1SeeHomer. Odyss.¢,ver.445,&seq.TheGreeksseemto
haveadoptedbydegreesintotheirownritualalltheritesprac
tisedintheneighbouring countries.
212

221. TheWorshipofPriapus
anengineoffaction,ambition,oroppression.The
Romansevencarriedtheircondescensionsofaras
toenforcetheobservanceofadogmaticalreligion,
wheretheyfounditbeforeestablished;asappears
fromtheconductoftheirmagistratesinJudea,rela-
tivetoChristandhisapostles;andfromwhat
Josephushasrelated,ofaRomansoldier’sbeing
punishedwithdeathbyhiscommanderforinsulting
theBooksofMoses.Uponwhatprinciplethendid
theyact,whentheyafterwardspersecutedtheChris-
tianswithsomuchrancourandcruelty?Perhaps
itmaysurprisepersonsnotusedtothestudyof
ecclesiasticalantiquities,tobetold(whatisnever-
thelessindisputablytrue)thattheChristianswere
neverpersecutedonaccountofthespeculativeopin-
ionsofindividuals,buteitherforcivilcrimeslaid
totheircharge,orforwithdrawingtheirallegiance
fromthestate,andjoininginafederativeunion
dangerousbyitsconstitution,andrenderedstillmore
dangerousbytheintolerantprinciplesofitsmem-
bers,whooftentumultuouslyinterruptedthepublic
worship,andcontinuallyrailedagainstthenational
religion(withwhichboththecivilgovernmentand
militarydisciplineoftheRomanswereinseparably
connected),asthecertainmeansofeternaldamna-
tion.Tobreakthisunion,wasthegreatobjectof
Romanpolicyduringalongcourseofyears;butthe
213

222. OOOO
TheWorshipofPriapus
en ee Meeeee
violentmeansemployedonlytendedtocementit
closer.SomeoftheChristiansthemselvesindeed,
whowereaddictedtoPlatonism,tookasafermethod
todissolveit;buttheyweretoofewinnumberto
succeed.Thiswasbytryingtomoderatethefurious
zealwhichgavelifeandvigourtotheconfederacy,
andtoblendandsoftentheunyieldingtemperof
religionwiththemildspiritofphilosophy.“We
all,”saidthey,“agreeinworshippingonesupreme
God,theFatherandPreserverofall.Whileweap-
proachhimwithpurityofmind,sincerityofheart,
andinnocenceofmanners,formsandceremonies
ofworshipareindifferent;andnotlessworthyof
hisgreatness,forbeingvariedanddiversifiedaccord-
ingtothevariouscustomsandopinionsofmen.Had
itbeenhiswillthatallshouldhaveworshippedhim
inthesamemode,hewouldhavegiventoallthe
sameinclinationsandconceptions:buthehaswisely
ordereditotherwise,thatpietyandvirtuemightin-
creasebyanhonestemulationofreligions,asin-
dustryintrade,oractivityinarace,fromthemutual
emulationofthecandidatesforwealthandhonour.”?
Thiswastooliberalandextensiveaplan,tomeetthe
approbationofagreedyandambitiousclergy,whose
objectwastoestablishahierarchyforthemselves,
1Symmach. Ep.10&61.Themist.OratadImperat.
SSD
214

223. TheWorshipofPriapus
ratherthantoprocurehappinessforothers.Itwas
accordinglycondemnedwithvehemenceandsuc-
cessbyAmbrosius,Prudentius,andotherorthodox
leadersoftheage.
Itwasfromtheancientsystemofemanations,that
thegeneralhospitalitywhichcharacterisedtheman-
nersoftheheroicages,andwhichissobeautifully
representedintheOdysseyofHomer,inagreat
measurearose.Thepoor,andthestrangerwho
wanderedinthestreetandbeggedatthedoor,were
supposedtobeanimatedbyaportionofthesame
divinespiritwhichsustainedthegreatandpowerful.
TheyareallfromJupiter,saysHomer,andasmall
giftisacceptable.Thisbenevolentsentimenthas
beencomparedbytheEnglishcommentatorstothat
oftheJewishmoralist,whosays,thathewhogiveth
tothepoorlendethtotheLord,whowillrepayhim
tenfold.*Butitisscarcelypossibleforanythingto
bemoredifferent:Homerpromisesnootherreward
forcharitythanthebenevolenceoftheactionitself;
buttheIsraeliteholdsoutthatwhichhasalwaysbeen
thegreatmotiveforcharityamonghiscountrymen—
theprospectofbeingrepaidten-fold.Theyareal-
waysreadytoshowtheirbountyuponsuchincen-
1Odyss.tver.207.
2SeePope’sOdyssey.
215

224. er ai
TheWorshipofPriapus
tives,iftheycanbepersuadedthattheyarefounded
upongoodsecurity.Itwastheopinion,however,of
manyofthemostlearnedamongtheancients,that
theprinciplesoftheJewishreligionwereoriginally
thesameasthoseoftheGreek,andthattheirGod
wasnootherthanthecreatorandgeneratorBac-
chus,:who,beingviewedthroughthegloomyme-
diumofthehierarchy,appearedtothemajealous
andirascibleGod;andsogaveamoreaustereand
unsociableformtotheirdevotion.Thegoldenvine
preservedinthetempleatJerusalem,’andthetau-
rineformsofthecherubs,betweenwhichtheDeity
wassupposedtoreside,weresymbolssoexactly
similartotheirown,thattheynaturallyconcluded
themmeanttoexpressthesameideas;especiallyas
therewasnothingintheavowedprinciplesofthe
Jewishworshiptowhichtheycouldbeapplied.The
ineffablenamealso,which,accordingtotheMas-
sorethicpunctuation,ispronouncedJehovah,was
ancientlypronouncedJaho,Iaw,orIevw,?which
wasatitleofBacchus,thenocturnalsun;*aswas
1Tacit.Histor.lib.v.
2ThevineandgobletofBacchus arealsotheusualdevices
upontheJewish andSamaritan coins,which werestruckunder
theAsmonean kings.
8Hieron.Comm. inPsalm.viii.Dioidor.Sic.lib.i.Philo
Bybl.ap.HEuseb.Prep.Evang.lib.1.c.ix.
4Macrob.Sat.lib.1.c.xvili.
rE
216

225. TheWorshipofPriapus
alsoSabazius,orSabadius,:whichisthesameword
asSabbaoth,oneofthescripturaltitlesofthetrue
God,onlyadaptedtothepronunciationofamore
polishedlanguage.TheLatinnamefortheSupreme
Godbelongsaisotothesameroot;Iv-xatno,Jupiter,
signifyingFatherIci,thoughwrittenafterthean-
cientmanner,withoutthedipthong,whichwasnot
inuseformanyagesaftertheGreekcoloniessettled
inLatium,andintroducedtheArcadianalphabet.
WefindSt.Paullikewiseacknowledging,thatthe
JupiterofthepoetAratuswastheGodwhomhe
adored;?andClemensofAlexandriaexplainsSt.
Peter’sprohibitionofworshippingafterthemanner
oftheGreeks,nottomeanaprohibitionofworship-
pingthesameGod,butmerelyofthecorruptmode
inwhichhewasthenworshipped.*
1Macrob.Sat.lib.1.c.xvili.
2Act.Apost.c.xvii.ver.28.
8Stramat.lib.v.
———————— ee ee
217

226. cv
rele~nari_aiistte
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‘$2ai})coltigthstoalgeneasriftie
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ead>iSSC Wiki
=

227. THE WORSHIP OFTHE
GENERATIVE POWERS
DURING THE MIDDLE AGES
OFWESTERN EUROPE
BY
THOMAS WRIGHT
WITH PLATES
VOLUME II

228. PLATE I
EXVOTIOFWAX, FROM ISERNIA

229. THE WORSHIP OFTHE GENERATIVE
POWERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES
OFWESTERN EUROPE
ICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT haswrittenwith
greatlearningontheoriginandhistoryofthe
worshipofPriapusamongtheancients.This
worship,whichwasbutapartofthatofthegenera-
tivepowers,appearstohavebeenthemostancient
ofthesuperstitionsofthehumanrace,’hasprevailed
moreorlessamongallknownpeoplesbeforethein-
troductionofChristianity,and,singularlyenough,so
deeplyitseemstohavebeenimplantedinhuman
nature,thateventhepromulgationoftheGospeldid
notabolishit,foritcontinuedtoexist,acceptedand
oftenencouragedbythemedievalclergy.Theocca-
sionofPayneKnight’sworkwasthediscoverythat
1Thereappearstobeachanceofthisworshipbeingclaimed
foraveryearlyperiodinthehistoryofthehumanrace.Ithas
beenrecentlystatedinthe“Moniteur,”that,intheprovinceof
Venice.inItaly,excavationsinabone-cavehavebroughtto
light,beneathtenfeetofstalagmite,bonesofanimals,mostly
postertiary,oftheusualdescriptionfoundinsuchplaces,flint
implements, withaneedleofbonehavinganeyeandpoint,
andaplateofanargillaceouscompound,onwhichwasscratched
a@rudedrawingofaphallus.—Moniteur, Jan.1865.
7

230. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thisworshipcontinuedtoprevailinhistime,ina
veryremarkableform,atIserniainthekingdomof
Naples,afulldescriptionofwhichwillbefoundin
hiswork.ThetownofIserniawasdestroyed,with
agreatportionofitsinhabitants,intheterrible
earthquakewhichsofearfullydevastatedtheking-
domofNaplesonthe26thofJuly,1805,nineteen
yearsaftertheappearanceofthebookalludedto.
Perhapswithitperishedthelasttraceoftheworship
ofPriapusinthisparticularform;butPayneKnight
wasnotacquaintedwiththefactthatthissupersti-
tion,inavarietyofforms,prevailedthroughout
SouthernandWesternEuropelargelyduringthe
MiddleAges,andthatinsomepartsitishardlyex-
tinctatthepresentday;and,asitseffectswerefelt
toamoreconsiderableextentthanpeopleingeneral
supposeinthemostintimateandimportantrelations
ofsociety,whateverwecandotothrowlightupon
itsmedizvalexistence,thoughnotanagreeablesub-
ject,cannotbutformanimportantandvaluable
contributiontothebetterknowledgeofmedieval
history.Manyinterestingfactsrelatingtothissub-
jectwerebroughttogetherinavolumepublishedin
ParisbyMonsieurJ.A.Dulaure,underthetitle,Des
DivinitésGénératiceschezlesAnciensetlesMod-
ernes,formingpartofanHistoireAbrégéedesdif-
8

231. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
férensCultes,bythesameauthor.’Thisbook,how-
ever,isstillveryimperfect;anditisthedesignofthe
followingpagestogive,withthemostinterestingof
thefactsalreadycollectedbyDulaure,otherfacts
andadescriptionandexplanationofmonuments,
whichtendtothrowagreaterandmoregenerallight
onthiscurioussubject.
Themedizvalworshipofthegenerativepowers,
representedbythegenerativeorgans,wasderived
fromtwodistinctsources.Inthefirstplace,Rome
invariablycarriedintotheprovincesshehadcon-
queredherowninstitutionsandformsofworship,
andestablishedthempermanently.Inexploringthe
antiquitiesoftheseprovinces,weareastonishedat
theabundantmonumentsoftheworshipofPriapus
inalltheshapesandwithalltheattributesandac-
companiments,withwhichwearealreadysowell
acquaintedinRomeandItaly.Amongtheremains
ofRomancivilizationinGaul,wefindstatuesor
statuettesofPriapus,altarsdedicatedtohim,the
gardensandfieldsentrustedtohiscare,andthe
phallus,ormalemember,figuredinavarietyof
shapesasaprotectingpoweragainstevilinfluences
ofvariouskinds.Withthisideathewell-known
figurewassculpturedonthewallsofpublicbuild-
1Thesecondeditionofthiswork,publishedin1826,isby
muchthebest,andisconsiderablyenlargedfromthefirst.
9

232. ES
—aeeeeeeeaeaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeee
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ings,placedinconspicuousplacesintheinteriorof
thehouse,wornasanornamentbywomen,andsus-
pendedasanamulettothenecksofchildren.Erotic
scenesofthemostextravagantdescriptioncovered
vesselsofmetal,earthenware,andglass,intended,
ondoubt,forfestivalsandusagesmoreorlesscon-
nectedwiththeworshipoftheprincipleoffecundity.
AtAixinProvencetherewasfound,onornear
thesiteoftheancientbaths,towhichithadnodoubt
somerelation,anenormousphallus,encircledwith
garlands,sculpturedinwhitemarble.AtLeChate-
let,inChampagne,onthesiteofaRomantown,a
colossalphalluswasalsofound.Similarobjectsin
bronze,andofsmallerdimensions,aresocommon,
thatexplorationsareseldomcarriedonuponaRo-
mansiteinwhichtheyarenotfound,andexamples
ofsuchobjectsaboundinthemuseums,publicor
private,ofRomanantiquities.Thephallicworship
appearstohaveflourishedespeciallyatNemausus,
nowrepresentedbythecityofNimesinthesouthof
France,wherethesymbolofthisworshipappearedin
sculptureonthewallsofitsamphitheatreandon
otherbuildings,informssomeofwhichwecan
hardlyhelpregardingasfanciful,orevenplayful.
Someofthemoreremarkableofthesearefiguredin
ourplates,1andm1.
10

233. ra
Aiax}HiA‘
Ha,AiiiHi
it\Hlveiiimi‘Auaa=lmali!
a
—————
ig.1,
:aa
=SS————E——SS=_-FW————|
SShh
au)|iWOiil
PLATE II
ROMAN SCULPTURES FROMNIMES

234. ta Pe eea
RS lk, :
. orpt
Treva ;
‘ . ™a J —"
‘4. EeASUS Ame
- B
ia _ -

235. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Thefirstofthese,isthefigureofadoublephallus.
Itissculpturedonthelintelofoneofthevomitories,
orissues,ofthesecondrangeofseatsoftheRoman
amphitheatre,neartheentrance-gatewhichlooksto
thesouth.Thedoubleandthetriplephallusare
verycommonamongthesmallRomanbronzes,which
appeartohaveservedasamuletsandforothersimi-
larpurposes.Inthelatter,onephallususuallyserves
asthebody,andisfurnishedwithlegs,generally
thoseofthegoat;asecondoccupiestheusualplace
ofthisorgan;andathirdappearsinthatofatail.
OnapilasteroftheamphitheatreofNimeswesee
atriplephallusofthisdescription,’withgoat’slegs
andfeet.Asmallbellissuspendedtothesmaller
phallusinfront;andthelargerorganwhichforms
thebodyisfurnishedwithwings.Thepictureiscom-
pletedbytheintroductionofthreebirds,twoof
whicharepeckingtheunveiledheadoftheprincipal
phallus,whilethethirdisholdingdownthetailwith
itsfoot.
Severalexamplesofthesetriplephallioccurin
theMuséeSecretoftheantiquitiesofHerculaneum
andPompeii.Intheexamplesfiguredinthatwork,
thehindpartofthemainphallusassumesclearly
1Plateuo,Fig.1.
2SeeourPlaten,Fig.2.
13

236. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
theformofadog;?andtomostofthemareattached
smallbells,theexplanationofwhichappearsasyet
tobeveryunsatisfactory.Thewingsalsoarecom-
monattributesofthephallusinthesemonuments.
Plutarchisquotedasanauthorityfortheexplana-
tionofthetriplephallusasintendedtosignifymul-
tiplicationofitsproductivefaculty.”
Onthetopofanotherpilasteroftheamphitheatre
atNimes,totherightoftheprincipalwesternen-
trance,wasabas-relief,alsorepresentingatriple
phallus,withlegsofdog,andwinged,butwitha
furtheraccompaniment.’Afemale,dressedinthe
Romanstola,standsuponthephallusformingthe
tail,andholdsbothitandtheoneformingthebody
withabridle.*Thisbas-reliefwastakendownin
1829,andisnowpreservedinthemuseumofNimes.
Astillmoreremarkable monument ofthisclass
wasfound inthecourseofexcavations made at
1ThewriterofthetexttotheMusée Secretsupposes thatthis
circumstance hassome reference tothedouble meaning given
totheGreekwordxtwv,whichwasusedforthegenerative organ.
2SeeAugustePelet,CatalogueduMuséedeNimes.
8Plate1,Fig.3.
4AFrenchantiquaryhasgivenanemblematical interpretation
ofthisfigure.“Perhaps,”hesays,“itsignifiestheempireof
woman extendingoverthethreeagesofman;onyouth,charac-
terizedbythebell;ontheageofvigour,theardourofwhich
sherestrains;andonoldage,whichshesustains.”Thisis
perhapsmoreingeniousthanconvincing.
SSS?
14

237. PLATE III
MONUMENT FOUND ATNIMES IN1825

239. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Nimesin1825.Itisengravedinourplatexxvi,and
representsabird,apparentlyintendedforavulture,
withspreadwingsandphallictail,sittingonfour
eggs,eachofwhichisdesigned,nodoubt,torepre-
sentthefemaleorgan.Thelocalantiquariansgiveto
this,astotheothersimilarobjects,anemblematical
signification;butitmayperhapsbemorerightly
regardedasaplayfulconceptionoftheimagination.
Asimilardesign,withsomemodifications,occursnot
unfrequentlyamongGallo-Romanantiquities.We
haveengravedafigureofthetriplephallusgoverned,
orguided,bythefemale,’fromasmallbronzeplate,
onwhichitappearsinbas-relief;itisnowpreserved
inaprivatecollectioninLondon,withaduplicate,
whichappearstohavebeencastfromthesame
mould,thoughtheplateiscutthrough,andtheywere
evidentlyintendedforsuspensionfromtheneck.
BothcamefromthecollectionofM.BaudotofDijon.
Theladyherebridlesonlytheprincipalphallus;the
legsare,asinthemonumentlastdescribed,thoseof
abird,anditisstandinguponthreeeggs,apple-
formed,andrepresentingtheorganoftheothersex.
Inregardtothislast-mentionedobject,another
veryremarkablemonument ofwhatappearsat
Nimestohavebeenbynomeansasecretworship,
1SeeourPlatem1,Fig.3.

240. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
wasfoundthereduringsomeexcavationsonthesite
oftheRomanbaths.Itisasquaredmassofstone,
thefoursidesofwhich,liketheonerepresentedin
ourengraving,arecoveredwithsimilarfiguresof
thesexualcharacteristicsofthefemale,arrangedin
rows.:Ithasevidentlyservedasabase,probablyto
astatue,orpossiblytoanaltar.Thiscuriousmonu-
mentisnowpreservedinthemuseum atNimes.
AsNimeswasevidentlyacentreofthisPriapic
worshipinthesouthofGaul,sothereappeartohave
been,perhapslesser,centresinotherparts,andwe
maytraceittothenorthernextremitiesoftheRoman
province,eventotheothersideoftheRhine.Onthe
siteofRoman settlementsnearXanten,inlower-
Hesse,alargequantityofpotteryandotherobjects
havebeenfound,ofacharactertoleavenodoubtas
totheprevalenceofthisworshipinthatquarter.”
ButtheRomansettlementwhichoccupiedthesiteof
themoderncityofAntwerpappearstohavebeen
oneofthemostremarkableseatsoftheworshipof
1SeePlateum,Fig.4.
2TwoRomantowns,CastraVeteraandColoniaTrajana,stood
withinnogreatdistanceofXanten,andPh.Houben,a“no-
tarius”ofthistown,formedaprivatemuseum ofantiquities
foundthere,andin1839,publishedengravingsofthem,witha
textbyDr.FranzFiedler.Theeroticobjectsformaseparate
workunderthetitle,AntikeerotischeBildwerke inHoubens
Antiquarium zuXanten,
———————eee
18

241. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
PriapusinthenorthofGaul,anditcontinuedtoexist
theretillacomparativelymodernperiod.
WhenwecrossovertoBritainwefindthisworship
establishednolessfirmlyandextensivelyinthat
island.StatuettesofPriapus,phallicbronzes,pot-
terycoveredwithobscenepictures,arefoundwher-
everthereareanyextensiveremainsofRomanoccu-
pation,asourantiquariesknowwell.Thenumerous
phallicfiguresinbronze,foundinEngland,areper-
fectlyidenticalincharacterwiththosewhichoccur
inFranceandItaly.Inillustrationofthisfact,we
givetwoexamplesofthetriplephallus,whichap-
pearstohavebeen,perhapsinaccordancewiththe
explanationgivenbyPlutarch,anamuletingreat
favour.ThefirstwasfoundinLondonin1842.1As
intheexamplesfoundonthecontinent,aprincipal
phallusformsthebody,havingthehinderpartsof
apparentlyadog,withwingsofapeculiarform,
perhapsintendedforthoseofadragon.Several
smallringsareattached,nodoubtforthepurposeof
suspendingbells.Oursecondexample?wasfound
atYorkin1844.Itdisplaysapeculiarityofaction
which,inthiscaseatleast,leavesnodoubtthatthe
hinderpartswereintendedtobethoseofadog.All
antiquariesofanyexperienceknowthegreatnum-
1SeePlate1,Fig.3.
2Plate1,Fig.4.
19

242. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
berofobscenesubjectswhicharemetwithamongthe
fineredpotterywhichistermedSamianware,found
soabundantlyinallRomansitesinourisland.They
representeroticscenesineverysenseoftheword,
promiscuousintercoursebetweenthesexes,even
vicescontrarytonature,withfiguresofPriapus,and
phallicemblems.Wegiveasanexampleoneofthe
lessexceptionalscenesofthisdescription,copied
fromaSamianbowlfoundinCannonStreet,London,
in1828.1.Thelamps,chieflyofearthenware,form
anotherclassofobjectsonwhichsuchscenesare
frequentlyportrayed,andtowhichbroadlyphallic
formsaresometimesgiven.Oneofthesephallic
lampsishererepresented,onthesameplatewiththe
bowlofSamianwarejustdescribed.?Itishardly
necessarytoexplainthesubjectrepresentedbythis
lamp,whichwasfoundinLondonafewyearsago.
Allthisobscenepotterymustberegarded,no
doubt,asaproofofagreatamountofdissoluteness
inthemoralsofRomansocietyinBritain,butitis
evidenceofsomethingmore.Itishardlylikelythat
suchobjectscouldbeincommonuseatthefamily
table;andweareledtosupposethattheywereem-
ployedonspecialoccasions,festivals,perhaps,con-
nectedwiththelicentiousworshipofwhichweare
1Plate1,Fig.1.
2Platex,Fig.2.
PatiilinatlleLetveeweeTEE
20

243. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
<achare neennlceanbeneSiS|Snirtaleahei
speaking,andsuchasthosedescribedinsuchstrong
termsinthesatiresofJuvenal.Butmonumentsare
foundinthisislandwhichbearstillmoredirect
evidencetotheexistenceoftheworshipofPriapus
duringtheRomanperiod.
IntheparishofAdel,inYorkshire,areconsider-
abletracesofaRomanstation,whichappearsto
havebeenaplaceofsomeimportance,andwhich
certainlypossessedtemples.Onthesiteofthesewere
foundaltars,andotherstoneswithinscriptions,
which,afterbeinglongpreservedinanouthouseof
therectoryatAdel,arenowdepositedinthemuseum
ofthePhilosophicalSocietyatLeeds.Oneofthe
mostcuriousofthese,whichwehavehereengraved
forthefirsttime,’apearstobeavotiveofferingto
Priapus,whoseemstobeaddressedunderthename
ofMentula.Itisarough,unsquaredstone,which
hasbeenselectedforpossessingatolerablyflatand
smoothsurface;andthefigureandlettersweremade
witharudeimplement,andbyanunskilledwork-
man,whowasevidentlyunabletocutacontinuous
smoothline.Themiddleofthestoneisoccupiedby
thefigureofaphallus,androunditwereadvery
distinctlythewords:—
PRIMINVS MENTLA.
1Platerv,Fig.1.
21

244. rE[SSS SSS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Theauthoroftheinscriptionmayhavebeenanig-
norantLatinistaswellasunskilfulsculptor,andper-
hapsmistooktheligulatedletters,overlookingthe
limbwhichwouldmaketheLstandforVL,and
givingAforAE.ItwouldthenreadPriminusMen-
tule,PriminustoMentula(theobjectpersonified),
anditmayhavebeenavotiveofferingfromsomein-
dividualnamedPriminus,whowasinwantofan
heir,orlabouredundersomesexualinfirmity,to
Priapus,whoseassistancehesought.Anotherinter-
pretationhasbeensuggested,onthesuppositionthat
Mentla,orperhaps(theLbeingdesignedforIL
ligulated)MentilaorMentilla,mightbethenameof
afemalejoinedwithherhusbandinthisoffering
fortheircommongood.Theformeroftheseinter-
pretationsseems,however,tobethemostprobable.
Thismonument belongsprobablytoratheralate
dateintheRomanperiod.Anotherexvotoofthe
sameclasswasfoundatWesterwood FortinScot-
land,oneoftheRomanfortressesonthewallofAn-
toninus.Thismonument? consistedofasquareslab
ofstone,inthemiddleofwhichwasaphallus,and
underitthewordsEX:VOTO. Abovewerethelet-
1SeePlate1v,Fig.2.Horseley,whoengraved thismonu-
mentinhisBrittaniaRomana, Scotland,fig.xix.hasinserteda
fig-leafinplaceofthephallus,butwithslightindicationsofthe
formoftheobjectitwasintendedtoconceal.Wearenotaware
ifthismonument isstillinexistence.
22

245. w
A
iS\NSNy.
Sh
RESLSSROSEN
SSRSHR
RRS
RENN
PLATE IV
PHALLIC MONDMENTS FOUND INSCOTLAND

247. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
tersXAN,meaning,perhaps,thattheoffererhad
labouredtenyearsunderthegrievanceofwhichhe
soughtredressfromPriapus.Wemaypointalsoto
aphallicmonumentofanotherkind,whichreminds
usinsomedegreeofthefinersculpturesatNimes.
AtHousesteads,inNorthumberland,areseentheex-
tensiveandimposingremainsofoneoftheRoman
stationsontheWallofHadriannamedBorcovicus.
Thewallsoftheentrancegatewaysareespecially
wellpreserved,andonthatoftheguard-houseat-
tachedtooneofthem,isaslabofstonepresenting
thefiguregiveninourplatetv,fig.3.Itisarude
delineationofaphalluswiththelegsofafowl,and
remindsusofsomeofthemonumentsinFranceand
Italypreviouslydescribed.Thesephallicimages
werenodoubtexposedinsuchsituationsbecause
theyweresupposedtoexerciseaprotectiveinfluence
overthelocality,oroverthebuilding,andtheindi-
vidualwholookeduponthefigurebelievedhimself
safe,duringthatdayatleast,fromevilinfluences
ofvariousdescriptions.Theyarefound,webelieve,
insomeotherRomanstations,inasimilarposition
tothatofthephallusatHousesteads.
Althoughtheworshipofwhichwearetreating
prevailedsoextensivelyamongtheRomansand
throughouttheRomanprovinces,itwasfarfrom
beingpeculiartothem,forthesamesuperstition
25

248. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
formedpartofthereligionoftheTeutonicrace,and
wascarriedwiththatracewhereveritsettled.The
Teutonicgod,whoansweredtotheRomanPriapus,
wascalled,inAnglo-Saxon,Fréa,inOldNorse,
Freyr,and,inOldGerman,Fro.AmongtheSwedes,
theprincipalseatofhisworshipwasatUpsala,and
AdamofBremen,wholivedintheeleventhcentury,
whenpaganismstillretaineditsholdonthenorth,
indescribingtheformsunderwhichthegodswere
thererepresented,tellsusthat“thethirdofthegods
atUpsalawasFricco[anotherformofthename],
whobestowedonmortalspeaceandpleasure,and
whowasrepresentedwithanimmensepriapus;”and
headdsthat,atthecelebrationofmarriages,they
offeredsacrificetoFricco.Thisgod,indeed,likethe
PriapusoftheRomans,presidedovergenerationand
fertility,eitherofanimallifeoroftheproduceofthe
earth,andwasinvokedaccordingly.Ihre,inhis
GlossariumSueco-Gothicum,mentionsobjectsofan-
tiquitydugupinthenorthofEurope,whichclearly
provetheprevalenceofphallicrites.Tothisdeity,
ortohisfemalerepresentativeofthesamename,the
TeutonicVenus,Friga,thefifthdayoftheweekwas
dedicated,andonthataccountreceiveditsname,
inAnglo-Saxon,Frige-deg,andinmodernEnglish,
Friday.Frigedegappearstohavebeenaname
sometimesgiveninAnglo-SaxontoFreahimself;in
26

249. a
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
acharterofthedateof959,printedinKemble’s
CodexDiplomaticus,oneofthemarksonaboun-
dary-lineoflandisFrigedzges-Tréow,meaningaps
parentlyFrea’stree,whichwasprobablyatree
dedicatedtothatgod,andthesceneofRriapicrites.
ThereisaplacecalledFridaythorpeinYorkshire,
andFriston,anamewhichoccursinseveralparts
ofEngland,means,probably,thestoneofFreaor
ofFriga;andweseemjustifiedinsupposingthat
thisandothernamescommencingwiththesyllable
FriorFry,aresomanymonumentsoftheexistence
ofthephallicworshipamongourAnglo-Saxonfore-
fathers.TwocustomscherishedamongouroldEng-
lishpopularsuperstitionsarebelievedtohavebeen
derivedfromthisworship,theneed-fires,andthe
processionoftheboar’sheadattheChristmasfes-
tivities.Theformerwerefireskindledattheperiod
ofthesummersolstice,andwerecertainlyintheir
originreligiousobservances.Theboarwasinti-
matelyconnectedwiththeworshipofFrea.*
From ourwantofamoreintimateknowledge of
thispartofTeutonicpaganism, weareunabletode-
cidewhether someofthesuperstitiouspracticesof
themiddleageswerederivedfromtheRomans or
fromthepeopleswhoestablishedthemselves inthe©
1SeeGrimm’sDeutscheMythologie,p.139,firstedition.
27

250. a
SSS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
provincesaftertheoverthrowofthewesternempire;
butinItalyandinGaul(thesouthernpartsespe-
cially),wheretheRomaninstitutionsandsentiments
continuedwithmorepersistencetoholdtheirin-
fluence,itwasthephallicworshipoftheRomans
which,graduallymodifiedinitsforms,wasthus
preserved,and,thoughtherecordsofsuchaworship
arenaturallyaccidentalandimperfect,yetwecan
distinctlytraceitsexistencetoaverylateperiod.
Thus,wehaveclearevidencethatthephallus,inits
simpleform,wasworshippedbythemedizvalChris-
tians,andthattheformsofChristianprayerandin-
vocationwereactuallyaddressedtoit.Onenameof
themaleorganamongtheRomanswasfascinum;it
wasunderthisnamethatitwassuspendedroundthe
necksofwomenandchildren,andunderthisname
especiallyitwassupposedtopossessmagicalinflu-
enceswhichnotonlyacteduponothers,butdefended
thosewhowereunderitsprotectionfrommagical
orotherevilinfluencesfromwithout.Hencearede-
rivedthewordstofascinateandfascination.The
wordisusedbyHorace,andespeciallyintheepi-
gramsofthePriapeia,whichmaybeconsideredin
somedegreeastheexponentsofthepopularcreed
inthesematters.Thuswehaveinoneoftheseepi-
gramsthelines,—
EN RELA
28

251. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
“Placet,Priape?quisubarboriscoma
Soles,sacrumrevinctepampinocaput,
Rubersederecumrebentefascino.”
Priap,Carm.1xxxiv.
Itseemsprobablethatthishadbecomethepopular,
orvulgar,wordforthephallus,atleasttakeninthis
pointofview,atthecloseoftheRomanpower,for
thefirstverydistincttracesofitsworshipwhichwe
findafterwardsintroduceitunderthisname,which
subsequentlytookinFrenchtheformfesne.The
medizvalworshipofthefascinumisfirstspokenof
intheeighthcentury.Anecclesiasticaltractentitled
JudiciaSacerdotaliadeCriminibus,whichisascribed
totheendofthatcentury,directsthat“ifanyone
hasperformedincantationtothefascinum,orany
incantationwhatever,exceptanyonewhochaunts
theCreedortheLord’sPrayer,lethimdopenance
onbreadandwaterduringthreelents.”Anactofthe
councilofChalons,heldintheninthcentury,pro-
hibitsthesamepracticealmostinthesamewords;
andBurchardusrepeatsitagaininthetwelfthcen-
tury,’aproofofthecontinuedexistenceofthiswor-
ship.Thatitwasinfullforcelongafterthisis
provedbythestatutesofthesynodofMans,heldin
1247,whichenjoinsimilarlythepunishmentforhim
“whohassinnedtothefascinum,orhasperformed
1D.Burchardi Decretorum libri,lib.x,c49.
29

252. ee eeeee
SSS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
anyincantations,exceptthecreed,thepaternoster,
orothercanonicalprayer.”Thissameprovisionwas
adoptedandrenewedinthestatutesofthesynodof
Tours,heldin1396,inwhich,astheywerepublished
inFrench,theLatinfascinumisrepresentedbythe
Frenchfesne.Thefascinumtowhichsuchworship
wasdirectedmusthavebeensomethingmorethana
smallamulet.
Thisbringsustothecloseofthefourteenthcen-
tury,andshowsushowlongtheoutwardworshipof
thegenerativepowers,representedbytheirorgans,
continuedtoexistinWesternEuropetosuchapoint
astoengagetheattentionofecclesiasticalsynods.
Duringthepreviouscenturyfactsoccurredinour
ownislandillustratingstillmorecuriouslythecon-
tinuousexistenceoftheworshipofPriapus,andthat
undercircumstanceswhichremindusaltogetherof
thedetailsofthephallicworshipundertheRomans.
Itwillberememberedthatonegreatobjectofthis
worshipwastoobtainfertilityeitherinanimalsorin
theground,forPriapuswasthegodofthehorticul-
turistandtheagriculturist.St.Augustine,declaim-
ingagainsttheopenobscenitiesoftheRomanfesti-
valoftheLiberaJia,informsusthatanenormous
phalluswascarriedinamagnificentchariotintothe
middleofthepublicplaceofthetownwithgreat
ceremony,wherethemostrespectablematronad-
30

253. Se
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
vancedandplacedagarlandofflowers“onthis
obscenefigure;”andthis,hesays,wasdonetoap-
peasethegod,and“toobtainanabundantharvest,
andremoveenchantmentsfromtheland.”?Welearn
fromtheChronicleofLanercostthat,intheyear1268,
apestilenceprevailedintheScottishdistrictof
Lothian,whichwasveryfataltothecattle,tocoun-
teractwhichsomeoftheclergy—bestiales,habitu
claustrales,nonanimo—taught thepeasantrytomake
afirebytherubbingtogetherofwood(thiswasthe
need-fire),andtoraiseuptheimageofPriapus,as
ameansofsavingtheircattle.“Whenalaymember
oftheCistercianorderatFentonhaddonethisbe-
forethedoorofthehall,andhadsprinkledthecat-
tlewithadog’stesticlesdippedinholywater,and
complainthadbeenmadeofthiscrimeofidolatry
againstthelordofthemanor,thelatterpleadedin
hisdefencethatallthiswasdonewithouthisknowl-
edgeandinhisabsence,butadded,‘whileuntilthe
presentmonthofJuneotherpeople’scattlefellill
anddied,minewerealwaysfound,butnowevery
daytwoorthreeofminedie,sothatIhavefewleft
forthelaboursofthefield.”Fourteenyearsafter
this,in1282,aneventofthesamekindoccurredat
Inverkeithing,inthepresentcountyofFifeinScot-
1S.AugustiniDeCivit.Dei,lib.vii,¢.21.
31

254. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
land.Thecauseofthefollowingproceedingsisnot
stated,butitwasprobablythesameasthatforwhich
thecistercianofLothianhadrecoursetotheworship
ofPriapus.IntheEasterweekoftheyearjuststated
(March29—April5),aparishpriestofInverkeithing,
namedJohn,performedtheritesofPriapus,bycol-
lectingtheyounggirlsofthetown,andmakingthem
danceroundthefigureofthisgod;withoutanyre-
gardforthesexoftheseworshippers,hecarrieda
woodenimageofthemalemembersofgeneration
beforetheminthedance,andhimselfdancingwith
them,heaccompaniedtheirsongswithmovementsin
accordance,andurgedthemtolicentiousactionsby
hisnolesslicentiouslanguage.Themoremodest
partofthosewhowerepresentfeltscandalizedwith
thepriest,buthetreatedtheirwordswithcontempt,
andonlygaveutterancetocoarserobscenities.He
wascitedbeforehisbishop,defendedhimselfupon
thecommonusageofthecountry,andwasallowed
toretainhisbenefice;buthemusthavebeenrather
aworldlypriest,afterthestyleofthemiddleages,
forayearafterwardshewaskilledinavulgarbrawl.-
Thepracticeofplacingthefigureofaphalluson
thewallsofbuildings,derived,aswehaveseen,from
theRomans,prevailedalsointhemiddleages,and
thebuildingsespeciallyplacedundertheinfluence
ofthissymbolwerechurches.Itwasbelievedtobe
32

255. PLATH V
SHELAH-NA-GIG MONUMENTS

256. PAOLA NR
st,ai ° >
a =
lesyousel
lesiestTAPBene
oLipaelotoak ertya-
:ytifvse.TH-P
Hs 7hos ge Rel aeesBe
ee**<2)oeroee(wee ““srte aan;
iraeoes cieeeenterie
< 7 oo+fo

257. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
aprotectionagainstenchantmentsofallkinds,of
whichthepeopleofthosetimeslivedinconstantter-
ror,andthisprotectionextendedovertheplaceand
overthosewhofrequentedit,providedtheycasta
confidinglookupontheimage.Suchimageswere
seen,usuallyupontheportals,onthecathedral
churchofToulouse,onmorethanonechurchin
Bourdeaux,andonvariousotherchurchesinFrance,
but,atthetimeoftherevolution,theywereoften
destroyedasmarksonlyofthedepravityofthe
clergy.Dulauretellsusthatanartist,whomhe
knew,butwhosenamehehasnotgiven,hadmade
drawingsofanumberofthesefigureswhichhehad
metwithinsuchsituations.AChristiansaintexer-
cisedsomeofthequalitiesthusdeputedtoPriapus;
theimageofSt.Nicholaswasusuallypaintedina
conspicuouspositioninthechurch,foritwasbe-
lievedthatwhoeverhadlookeduponitwasprotected
againstenchantments,andespeciallyagainstthat
greatobjectofpopularterror,theevileye,during
therestoftheday.
ItisasingularfactthatinIrelanditwasthefemale
organwhichwasshowninthispositionofprotector
uponthechurches,andtheelaboratethoughrude
mannerinwhichthesefiguresweresculptured,show
thattheywereconsideredasobjectsofgreatimpor-
tance.Theyrepresentedafemaleexposingherself
35

258. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
toviewinthemostunequivocalmanner,andare
carvedonablockwhichappearstohaveservedas
thekey-stonetothearchofthedoor-wayofthe
church,wheretheywerepresentedtothegazeofall
whoentered.Theyappeartohavebeenfoundprin-
cipallyintheveryoldchurches,andhavebeen
mostlytakendown,sothattheyareonlyfound
amongtheruins.Peoplehavegiventhemthename
ofShelah-na-Gig,which,wearetold,meansinIrish
JuliantheGiddy,andissimplyatermforanim-
modestwoman;butitiswellunderstoodthatthey
wereintendedasprotectingcharmsagainstthefas-
cinationoftheevileye.Wehavegivencopiesofall
theexamplesyetknowninourplatesvandvi.
Thefirstofthese?wasfoundinanoldchurchat
Rochestown,inthecountyofTipperary,whereithad
longbeenknownamongthepeopleoftheneigh-
bourhoodbythenamegivenabove.Itwasplaced
inthearchoverthedoorway,buthassincebeen
takenaway.OursecondexampleoftheShelah-na-
Gig?wastakenfromanoldchurchlatelypulled
downinthecountyCavan,andisnowpreservedin
themuseumoftheSocietyofAntiquariesofDublin.
Thethird*wasfoundatBallinahendCastle,alsoin
1Platev,Fig.1.
2Platev,Fig.2.
8Platev,Fig.3.
scosenmarrmanmasnbosnasesmtestinjasisersnsaeatengeece-enesnartonetaeeaenanea
36

259. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thecountyofTipperary;andthefourth'ispreserved
inthemuseumatDublin,butwearenotinformed
fromwhenceitwasobtained.Thenext,?whichis
alsonowpreservedintheDublinMuseum,wastaken
fromtheoldchurchontheWhiteIsland,inLough
Erne,countyFermanagh. Thischurchissupposed
bytheIrishantiquariestobeastructureofvery
greatantiquity,forsomeofthemwouldcarryits
dateasfarbackastheseventhcentury,butthisis
probablyanexaggeration.Theonewhichfollows*
wasfurnishedbyanoldchurchpulleddownbyorder
oftheecclesiasticalcommissioners,anditwaspre-
sentedtothemuseumatDublin,bythelateDean
Dawson. Ourlastexample*wasformerlyinthe
possessionofSirBenjaminChapman,Bart.,ofKil-
loaCastle,Westmeath,andisnowinaprivatecol-
lectioninLondon.Itwasfoundin1859atChloran,
inafieldonSirBenjamin’sestateknownbythe
nameofthe“OldTown,”fromwhencestoneshad
beenremovedatpreviousperiods,thoughthereare
nowverysmallremainsofbuilding.Thisstonewas
foundatadepthofaboutfivefeetfromthesurface,
whichshowsthatthebuilding,achurchnodoubt,
1Platev,Fig.4.
2Platevi,Fig.1.
8Platovi,Fig.2.
4Platevi,Fig.3.
SSE oF
37

260. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
musthavefallenintoruinalongtimeago.Con-
tiguoustothisfield,andatadistanceofabouttwo
hundredyardsfromthespotwheretheShelah-na-
Gigwasfound,thereisanabandonedchurchyard,
separatedfromtheOldTownfieldonlybyaloose
stonewall.
Thebeliefinthesalutarypowerofthisimageap-
pearstobeasuperstitionofgreatantiquity,andto
existstillamongallpeopleswhohavenotreached
acertaindegreeofcivilization.Theuniversalityof
thissuperstitionleadsustothinkthatHerodotus
mayhaveerredintheexplanationhehasgivenof
certainratherremarkablemonumentsofaremote
antiquity.HetellsusthatSesostris,kingofEgypt,
raisedcolumnsinsomeofthecountriesheconquered,
onwhichhecausedtobefiguredthefemaleorganof
generationasamarkofcontemptforthosewhohad
submittedeasily.1.Maynotthesecolumnshavebeen
intended,ifweknewthetruth,asprotectionsforthe
peopleofthedistrictinwhichtheystood,andplaced
inthepositionwheretheycouldmostconveniently
beenseen?Thissuperstitioussentimentmayalso
offerthetrueexplanationofanincidentwhichis
1Herodotus,Euterpe,cap.102.DiodorusSiculusaddstothe
accountgivenbyHerodotus,thatSesostrisalsoerectedcolumns
Learingthemalegenerative organasacompliment tothe
peopleswhohaddefendedthemselvesbravely.
38

261. PLATE VI
SHELAH-NA-GIG MONUMENTS

262. .
i
—_—
¢<
s
ie
»)
.
z
¥/7
>
Ail
y,,
|aa
an

263. —————————_—_—X—X—X—X—X—X—X—YxX—XX—X_*
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
versie HimenteeSadlille2S,Dalbeattie
saidtohavebeenrepresentedinthemysteriesof
Eleusis.Ceres,wanderingovertheearthinsearch
ofherdaughterProserpine,andovercomewithgrief
forherloss,arrivedatthehutofanAthenianpeas-
antwomannamedBaubo,whoreceivedherhos-
pitably,andofferedhertodrinktherefreshingmix-
turewhichtheGreekscallCyceon(xvxewv).The
goddessrejectedtheofferedkindness,andrefusedall
consolation.Baubo,inherdistress,bethoughther
ofanotherexpedienttoallaythegriefofherguest.
Sherelievedhersexualorgansofthatoutwardsign
whichistheevidenceofpuberty,andthenpresented
themtotheviewofCeres,who,atthesight,laughed,
forgothersorrows,anddrankthecyceon.t.Thepre-
vailingbeliefinthebeneficialinfluenceofthissight,
ratherthanamerepleasantry,seemstoaffordthe
bestexplanationofthisstory.
Thissuperstitionwhich,asshownbytheShelah-
na-GigsoftheIrishchurches,prevailedlargelyin
themiddleages,explainsanotherclassofantiquities
whicharenotuncommon. Thesearesmallfiguresof
nudefemalesexposingthemselvesinexactlythesame
1ThisstoryistoldbythetwoChristianFathers,Arnobius,
AdversusGentes,lib.v.c.5,andClemensAlexandrinus Protrep-
ticus,p.17,ed.Oxon.1715.Thelatterwritermerelystatesthat
Batboexposedherpartstotheviewofthegoddess,withoutthe
incidentofpreparationmentionedbyArnobius.
aele eeEE
41

264. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
mannerasinthesculpturesonthechurchesinIre-
landjustalludedto.Suchfiguresarefoundnotonly
amongRoman,Greek,andEgyptianantiquities,but
amongeverypeoplewhohadanyknowledgeofart,
fromtheaboriginesofAmericatothefarmorecivi-
lizednativesofJapan;anditwouldbeeasytogive
examplesfromalmosteverycountryweknow,but
weconfineourselvestoourmorespecialpartofthe
subject.Inthelastcentury,anumberofsmallstatu-
ettesinmetal,inarudebutverypeculiarstyleof
art,werefoundintheduchyofMecklenburg-Strelitz,
inapartofGermanyformerlyoccupiedbytheVan-
dals,andbythetribeoftheObotrites,consideredasa
divisionoftheVendes.Theyappearedtobein-
tendedtorepresentsomeofthedeitiesworshipped
bythepeoplewhomadethem;andsomeofthem
boreinscriptions,oneofwhichwasinRuniccharac-
ters.Fromthiscircumstanceweshouldpresume
thattheybelongedtoaperiodnotmuch,ifany,older
thanthefalloftheWesternEmpire.Sometimeaft-
erwards,afewstatuettesinmetalwerefoundinthe
islandofSardinia,soexactlysimilartothosejust
mentioned,thatD’Hancarville,whopublishedanac-
countofthemwithengravings,consideredhimself
justifiedinascribingthemtotheVandals,whooccu-
piedthatisland,aswellasthetractofGermanyal-
42

265. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ludedto.Oneoftheseimages,whichD’Hancarville
considerstobetheVenusoftheVandalmythology,
representsafemaleinarecliningposition,withthe
wingsandclawsofabird,holdingtoviewapome-
granate,open,which,asD’Hancarvilleremarks,was
consideredasasignrepresentingthefemalesexual
organ.Infact,itwasaformandideamoreun-
equivocallyrepresentedintheRomanfigureswhich
wehavealreadydescribed,?butwhichcontinued
throughthemiddleages,andwaspreservedina
popularnameforthatorgan,abricot,orexpressed
morcenergetically,abricotfendu,usedbyRabelais,
andwebelievestillpreservedinFrance.Thiscuri-
ousimageisrepresented,afterD’Hancarville,in
threedifferentpointsofviewinourplate.’Several
figuresofasimilardescription,butrepresentingthe
subjectinamorematter-of-factshape,werebrought
fromEgyptbyaFrenchmanwhoheldanofficial
situationinthatcountry,andthreeofthemarenow
inaprivatecollectioninLondon.Wehaveengraved
oneofthesesmallbronzes,*which,aswillbeseen,
presentsanexactcounterpartoftheShelah-na-Gig.
1D’Hancarville, Antiquities Etrusques, Grecques, etRo-
maines,Paris,1785,tom.v.p.61.
2SeeourPlates1,Fig.4,vi,andPlatexu,Fig.3.
3Platevu,Figs.1,2,3.
4Platevi,Fig.4.

266. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
TheseEgyptianimagesbelongednodoubttotheRo-
manperiod.Anothersimilarfigure,’madeoflead,
andapparentlymedieval,wasfoundatAvignon,and
ispreservedinthesameprivatecollectionjustal-
ludedto;andathird,?wasdugup,abouttenyears
ago,atKingston-on-Thames. Theformofthese
statuettesseemstoshowthattheywereintendedas
portableimages,forthesamepurposeastheShe-
lahs,whichpeoplemighthavereadyathandtolook
uponforprotectionwhenevertheywereunderfear
oftheinfluenceoftheevileye,orofanyothersort
ofenchantment.
Wehavenotasyetanyclearevidenceoftheex-
istenceoftheShelah-na-Gig inchurches outofIre-
land.Wehavebeeninformed thatanexample has
beenfoundinoneofthelittlechurchesonthecoast
ofDevon; andtherearecurioussculptures,which
appeartobeofthesamecharacter,among thearchi-
tecturalornamentation oftheveryearlychurchof
SanFedeleatComo inItaly.Threeoftheseare
engraved inourplatevir.Onthetopoftheright
handjambofthedoor®isanakedmalefigure,and
inthesamepositionontheothersideafemale,*
1Platevir,Fig.5.
2Platex11,Fig.4.
3Platevi,Fig.1.
4Platevii,Fig.2.

267. Fig.6.
PLATD VII
VENUS OFTHE VANDALS, BRONZE AND LEAD IMAGES, AND
CAPITAL OFACOLUMN

268. sore eee
4WVenstiteattee"
SstudlimstentdheWetheyneal
owtelde:teringstTarEeseeSetea
inte,welphogteaelgltintes
sorefeypethidien-ehenever
efthelaiiettsfttheoveleyeae
inWeenpene‘dered a
hoenfvetTsdeboftheoeae
@-ThiSoalsqa
aoe ioheofeteen Shee
tsPcie
rie*y,a
BSahenna,Ma
rfoaeereenaaghtMa,(3;
“FiveFhcaelie.
Dateean!‘hy:i.
sinieaiaaigBya
astGA
CMA

269. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
whicharedescribedtousasrepresentingAdamand
Eve,andourinformant,towhomweowethedraw-
ingsdescribesthatattheapex’?merelyas“the
figureofawomanholdingherlegsapart.”Weun-
derstandthatthesurfaceofthestoneinthesesculp-
turesissomuchwornthatitisquiteuncertain
whetherthesexualpartswereeverdistinctlymarked,
butfromtheposturesandpositionsofthehands,and
thesituationinwhichthesefiguresareplaced,they
seemtoresembleclosely,exceptintheirsuperior
styleofart,theShelah-na-GigsofIreland.There
canbelittledoubtthatthesuperstitiontowhichthese
objectsbelongedgaverisetomuchoftheindecent
sculpturewhichissooftenfounduponmedieval
ecclesiasticalbuildings.ThelateBaronvonHammer-
Piirgstallpublishedaverylearnedpaperuponmonu-
mentsofvariouskindswhichheconsideredas
illustratingthesecrethistoryoftheorderofthe
Templars,fromwhichwelearnthattherewasin
histimeaseriesofmostextraordinaryobscenesculp-
turesinthechurchofSchoengraberinAustria,of
whichheintendedtogiveengravings,butthedraw-
ingshadnotarrivedintimeforhisbook;?buthe
hasengravedthecapitalofacolumninthechurchof
1Platevi,Fig.3.
2SeeVonHammer-Piirgstall, Fundgruben desOrients,vol.vi,
p.26.
47

270. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Egra,atownofBohemia,ofwhichwegiveacopy,’
inwhichthetwosexesaredisplayingtoviewthe
members,whichwerebelievedtobesoefficatious
againstthepoweroffascination.
Thefigureofthefemaleorgan,aswellasthemale,
appearstohavebeenemployedduringthemiddle
agesofWesternEuropefarmoregenerallythanwe
mightsuppose,placeduponbuildingsasatalisman
againstevilinfluences,andespeciallyagainstwitch-
craftandtheevileye,anditwasusedforthispur-
poseinmanyotherpartsoftheworld.Itwasthe
universalpracticeamongtheArabsofNorthernAf-
ricaiostickupoverthedoorofthehouseortent,
orputupnailedonaboardinsomeotherway,the
generativeorganofacow,mare,orfemalecamel,
asatalismantoaverttheinfluenceoftheevileye.
Itisevidentthatthefigureofthismemberwasfar
moreliabletodegradationinformthanthatofthe
male,becauseitwasmuchlesseasy,inthehandsof
rudedraughtsmen, todelineateinanintelligible
'form,andhenceitsoonassumedshapeswhich
thoughintendedtorepresentit,wemightrathercall
symbolicalofit,thoughnosymbolismwasintended.
Thusthefigureofthefemaleorganeasilyassumed
therudeformofahorseshoe,andastheoriginal
1VonHammer-Piirgstall,Fundgruben desOrients,vol.vi,p.35,
andPlateiv,Fig.31—SeeourPlatevn,Fig.6.
48

271. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
meaningwasforgotten,wouldbereadilytakenfor
thatobject,andarealhorseshoenailedupforthe
samepurpose.Inthiswayoriginated,apparently,
fromthepopularworshipofthegenerativepowers,
thevulgarpracticeofnailingahorseshoeuponbuild-
ingstoprotectthemandalltheycontainagainstthe
powerofwitchcraft,apracticewhichcontinuesto
existamongthepeasantryinsomepartsofEngland
atthepresentday.Othermarksarefound,some-
timesamongthearchitecturalornaments,suchas
certaintrianglesandtripleloops,whichareperhaps
typicalformsofthesameobject.Wehavebeenin-
formedthatthereisanoldchurchinIrelandwhere
themaleorganisdrawnononesideofthedoor,and
theShelah-na-Gigontheother,andthat,thoughper-
hapscomparativelymodern,theirimportasprotec-
tivecharmsarewellunderstood.Wecaneasily
imaginemen,undertheinfluenceofthesesupersti-
tions,whentheywereobligedtohaltforamoment
bythesideofabuilding,drawinguponitsucha
figure,withthedesignthatitshouldbeaprotection
tothemselves,andthusprobablywederivefrom
superstitiousfedlingsthecommonpropensitytodraw
phallicfiguresonthesidesofvacantwallsandin
other.places.
AntiquityhadmadePriapusagod,themiddleages
raisedhimintoasaint,andthatunderseveralnames.
49

272. aanaoooaooaaasS=SamapaamRRmDD9hX_—~—~—E—E—E—E———
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
InthesouthofFrance,Provence,Languedoc,and
theLyonnais,hewasworshippedunderthetitleof
St.Foutin.1.Thisnameissaidtobeamerecorrup-
tionofFotinusorPhotinus,thefirstbishopofLyons,
towhom,perhapsthroughgivingavulgarinterpre-
tationtothename,peoplehadtransferredthedis-
tinguishingattributeofPriapus.Thiswasalarge
phallusofwood,whichwasanobjectofreverenceto
thewomen,especiallytothosewhowerebarren,who
scrapedthewoodenmember,and,havingsteeped
thescrapingsinwater,theydrankthelatterasa
remedyagainsttheirbarrenness,oradministeredit
totheirhusbandsinthebeliefthatitwouldmake
themvigorous.Theworshipofthissaint,asitwas
practicedinvariousplacesinFranceatthecom-
mencementoftheseventeenthcentury,isdescribed
‘inthatsingularbook,theConfessiondeSancy.2,We
therelearnthatatVaraillesinProvence,waxen
imagesofthemembersofbothsexeswereofferedto
St.Foutin,andsuspendedtotheceilingofhischapel,
andthewriterremarksthat,astheceilingwascov-
eredwiththem,whenthewindblewthemabout,it
1Ourmaterial fortheaccountofthesephallicsaintsistaken
mostlyfromtheworkofM.Dulaure.
2LaConfessiondeSancyformsthefifthvolumeoftheJournal
d@’HenriIII,byPierredeL'Estoile,ed.Duchat. Seepp.383,391,
ofthatvolume.
50

273. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
producedaneffectwhichwascalculatedtodisturb
verymuchthedevotionsoftheworshippers.We
hardlyneedremarkthatthisisjustthesamekind
ofworshipwhichexistedatIsernia,inthekingdom
ofNaples,whereitwaspresentedinthesameshape.
AtEmbrun,inthedepartmentoftheUpperAlps,
thephallusofSt.Foutinwasworshippedinadiffer-
entform;thewomenpouredalibationofwineupon
theheadofthephallus,whichwascollectedina
vessel,inwhichitwaslefttillitbecamesour;itwas
thencalledthe“saintevinaigre,”andthewomen
employeditforapurposewhichisonlyobscurely
hintedat.WhentheProtestantstookEmbrunin
1585,theyfoundthisphalluslaidupcarefullyamong
therelicsintheprincipalchurch,itsheadredwith
thewinewhichhadbeenpoureduponit.Amuch
largerphallusofwood,coveredwithleather,was
anobjectofworshipinthechurchofSt.Eutropius
atOrange,butitwasseizedbytheProtestantsand
burntpubliclyin1562.St.Foutinwassimilarlyan
objectofworshipatPorigny,atCivesinthediocese
ofViviers,atVendreintheBourbonnais,atAuxerre,
atPuy-en-Velay,intheconventofGirouetnearSam-
pigny,andinotherplaces.Atadistanceofabout
fourleaguesfromClermontinAuvergne,thereis
(orwas)anisolatedrock,whichpresentstheform
ofanimmensephallus,andwhichispopularlycalled
51

274. iT
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
St.Foutin.Similarphallicsaintswereworshipped
underthenamesofSt.Guerlichon,orGreluchon,at
Bourg-DieuinthedioceseofBourges,ofSt.Gillesin
theCotentininBritany,ofSt.RenéinAnjou,ofSt.
RegnaudinBurgundy,ofSt.Arnaud,andaboveall
ofSt.GuignoléncarBrestandatthevillageofLa
ChateletteinBerri.Manyofthesewerestillinexis-
tenceandthcirworshipinfullpracticeinthelast
century;insomeofthem,thewoodenphallusisde-
scribedasbeingmuchworndownbythecontinual
processofscraping,whileinothersthelosssustained
byscrapingwasalwaysrestoredbyamiracle.This
miracle,however,wasaveryclumsyone,forthe
phallusconsistedofalongstaffofwoodpassed
throughaholeinthemiddleofthebody,andasthe
phallicendinfrontbecameshortened,ablowofa
malletfrombehindthrustitforward,sothatitwas
restoredtoitsoriginallength.
Itappearsthatitwasalsothepracticetoworship
thesesaintsinanothermanner,whichalsowasde-
rivedfromtheformsoftheworshipofPriapus
amongtheancients,withwhomitwasthecustom,in
thenuptialceremonies,forthebridetoofferupher
virginitytoPriapus,andthiswasdonebyplacing
hersexualpartsagainsttheendofthephallus,and
sometimesintroducingthelatter,andevencomplet-
ingthesacrifice.Thisceremonyisrepresentedina
52

275. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
bas-reliefinmarble,anengravingofwhichisgiven
intheMuséeSecretoftheantiquitiesofHerculaneum
andPompeii;itsobjectwastoconciliatethefavour
ofthegod,andtoavertsterility.Itisdescribedby
theearlyChristianwriters,suchasLactantiusand
Arnobius,asaverycommonpracticeamongthe
Romans;anditstillprevailstoagreatextentover
mostpartoftheEast,fromIndiatoJapanandthe
islandsofthePacific.InapublicsquareinBatavia,
thereisacannontakenfromthenativesandplaced
thereasatrophybytheDutch-government. Itpre-
sentsthepeculiaritythatthetouch-holeismadeona
phallichand,thethumbplacedinthepositionwhich
iscalledthe“fig,”andwhichweshallhavetode-
scribealittlefurtheron.Itisalwaysthesameideaof
reverencetothefertilizingpowersofnature,ofwhich
thegarlandorthebunchofflowerswasanappropri-
ateemblem.Therearetracesoftheexistenceofthis
practiceinthemiddleages.Inthecaseofsomeof
thepriapicsaintsmentionedabove,woniensoughta
remedyforbarrennessbykissingtheendofthephal-
lus;sometimestheyappeartohaveplacedapartof
theirbodynakedagainsttheimageofthesaint,orto
havesatuponit.Thislattertraitwasperhapstoo
boldanadoptionoftheindecenciesofpaganworship
tolastlong,ortobepraticedopenly;butitappears
tohavebeenmoreinnocentlyrepresentedbylying
53

276. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
uponthebodyofthesaint,orsittinguponastone,
understoodtorepresenthimwithoutthepresenceof
theenergeticmember.Inacornerinthechurchof
thevillageofSt.Fiacre,nearMouceauxinFrance,
thereisastonecalledthechairofSt.Fiacre,which
confersfecundityuponwomenwhosituponit;but
itisnecessarythatnothingshouldintervenebetween
theirbareskinandthestone.Inthechurchof
OrcivalinAuvergne,therewasapillarwhichbarren
womenkissedforthesamepurpose,andwhichhad
perhapsreplacedsomelessequivocalobject.t.Tra-
ditions,atleast,ofsimilarpracticeswereconnected
withSt.Foutin,foritappearstohavebeenthecus-
tomforgirlsonthepointofmarriagetooffertheir
lastmaidenrobetothatsaint.Thissuperstition
prevailedtosuchanextentthatitbecameproverbial.
Astoryistoldofayoungbridewho,onthewed-
dingnight,soughttodeceiveherhusbandonthe
questionofherpreviouschastity,although,asthe
writerexpressesit,“shehadlongagodepositedthe
robeofhervirginityonthealtarofSt.Foutin.”
Fromthisformofsuperstitionissaidtohavearisen
avicewhichisunderstoodtoprevailespeciallyin
1Dulaurerelatesthatonedayavillager’swifeenteringthis
church,andfindingonlyaburlycanoninit,askedhimearnestly,
“Where isthepillarwhichmakeswomen fruitful?” “I,”said
thecanon,“Iamthepillar.”
54

277. PLATE VIII
CAPITAL OFACOLUMN

279. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
nunneries—theusebywomenofartificialphalli,
whichappearsinitsorigintohavebeenareligious
ceremony.Itcertainlyexistedataveryremote
period,foritisdistinctlyalludedtointheScrip-
tures,whereitisevidentlyconsideredasapartof
paganworship.Itisfoundatanearlyperiodofthe
middleages,describedintheEcclesiasticalPeniten-
tials,withitsappropriateamountofpenitence.One
ofthesepenitentialcanonsoftheeighthcentury
speaksof“awomanwho,byherselforwiththehelp
ofanotherwoman,commitsuncleanness,”forwhich
shewastodopenanceforthreeyears,oneonbread
andwater;andifthisuncleannesswascommitted
withanun,thepenancewasincreasedtosevenyears,
twoonlyonbreadandwater.AnotherPenitential
ofanearlydateprovidesforthecaseinwhichboth
thewomenwhoparticipatedinthisactshouldbe
nuns;andBurchardus,bishopofWorms,oneofthe
mostcelebratedauthoritiesonsuchsubjects,de-
scribestheinstrumentanduseofitingreaterdetail.
Thepracticehadevidentlylostitsreligiouscharacter
anddegeneratedintoamereindulgenceofthe
passions.
1Ezekiel,xvi,17.Withinafewyearstherehasbeenacon-
siderablemanufacture oftheseobjectsinParis,anditwasun-
derstoodthattheywerechieflyexportedtoItaly,wheretheywere
soldinthenunneries.
57

280. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
AntwerphasbeendescribedastheLampsacusof
Belgium,andPriapuswas,downtoacomparatively
modernperiod,itspatronsaint,underthenameof
Ters,awordthederiviationofwhichappearstobe
unknown,butwhichwasidenticalinmeaningwith
theGreekphallusandtheLatinfascinum.John
GoropiusBecan,whopublishedalearnedtreatiseon
theantiquitiesofAntwerpinthemiddleofthesix-
teenthcentury,informsushowmuchthisTerswas
reverencedinhistimebytheAntwerpians,especially
bythewomen,whoinvokeditoneveryoccasion
whentheyweretakenbysurpriseorsuddenfear.*
Hestatesthat“iftheyletfallbyaccidentavessel
ofearthenware,orstumbled,orifanyunexpected
accidentcausedthemvexation,eventhemostre-
spectablewomencalledaloudfortheprotectionof
Priapusunderthisobscenename.”GoropiusBecanus
addsthattherewasinhistime,overthedoorofa
houseadjoiningtheprison,astatuewhichhadbeen
furnishedwithalargephallus,thenwornawayor
brokenoff.Amongotherwriterswhomentionthis
statueisAbrahamGolnitz,whopublishedanaccount
ofhistravelsinFranceandBelgium,in1631,?andhe
informsusthatitwasacarvinginstone,aboutafoot
1JohannisGoropiiBecaniOriginesAntwerpianae, 1569,lib.i,
pp.26,101.
2GolnitziiItinerariumBelgico-Gallicum,p.52.
58

281. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
high,withitsarmsraisedup,anditslegsspread
out,andthatthephallushadbeenentirelywornout
bythewomen,whohadbeeninthehabitofscraping
itandmakingapotionofthedustwhichtheydrank
asapreservativeagainstbarrenness.Golnitzfurther
tellsusthatafigureofPriapuswasplacedoverthe
entrancegatetotheenclosureofthetempleofSt.
WalburgisatAntwerp,whichsomeantiquaries
imaginedtohavebeenbuiltonthesiteofatemple
dedicatedtothatdeity.Itappearsfromthesewriters
that,atcertaintimes,thewomenofAntwerpdeco-
ratedthephalliofthesefigureswithgarlands.
Theuseofpriapicfiguresasamulets,tobecar-
riedonthepersonaspreservativesagainsttheevil
eyeandothernoxiousinfluences,whichwehave
spokenofassocommonamongtheRomans,was
certainlycontinuedthroughthemiddleages,and,as
weshallseepresently,hasnotentirelydisappeared.
Itwasnaturalenoughtobelievethatifthisfigure
weresalutarywhenmerelylookedupon,itmustbe
muchmoresowhencarriedconstantlyontheper-
son.TheRomansgavethenamefascinum,inold
Frenchfesne,tothephallicamulet,aswellastothe
samefigureunderothercircumstances.Itisanob-
jectofwhichwecouldhardlyexpecttofinddirect
mentioninmedizvalwriters,butwemeetwithex-
amplesoftheobjectitself,usuallymadeoflead(a
59

282. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
proofofitspopularcharacter),andrangingindate
perhapsfromthefourteenthtotheearlierpartofthe
sixteenthcentury.Asweoweourknowledgeofthese
phallicamuletsalmostentirelytoonecollector,M.
ForgeaisofParis,whoobtainedthemchieflyfrom
onesource—theriverSeine,ourpresentacquaintance
withthemmaybeconsideredasverylimited,andwe
haveeveryreasonforbelievingthattheyhadbeen
inuseduringtheearlierperiod.Wecanonlyillus-
tratethispartofthesubjectbydescribingafewof
thesemedizvalphallicamulets,whicharepreserved
insomeprivatecollections;andwewillfirstcall
attentiontoaseriesofobjects,therealpurposeof
whichappearstobeveryobscure.Theyaresmall
leadentokensormedalets,bearingontheobverse
thefigureofthemaleorfemaleorgan,andonthe
reverseacross,acuriousintimationoftheadoption
oftheworshipofthegenerativepowersamongChris-
tians.Theseleadentokens,foundintheriverSeine,
werefirstcollectedandmadeknowntoantiquaries
byM.Forgeais,whopublishedexamplesofthemin
hisworkontheleadenfiguresfoundinthatriver.
Wegivefiveexamplesofthemedalsofeachsex,ob-
verseandreverse.’Itwillbeseenthatthephallion
Fr aereEe SE eee eee
1NoticesurdesPlombsHistoriéstrouvésdanslaSeine,et
recueillisparArthurForgeais.8vo.Paris,1858.
2SeeourPlaterx.
(outaenemaensnenbastunisaadetiouaeeneneonaaagantoopeeeeee
60

283. PLATE IX
ORNAMENTS FROM THECHURCH OFSANFEDELE

284. 4

285. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thesetokensarenearlyallfurnishedwithwings;one
hasabird’slegsandclaws;andonanotherthereis
anevidentintentiontorepresentabellsuspended
totheneck.Thesecharacteristicsshoweitheravery
distincttraditionoftheformsoftheRomanphallic
ornament,oranimitationofexamplesofRoman
phallithenexisting—possiblythelatter.Butthisis
notnecessary,forthebellsbornebytwoexamples,
giveninournextplate,andalsotakenfromthecol-
lectionofM.Forgeaisaremedieval,andnotRoman
bells,thoughthesealsorepresentwell-knownan-
cientformsoftreatingthesubject.Inthefirst,?a
femaleisridinguponthephallus,whichhasmen’s
legs,andisheldbyabridie.Thisfigurewasevi-
dentlyintendedtobeattachedtothedressasa
brooch,forthepinwhichfixeditstillremainson
theback.Twootherexamples?presentfiguresof
wingedphalli,onewithabell,andtheotherwiththe
ringremainingfromwhichthebellhasnodoubt
beenbroken.Oneofthesehasthedog’slegs.A
fourthexample*representsanenormousphallusat-
tachedtothemiddleofasmallman.Inanother,‘
whichwasevidentlyintendedforsuspension,prob-
1Platex,Fig.1.
2Platex,Figs.2and3.
8Platex,Fig.4.
4Platex,Fig.5.
63

286. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ablyattheneck,theorgansofthetwosexesare
joinedtogether.Threeotherleadenfigures,’ap-
parentlyamulets,whichwereintheForgeaiscollec-
tion,offeraverypeculiarvarietyofform,represent-
ingafigure,whichwemightsupposetobeamaleby
itsattributes,thoughithasaveryfemininelook,and
wearstherobeandhoodofawoman.Itspeculiarity
consistsinhavingaphallusbeforeandbehind.We
haveonthesameplate*astillmoreremarkable
exampleofthecombinationofthecrosswiththe
emblemsoftheworshipofwhichwearetreating,in
anobjectfoundatSanAgatidiGoti,nearNaples,
whichwasformerlyintheBeresfordFletchercol-
lection,andisnowinthatofAmbroseRuschen-
berger,Esq.,ofBoston,U.S.Itisacruzansata,
formedbyfourphalli,withacircleoffemaleorgans
roundthecentre;andappearsbythelooptohave
beenintendedforsuspension.Asthiscrossisof
gold,ithadnodoubtbeenmadeforsomepersonage
ofrank,possiblyanecclesiastic;andwecanhardly
helpsuspectingthatithadsomeconnectionwith
priapicceremoniesorfestivities.Thelastfigureon
thesameplateisalsotakenfromthecollectionof
M.Forgeais.*Fromthemonkishcowlandthecord
1Platex1,Figs.1,2,and3.
2Platex1,Fig.4.
3Platex1,Fig.5.

287. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
roundthebody,wemayperhapstakeitforasatire
uponthefriars,someofwhomworenobreeches,and
theywereallchargedwithbeinggreatcorruptors
offemalemorals.
InItalywecantracethecontinuoususeofthese
phallicamuletsdowntothepresenttimemuchmore
distinctlythaninourmoreWesterncountries.There
theyarestillinverycommonuse,andwegivetwo
examples:ofbronzeamuletsofthisdescription,
whicharecommonlysoldinNaplesatthepresent
dayforacarlo,equivalenttofourpenceinEnglish
money,each.Oneofthem,itwillbeseen,isen-
circledbyaserpent.Soimportantaretheseamulets
consideredforthepersonalsafetyofthosewhopos-
sessthem,thatthereishardlyapeasantwhois
withoutone,whichheusuallycarriesinhiswaistcoat
pocket.
Therewasanother,andlessopenlyapparent,form
ofthephallus,whichhaslastedasanamuletduring
almostinnumerable ages.Theancientshadtwo
formsofwhatantiquarieshavenamedthephallic
hand,oneinwhichthemiddlefingerwasextended
atlength,andthethumbandotherfingersdoubled
up,whileintheotherthewholehandwasclosed,but
thethumbwaspassedbetweenthefirstandmiddle
1Platexm,Figs.1and2.

288. ST
Iaae=S=eEaaeeSee———————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
eeee
fingers.Thefirstoftheseformsappearstohave
beenthemoreancient,andisunderstoodtohave
beenintendedtorepresent,bytheextendedmiddle
finger,themembrum virile,andbythebentfingers
oneachsidethetesticles.Hencethemiddlefinger
ofthehandwascalledbytheRomans,digitustm-
pudicus,orinfamis.ItwascalledbytheGreeks
xatanvywv,Whichhadsomewhatthesamemeaningas
theLatinword,exceptthatithadreferenceespe-
ciallytodegradingpractices,whichwerethenless
concealedthaninmoderntimes.Toshowthehand
inthisformwasexpressedinGreekbytheword
mxolitery,andwasconsideredasamostcontemptu-
ousinsult,becauseitwasunderstoodtointimatethat
thepersontowhomitwasaddressedwasaddicted
tounnaturalvice.Thiswasthemeaningalsogivento
itbytheRomans,aswelearnfromthefirstlinesof
anepigramofMartial:—
“Rideto,multum,quite,Sextille,cinedum
Dixerit,etdigitumporrigitomedium.”
Martial,Ep.ii,28.
Nevertheless,thisgestureofthehandwaslooked
uponatanearlyperiodasanamuletagainstmagical
influences,and,formedofdifferentmaterials,itwas
carriedonthepersoninthesamemannerasthe
phallus.ItisnotanuncommonobjectamongRoman
ce
66

289. PLATE X
PHALLIC LEADEN TOKENS FROMTHESHINE

290. i
That‘wy‘oresoteee
I ae
|salierPrank!iyAleaSiedninens
enite;in.rothaakoegst2
beecg>Vifswegenvedie.
reofFEt:oleApresAad=e
>
Raskinyreatsee?
ehaetlaRYWatwnc;reogeeaeaa
brabtiateynuk,HootftSeraeehes:
iadai,-4iePertti Arecas
sitea.tuytees)Geyaea S

291. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
antiquities,andwasadoptedbytheGnosticsasone
oftheirsymbolicalimages.Thesecondofthese
formsofthephallichand,theintentionofwhichis
easilyseen(thethumbformingthephallus),was
alsowellknownamongtheRomans,andisfound
madeofvariousmaterial,suchasbronze,coral,lapis
lazuli,andchrystal,ofasizewhichwasevidently
intendedtobesuspendedtotheneckortosome
otherpartoftheperson.IntheMuséeSecretat
Naples,thereareexamplesofsuchamulets,inthe
shapeoftwoarmsjoinedattheelbow,onetermi-
natingintheheadofaphallus,theotherhavinga
handarrangedintheformjustdescribed,which
seemtohavebeenintendedforpendentstoladies’
ears.Thisgestureofthehandappearstohavebeen
calledatalaterperiodofLatin,thoughwehaveno
knowledgeofthedateatwhichthisuseoftheword
began,ficus,afig.Ficusbeingawordinthefemi-
ninegender,appearstohavefalleninthepopular
languageintothemorecommonformoffeminine
nouns,fica,outofwhicharosetheItalianfica(now
replacedbyfico),theSpanishhiga,andtheFrench
figue.Florio,whogivesthewordfica,afig,saysthat
itwasalsousedinthesenseof“awoman’squaint,”
sothatitmayperhapsbeclassedwithoneortwo
otherfruits,suchasthepomegranateandtheapri-
ERa
69

292. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
cot,towhichasimilareroticmeaningwasgiven."
Theform,underthisname,waspreservedthrough
themiddleages,especiallyintheSouthofEurope,
whereRomantraditionswerestrongest,bothasan
amuletandasaninsultinggesture.TheItalian
calledthisgesturefarelafica,tomakeordothefig
toalyone;theSpaniard,darunahiga,togivea
fig;andtheFrenchman,liketheItalian,fairela
figue.Wecantracethisphrasebacktothethir-
teenthcenturyatleast.Inthejudicialproceedings
againsttheTemplarsinParisin1309,oneofthe
brethrenoftheOrderwasasked,jokingly,inhis
examination,becausehewasratherlooseandflip-
pantinhisreplies,“ifhehadbeenorderedbythe
saidreceptor(theofficeroftheTemplarswhoad-
mittedthenewcandidate)tomakewithhisfingers
thefigatthecrucifix.”Herethewordusedisthe
correctLatinficus;anditisthesameintheplural,
inadocumentoftheyear1449,inwhichanindi-
vidualissaidtohavemadefigswithbothhandsat
another.Thisphraseappearstohavebeenintroduced
intotheEnglishlanguageinthetimeofElizabeth
andtohavebeentakenfromtheSpaniards,with
whomourrelationswerethenintimate.Thiswe
1Seebefore,page43.Among theRomans,thefigwascon-
sideredasafruitconsecratedtoPriapus,onaccount,itissaid,
ofitsproductiveness.
70

293. _==——==——ee__=_—asS=—_aee__—__————ESSS§-
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
assumefromthecircumstancethattheEnglish
phrasewas“togivethefig”(darlahiga),?andthat
thewritersoftheElizabethanagecallit“thefigof
Spain.”Thus,“ancient”Pistol,inShakespeare:—
——“A figoforthyfriendship!—
ThefigofSpain.”HenryV,iii.6.
Thephrasehasbeenpreservedinallthesecountries
downtomoderntimesandwestillsayinEnglish,
“afigforanybody,”or“foranything,”notmeaning
thatweestimatethematnomorethanthevalueof
afig,butthatwethrowatthemthatcontemptwhich
wasintimatedbyshowingthemthephallichand,and
whichtheGreeks,asstatedabove,calledoxipodiCew.
Theformofshowingcontemptwhichwascalledthe
figisstillwellknownamongthelowerclassesof
societyinEngland,anditispreservedinmostofthe
countriesofWesternEurope.InBaretti’sSpanish
Dictionary,whichbelongstothecommencement of
thepresentcentury,wefindthewordhigainter-
pretedas“Amannerofscoffingatpeople,whichcon-
sistsinshowingthethumbbetweenthefirstand
secondfinger,closingthefirst,andpointingatthe
persontowhomwewanttogivethishatefulmark
ofcontempt.”Barettialsogivesasstillinusethe
originalmeaningoftheword,“Higa,alittlehand
1“BeholdnextIseecontempt,givingmethefico.”Wit’s
Misery,quotedinNares,v.Fico.
71

294. ee
ee
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
DiRT IELEPOLI BierPe
madeofjet,whichtheyhangaboutchildrentokeep
themfromevileyes;asuperstitiouscustom.”The
useofthisamuletisstillcommoninItaly,andes-
peciallyinNaplesandSicily;ithasanadvantage
overthemereformofthephallus,thatwhenthe
artificialficaisnotpresent,anindividual,whofinds
orbelieveshimselfinsuddendanger,canmakethe
amuletwithhisownfingers.Soprofoundisthe
beliefofitsefficacyinItaly,thatitiscommonly
believedandreportedtherethat,atthebattleof
Solferino,thekingofItalyheldhishandinhis
pocketwiththisarrangementofthefingersasapro-
tectionagainsttheshotsoftheenemy.
Therewerepersonagesconnectedwiththeworship
ofPriapuswhoappeartohavebeencommon tothe
Romans underandbeforetheempire,andtothe
foreignraceswhosettleduponitsruins.TheTeu-
tonicracebelievedinaspiritualbeingwhoinhabited
thewoods,andwhowascalledinoldGermanscrat.
Hischaracterwasmoregeneralthanthatofamere
habitantofthewoods,foritansweredtotheEnglish
hobgoblin,ortotheIrishcluricaune.Thescratwas
thespiritofthewoods,underwhichcharacterhe
wassometimescalledawaltscrat,andofthefields,
andalsoofthehousehold,thedomesticspirit,the
ghosthauntingthehouse.Hisimagewasprobably
lookeduponasanamulet,aprotectiontothehouse,
72

295. PLATE XI
LEADEN ORNAMENTS FROMTHESEINE

297. SS
re
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
asanoldGermanvocabularyoftheyear1482,ex-
plainsschretlin,littlescrats,bytheLatinword
penates.Thelasciviouscharacterofthisspirit,ifit
wantedmoredirectevidence,isimpliedbythefact
thatfcrifta,inAnglo-Saxon,andscrat,inoldEng-
lish,meantahermaphrodite. Accordingly,the
medizvalvocabulariesexplainscratbyLatinequiva-
lents,whichallindicatecompanionsoremanations
ofPriapus,andinfact,Priapushimself.Isidore
givesthenameofPilosi,orhairymen,andtellsus
thattheywerecalledinGreek,Panite(apparently
anerrorforEphialte),andinLatin,Incubiand
Inibi,thelatterwordderivedfromtheverbinire,
andappliedtothemonaccountoftheirintercourse
withanimals.Theywereinfactthefaunsand
satyrsofantiquity,hauntedlikethemthewildwoods,
andwerecharacterizedbythesamepetulance
towardstheothersex.Woetothemodestyof
maidenorwomanwhoventuredincautiouslyinto
theirhaunts.AsIncubi,theyvisitedthehouseby
night,andviolatedthepersonsofthefemales,and
someofthemostcelebratedheroesofearlymedieval
romances,suchasMerlin,werethusthechildrenof
incubi.TheywereknownatanearlyperiodinGaul
bythenameofDusii,fromwhich,asthechurch
taughtthatallthesemythicpersonagesweredevils,
wederiveourmodernwordDeuce,usedinsuch
75

298. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
phrasesas“theDeucetakeyou!”Thetermficarti
wasalsoappliedtotheminmedievalLatin,either
fromthemeaningofthewordficus,mentionedbe-
fore,orbecausetheywerefondoffigs.Mostofthese
LatinsynonymsaregivenintheAnglo-Saxonvocab-
ularyofAlfric,andareinterpretedasmeaning“evil
men,spiritsofthewoods,evilbeings.”Oneofthe
oldcommentatorsontheScripturesdescribesthese
spiritsofthewoodsas“monstersinthesemblance
ofmen,whoseformbeginswiththehumanshape
andendsintheextremityofabeast.”Theywere,
infact,halfman,halfgoat,andwereidenticalwith
aclassofhobgoblins,whoataratherlaterperiod
werewellknowninEnglandbythepopularnameof
RobinGoodfellows,whosePriapiccharacterissuf-
ficientlyprovedbythepicturesofthemattachedto
someofourearlyprintedballads,ofwhichwegive
facsimiles.Thefirst?isafigureofRobinGoodfel-
low,whichformstheillustrationtoaverypopular
balladoftheearlierpartoftheseventeenthcen-
tury,entitled“ThemadmerryPranksofRobin
Goodfellow;”heisrepresentedparty-coloured,and
withthepriapicattribute.Thenext?isasecondil-
1Seebefore,p.70.
2SeePlatexn,Fig.5.From acopyoftheblack-letter
balladinthelibraryoftheBritishMuseum.
8Platexu,Fig.2.Fromthesameballad.
76

299. ——eeeeeeeeeeeeeeoeoEoEoEoEoEoEoEoE——E—E—E—E—E—E—E—E—EEEEEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
lustrationofthesameballad,inwhichRobinGood-
fellowisrepresentedasPriapus,goat-shaped,with
hisattributesstillmorestronglypronounced,and
surroundedbyacircleofhisworshippersdancing
abouthim.Heappearshereinthecharacteras-
sumedbythedemonatthesabbathofthewitches,of
whichweshallhavetospeakalittlefurtheron.The
RomishChurchcreatedgreatconfusioninallthese
popularsuperstitionsbyconsideringthemythicper-
sonswithwhomtheywereconnectedassomany
devils;andoneofthesePriapicdemonsisfigured
inacutwhichseemstohavebeenafavoriteone,
andisoftenrepeatedasanillustrationofthebroad-
sideballadsoftheageofJamesI.andCharlesI.1It
isPriapusreducedtohisloweststepofdegradation.
Besidestheinvocationsaddressedprincipallyto
Priapus,ortothegenerativepowers,theancients
hadestablishedgreatfestivalsintheirhonour,which
wereremarkablefortheirlicentiousgaiety,andin
whichtheimageofthephalluswascarriedopenly
andintriumph.Thesefestivitieswereespecially
celebratedamongtheruralpopulation,andthey
wereheldchieflyduringthesummermonths.The
preparatorylaboursoftheagriculturistwereover,
1Platexm,Fig.1.From twoblack-letterballadsinthe
BritishMuseum, oneentitled,“AwarningforallLewdLivers,”
theother,“AstrangeandtrueNewsfromWestmoreland.”
77

300. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
andpeoplehadleisuretowelcomewithjoyfulness
theactivityofnature’sreproductivepowers,which
wasinduetimetobringtheirfruits.Amongthe
mostcelebratedofthesefestivalsweretheLiberalia,
whichwereheldonthe17thofMarch.Amonstrous
phalluswascarriedinprocessioninacar,andits
worshippersindulgedloudlyandopenlyinobscene
songs,conversation,andattitudes,andwhenit
halted,themostrespectableofthematronscere-
moniouslycrownedtheheadofthephalluswitha
garland.TheBacchanalia,representingtheDionysia
oftheGreeks,werecelebratedinthelatterpartof
October,whentheharvestwascompleted,andwere
attendedwithmuchthesameceremoniesasthe
Liberalia.Thephalluswassimilarlycarriedinpro-
cesion,andcrowned,and,asintheLiberalia,the
festivitiesbeingcarriedonintothenight,asthe
celebratorsbecameheatedwithwine,theydegener-
atedintotheextremeoflicentiousness,inwhich
peopleindulgedwithoutablushinthemostinfamous
vices.ThefestivalofVenuswascelebratedtowards
thebeginningofApril,andinitthephalluswas
againcarriedinitscar,andledinprocessionby
theRomanladiestothetempleofVenusoutsidethe
Collinegate,andtherepresentedbythemtothe
sexualpartsofthegoddess.Thispartofthescene
isrepresentedinawell-knownintaglio,whichhas
78

301. PLATH XII
AMULETS OFGOLDANDLEAD

303. ———aees_C_C_C_CC——_C_C_C_ —_
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
feesaaeraUNteHESSAalaael
beenpublishedinseveralworksonantiquities.At
thecloseofthemonthlastmentionedcamethe
Floralia,which,ifpossible,excelledalltheothersin
licence.Ausonius,inwhosetime(thelatterhalfof
thefourthcentury)theFloraliawerestillinfull
force,speaksoftheirlasciviousness—
NecnonlasciviFloralialetatheatri,
Quespectarevoluntquivoluissenegant.
AusoniiEclog.deFeriisRomanis.
Theloosewomen ofthetownanditsneighbourhood,
calledtogetherbythesoundingofhorns,mixedwith
themultitudeinperfectnakedness, andexcitedtheir
passionswithobscenemotions andlanguage,until
thefestivalendedinasceneofmadrevelry,inwhich
allrestraintwaslaidaside.Juvenal describesa
Roman dameofverydepraved manners as—
-Dignissimaprorsus
Floralimatrona tuba.
Juvenalis Sat.vi,1.249.
Thesescenesofunboundedlicenceanddepravity,
deeplyrootedinpeople’smindsbylongestablished
customs,causedsolittlepublicscandal,thatitisre-
latedofCatotheyoungerthat,whenhewaspresent
atthecelebrationoftheFloralia,insteadofshowing
anydisapprovalofthem,heretired,thathiswell-
knowngravitymightbenorestraintuponthem,be-
causethemultitudemanifestedsomehesitationin
81

304. eee
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
strippingthewomennakedinthepresenceofaman
socelebratedforhismodesty. Thefestivalsmore
speciallydedicatedtoPriapus,thePriapeia,wereat-
tendedwithsimilarceremoniesandsimilarlylicen-
tiousorgies.Theirformsandcharacteristicsare
betterknown,becausetheyaresofrequentlyrepre-
sentedtousasthesubjectsofworksofRoman art.
TheRomanshadotherfestivalsofsimilarcharacter,
butoflessimportance,someofwhichwereofamore
privatecharacter,andsomewerecelebratedinstrict
privacy.SuchweretheritesoftheBonaDea,es-
tablishedamongtheRomanmatronsinthetimeof
therepublic,thedisordersofwhicharedescribedin
suchglowinglanguagebythesatiristJuvenal,inhis
enumerationofthevicesoftheRomanwomen:—
NotaBone secretaDez,quum tibialumbos
Incitat,etcornuparitervinoqueferuntur
Attonite,crinemquerotant,ululantquePriapi
Menades. Oquantus tuncillismentibus ardor
Concubitus! quevoxsaltantelibidine!quantus
Illemeriveterispercruramadentia torrens!
Lenonum ancillaspositaSaufeiacorona
Provocat,ettollitpendentispremiacoxe.
IpsaMedullinefluctumcrissantisadorat.
Palmam interdominasvirtusnatalibussquat.
Nilibiperludum simulabitur: omniafient
Adverum,quibusincendijamfrigidusevo
Laomedontiades etNestorisherniapossit.
Tuncprurigomoreimpatiens,tuncfeminasimplex,
Ettotopariterrepetitusclamorabantro:
Jamfasest:admitteviros!—Juvenalis Sat.vi,1.314.
CETy
82

305. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
AmongtheTeutonic,aswellasamongmostother
peoples,similarfestivalsappeartohavebeencele-
bratedduringthesummermonths;and,astheyarose
outofthesamefeelings,theynodoubtpresentedthe
samegeneralforms.Theprincipalpopularfestivals
ofthesummerduringthemiddleagesoccurredinthe
monthsofApril,May,andJune,andcomprised
Easter,May-day,andthefeastofthesummersol-
stice.Alltheseappeartohavebeenoriginallyac-
companiedwiththesamephallicworshipwhich
formedtheprincipalcharacteristicofthegreatRo-
manfestivals;and,infact,theseareexactlythose
popularinstitutionsandtraitsofpopularmanners
whichweremostlikelytooutlive,alsowithoutany
materialchange,theoverthrowoftheRomanem-
pirebythebarbarians.Although,atthetimewhen
webecomeintimatelyacquaintedwiththesefestivals,
mostoftheprominentmarksoftheirphalliccharac-
terhadbeenabandonedandforgotten,yetwemeet
duringtheintervalwithscatteredindicationswhich
leavenoroomtodoubtoftheirformerexistence.It
willbeinterestingtoexamineintosomeofthese
points,andtoshowtheinfluencetheyexertedon
medizvalsociety.
Thefirstofthethreegreatfestivalsjustmentioned
waspurelyAnglo-SaxonandTeutonic;butitappears
inthefirstplacetohavebeenidentifiedwiththe
83

306. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
RomanLiberalia,anditwasfurthertransformedby
theCatholicchurchintooneofthegreatChristian
religiousfeasts.IntheprimitiveTeutonicmythology
therewasafemaledeitynamed,inOldGerman,
Ostara,and,inAnglo-Saxon,Eastre,orEostre,but
allweknowofheristhesimplestatementofour
fatherofhistory,Bede,thatherfestivalwascele-
bratedbytheancientSaxonsinthemonthofApril,
fromwhichcircumstance,thatmonthwasnamedby
theAnglo-SaxonsEaster-monath,orEoster-monath,
andthatthenameofthegoddesshadbeensubse-
quentlygiventothePaschaltime,withwhichitwas
identical.Thenameofthisgoddesswasgivento
thesamemonthbytheoldGermansandbythe
Franks,sothatshemusthavebeenoneofthemost
highlyhonouredoftheTeutonicdeities,andher
festivalmusthavebeenaveryimportantone,and
deeplyimplantedinthepopularfeelings,orthe
churchwouldnothavesoughttoidentifyitwithone
ofthegreatestChristianfestivalsoftheyear.Itis
understoodthattheRomansconsideredthismonth
asdedicatedtoVenus,nodoubtbecauseitwasthat
inwhichtheproductivepowerofnaturebegantobe
visiblydeveloped.WhenthePaganfestivalwas
adoptedbythechurch,itbecameamoveablefeast
insteadofbeingfixedtothemonthofApril.Among
otherobjectsofferedtothegoddessatthistimewere
84

307. Fig2.
PLATE XIII
ROBIN GOODFELLOW ANDPHALLIC ORNAMENTS

308. ’_—cme

309. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
cakes,madenodoubtoffineflour,butoftheirform
weareignorant.TheChristians,whentheyseized
upontheEasterfestival,gavethemtheformofa
bun,which,indeed,wasatthattimetheordinary
formofbread;andtoprotectthemselves,andthose
whoeatthem,fromanyenchantment,orotherevil
influenceswhichmightarisefromtheirformer
heathencharacter,theymarkedthemwiththeChris-
tiansymbol—the cross.Hencewerederivedthe
cakeswestilleatatEasterunderthenameofhot-
cross-buns,andthesuperstitiousfeelingsattachedto
them,formultitudesofpeoplestillbelievethatif
theyfailedtoeatahot-cross-bunonGood-Friday
theywouldbeunluckyalltherestoftheyear.But
thereissomereasonforbelievingthat,atleastin
someparts,theEaster-cakeshadoriginallyadiffer-
entform—thatofthephallus.Suchatleastappears
tohavebeenthecaseinFrance,wherethecustom
stillexists.InSaintonge,intheneighbourhoodof
LaRochelle,smallcakes,bakedintheformofa
phallus,aremadeasofferingsatEaster,andare
carriedandpresentedfromhousetohouse;andwe
havebeeninformedthatsimilarpracticesexistin
someotherplaces.WhenDulaurewrote,thefestival
ofPalmSunday,inthetownofSaintes,wascalled
thefétedespinnes,pinnebeingapopularandvulgar
wordforthemembrum virile.Atthisfétethewomen
87

310. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
andchildrencarriedintheprocession,attheendof
theirpalmbranches,aphallusmadeofbread,which
theycalledundisguisedlyapinne,andwhich,having
beenblestbythepriest,thewomencarefullypre-
servedduringthefollowingyearasanamulet.A
similarpracticeexistedatSt.Jean-d’Angély,where
smallcakes,madeintheformofthephallus,and
namedfateux,werecarriedintheprocessionofthe
Féte-Dieu,orCorpusChristi.tShortlybeforethe
timewhenDulaurewrote,thispracticewassup-
pressedbyanewsous-préfet,M.Maillard.Thecus-
tomofmakingcakesintheformofthesexualmem-
bers,maleandfemale,datesfromaremoteantiquity
andwascommonamongtheRomans.Martialmade
aphallusofbread(Priapussiligineus)thesubjectof
anepigramoftwolines:—
Sivisessesatur,nostrumpotesessepriapum:
Ipselicetrodasinguina,puruseris.
Martial,lib.xiv,ep.69.
Thesamewriterspeaksoftheimageofafemaleor-
ganmadeofthesamematerialinanotherofhis
epigrams,toexplainwhich,itisonlynecessaryto
statethattheseimageswerecomposedofthefinest
wheatenflour(siligo):—
1Dulaure,HistoireAbrégéedesDifférentCultes,vol.ii,p.285.
SecondEdition.Itwasprintedin1825.
88

311. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Pauperamicitiecumsis,Lupe,nonesamice;
Et.queriturdetementulasolanihil.
Illasiligineispinguescitadulteracunnis;
Convivam pascitnigrafarinatuum.
} Martial,lib.ix,ep.3.
Thiscustomappearstohavebeenpreservedfrom
theRomans throughthemiddleages,andmaybe
traceddistinctlyasfarbackasthefourteenthor
fifteenthcentury.Weareinformedthatinsomeof
theearlierineditedFrenchbooksoncookery,re-
ceiptsaregivenformakingcakesintheseobscene
forms,whicharenamedwithoutanyconcealment;
andthewriteronthissubject,whowroteinthesix-
teenthcentury,JohannesBruerinusCampegius,de-
scribingthedifferentformsinwhichcakeswere
thenmade,enumeratesthoseofthesecretmembers
ofbothsexes,aproof,hesaysof“thedegeneracy
ofmanners,whenChristiansthemselvescandelight
inobscenitiesandimmodestthingsevenamongtheir
articlesoffood.”Headdsthatsomeofthesewere
commonly spokenofbyagrossname,descons
sucrés.WhenDulaurewrote,thatisjustfortyyears
ago,cakesoftheseformscontinuedtobemadein
variouspartsofFrance,andheinformsusthatthose
representingthemaleorganweremadeintheLower
Limousin,andespeciallyatBrives,whilesimilar
imagesofthefemaleorganweremadeatClermont
89

312. ——IIISISSaSaSEeaSaEeEaSaS=S=Saee—————————E—E™E—E—EEEEEE ee
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ee NE eea On
inAuvergne,andinotherplaces.Theywerepopu-
larlycalledmiches.*
ThereisanothercustomattachedtoEaster,which
hasprobablysomerelationtotheworshipofwhich
wearetreating,andwhichseemsoncetohavepre-
vailedthroughoutEngland,thoughwebelieveitis
nowconfinedtoShropshireandCheshire.Inthe
formercountyitiscalledheaving,inthelatterlifting.
OnEasterMondaythemengoaboutwithchairs,
seizethewomentheymeet,and,placingtheminthe
chairs,raisethemup,turnthemroundtwoorthree
times,andthenclaimtherightofkissingthem.On
EasterTuesday,thesamethingisdonebythewomen
tothemen.This,ofcourse,isonlypracticednow
amongthelowerclasses,exceptsometimesasafrolic
amongintimatefriends.Thechairappearstohave
beenacomparativelymodernaddition,sincesuch
articleshavebecomemoreabundant.Inthelast
centuryfourorfiveoftheonesextookthevictimof
theothersexbythearmsandlegs,andliftedher
orhiminthatmanner,andtheoperationwasat-
tended,atalleventsonthepartofthemen,with
muchindecency.Thewomenusuallyexpectasmall
contributionofmoneyfromthementheyhavelifted.
Moreanciently,inthetimeofDurandus,thatis,in
1Dulaure,vol.ii,pp.255-257.
ates eessenesricesbssonsealsopssorensnsseeestosiovewouaseaniaksavaamnee
90

313. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thethirteenthcentury,astillmoresingularcustom
prevailedonthesetwodays.Hetellsusthatinmany
countries,ontheEasterMonday,itwastherulefor
thewivestobeattheirhusbands,andthatonthe
Tuesdaythehusbandsbeattheirwives.Brand,in
hisPopularAntiquities,tellsusthatinthecityof
Durham,inhistime,itwasthecustomforthemen,
ontheoneday,totakeoffthewomen’sshoes,which
thelatterwereobligedtopurchaseback,andthaton
theotherdaythewomendidthesametothemen.
Inmedievalpoetryandromance,themonthof
Maywascelebratedaboveallothersasthatconse-
cratedtoLove,whichseemedtopervadeallnature,
andtoinvitemankindtopartakeinthegeneralen-
joyment.Hence,amongnearlyallpeoples,itsap-
proachwascelebratedwithfestivities,inwhich,un-
dervariousforms,worshipwaspaidtoNature’s
reproductiveness. TheRomanswelcomed theap-
proachofMaywiththeirFloralia,afestivalwehave
alreadydescribedasremarkableforlicentiousness;
andtherecannotbeadoubtthatourTeutonicfore-
fathershadalsotheirfestivaloftheseasonlongbe-
foretheybecameacquaintedwiththeRomans. Yet
muchofthemedizvalcelebrationofMay-day,es-
peciallyintheSouth,appearstohavebeenderived
fromtheFloraliaofthelatterpeople.Asinthe
Floralia,thearrivalofthefestivalwasannounced
91

314. SSooo ————E—E—E—E—E—
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
bythesoundingofhornsduringtheprecedingnight,
andnosoonerhadmidnightarrivedthantheyouth
ofbothsexesproceededincouplestothewoodsto
gatherbranchesandmakegarlands,withwhichthey
weretoreturnjustatsunriseforthepurposeofdeco-
ratingthedoorsoftheirhouses.InEnglandthe
grandfeatureofthedaywastheMaypole.Thismay-
polewasthestemofatallyoungtreecutdownfor
theoccasion,paintedofvariouscolours,andcarried
injoyousprocession,withminstrelsplayingbefore,
untilitreachedthevillagegreen,ortheopenspace
inthemiddleofatown,whereitwasusuallysetup.
Itwastheredeckedwithgarlandsandflowers,the
ladsandgirlsdancedroundit,andpeopleindulged
inallsortsofriotousenjoyments.Allthisiswell
describedbyaPuritanwriterofthereignofQueen
Elizabeth—PhilipStubbes—whosaysthat,“against
Maie,”“everyparishe,towne,andvillageassemble
themselvestogether,bothemen,women,andchil-
dren,oldeandyong,evenallindifferently;andeither
goyngalltogether,ordevidyngthemselvesintocom-
panies,theygoesometothewoodesandgroves,
sometothehillesandmountaines,sometooneplace,
sometoanother,wheretheyspendallthenigntin
pleasantpastymes,andinthemornyngtheireturne,
bryngyngwiththembirchbowesandbraunchesof
treestodecktheirassemblieswithall,....But
92

315. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
theircheerestjewelltheibryngfromthenceistheir
Maiepole,whichetheibrynghomewithgreateven-
eration,asthus:Theihavetwentieorfourtieyokeof
oxen,everyoxehavyngasweetenosegaieofflowers
placedonthetippeofhishornes,andtheseoxen
drawehomethisMaiepoole(thisstinckyngidoll
rather),whicheiscoveredalloverwithflowersand
hearbes,boundroundeaboutwithstrynges,from
thetoptothebottome,andsometymepaintedwith
variablecolours,withtwooorthreehundredmen,
women,andchildrenfollowingit,withgreatedevo-
tion.Andthusbeyngrearedup,withhandeker-
chiefesandflaggesstreamyngonthetoppe,thei
strawethegroundeaboute,bindegreeneboughes
aboutit,settupsommerhaules,bowers,andarbours
hardbyit.Andthenfalltheitobanquetandfeast,
toleapeanddaunceabouteit,astheheathenpeople
did,atthededicationoftheiridolles,whereofthisis
aperfectpatterne,orratherthethyngitself.”+
ThePuritansweredeeplyimpressedwiththebe-
liefthatthemaypolewasasubstantialrelicofPag-
anism;andtheywerenodoubtright.Thereappears
tobereasonsufficientforsupposingthat,ataperiod
whichcannotnowbeascertained,themaypolehad
takentheplaceofthephallus.Theceremoniesat-
1Stubbes,Anatomie ofAhuses,fol.94,8vo.London,1583.
93

316. ooo —EEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
tendingtheelevationofthetwoobjectswereidenti-
cal.ThesamejoyousprocessionintheRomanfesti-
vals,describedabove,conductedthephallusintothe
midstofthetownorvillage,whereinthesameman-
neritwasdeckedwithgarlands,andtheworship
partookofthesamecharacter.Wemayadd,too,
thatbothfestivalswereattendedwiththesamelicen-
tiousness.“Ihavehearditcrediblyreported,”says
thePuritanStubbes,“andthatvivavocebymenne
ofgreategravitieandreputation,thatoffourtie,
threescore,orahundredmaidesgoyngtothewoode
overnight,therehavescarcelythethirdpartreturned
homeagainundefiled.”
Thedaygenerallyconcludedwithbonfires.These
representedtheneed-fire,whichwasintimatelycon-
nectedwiththeancientpriapicrites.Fireitselfwas
anobjectofworship,asthemostpowerfulofthe
elements;butitwassupposedtoloseitspurityand
sacredcharacterinbeingpropagatedfromonema-
terialtoanother,andtheworshipperssoughtonthese
solemnoccasionstoproduceitinitsprimitiveand
purestform.Thiswasdonebytheiapidfrictionof
twopiecesofwood,attendedwithsuperstitiouscere-
monies;thepureelementoffirewasbelievedtoexist
inthewood,andtobethusforcedoutofit,andhence
itwascalledneed-fire(inOldGermannof-feur,and
inAnglo-Sayon,neod-fyr),meaningliterallyaforced
PithiRkORSAaacSalisNhtiedSteke
94

317. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
fire,orfireextractedbyforce.Beforetheprocessof
thusextractingthefirefromthewood,itwasneces-
sarythatallthefirespreviouslyexistinginthevil-
lageshouldbeextinguished,andtheywereafterwards
revivedfromthebonfirewhichhadbeenlitfromthe
need-fire.Thewholesystemofbonfiresoriginated
fromthissuperstition;theyhadbeenadoptedgen-
erallyonoccasionsofpopularrejoiciug,andthebon-
firescommemorating thecelebratedgunpowderplot
areonlyparticularapplicationsofthegeneralprac-
ticetoanaccidentalcase.Thesuperstitionoftheneed-
firebelongstoaveryremoteantiquityintheTeutonic
race,andexistedequallyinancientGreece.Itis
proscribedintheearlycapitulariesoftheFrankish
emperorsoftheCarlovingiandynasty.Theuniver-
salityofthissuperstitionisprovedbythecircum-
stancethatitstillexistsintheHighlandsofScotland,
especiallyinCaithness,whereitisadoptedasapro-
tectionforthecattlewhenattackedbydiseasewhich
theHighlandersattributetowitchcraft.1_Itwasfrom
theremotestagesthecustomtocausecattle,andeven
children,topassacrosstheneed-fire,asaprotection
tothemfortherestoftheirlives.Theneed-firewas
kindledatEaster,onMay-day,andespeciallyatthe
1Logan,TheScottishGael,vol.ii,p.64,andJamieson’sScot-
tishDictionary,Suppl.sub.v.Neidfyre.
95

318. a
eee——eEEEeeEEeEeEE———_—_—_——_—__—— LT
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Ena StnOnn,torelSpe SS
summersolstice,ontheeveofthefeastofSt.John
theBaptist,orofMidsummer-day.*
TheeveofSt.Johnwasinpopularsuperstitionone
ofthemostimportantdaysofthemedizvalyear.
Theneed-fire—ortheSt.John’sfire,asitwascalled—
waskindledjustatmidnight,themomentwhenthe
solsticewassupposedtotakeplace,andtheyoung
peopleofbothsexesdancedroundit,and,aboveall
things,leapedoverit,orrushedthroughit,which
waslookeduponnotonlyasapurification,butasa
protectionagainstevilinfluences.Itwasthenight
whenghostsandotherbeingsofthespiritualworld
wereabroad,andwhenwitcheshadmostpower.It
wasbelieved,even,thatduringthisnightpeople’s
soulsleftthebodyinsleep,andwanderedoverthe
world,separatedfromit.Itwasanightofthegreat
meetingsofthewitches,anditwasthatinwhichthey
mixedtheirmostdeadlypoisons,andperformed
theirmosteffectivecharms.Itwasanightespecially
favourabletodivinationineveryform,andinwhich
maidenssoughttoknowtheirfuturesweetheartsand
husbands.Itwasduringthisnight,also,thatplants
possessedtheirgreatestpowerseitherforgoodorfor
evil,andthattheyweredugupwithallduecere-
moniesandcautions.Themorehiddenvirtuesof
1SeeGrimm,DeutscheMythologie,pp.341-349.
EE
96

319. —_—_—————_—_—X<—XS—_—_—_——_—_—_—_—_—_—_—X—X—S—XX—X—
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
2A RERETREDSEELRSUCTETaaSOET
plants,indeed,dependedmuchonthetimeatwhich,
andtheceremonieswithwhich,theyweregathered,
andtheselatterwereextremelysuperstitious,nodoubt
derivedfromtheremoteagesofpaganism.Asusual,
theclergyappliedahalf-remedytotheevil;they
forebadeanyritesorincantationsinthegathering
ofmedicinalherbsexceptbyrepeatingthecreedand
theLord’sprayer.
Asalreadystated,thenightofSt.John’s,orMid-
summer-eve,wasthatwhenghostsandspiritsofall
descriptionswereabroad,andwhenwitchesassem-
bled,andtheirpotions,forgoodorforevil,and
charmsweremadewithmosteffect.Itwasthenight
forpopulardivination,especiallyamongtheyoung
maidens,whosoughttoknowwhoweredestinedto
betheirhusbands,whatwouldbetheircharacters,
andwhattheirfutureconduct.Themedicinalvir-
tuesofmanyplantsgatheredonSt.John’seve,and
withthedueceremonies,werefarmorepowerful
thanifgatheredatothertimes.Themostsecret
practicesoftheoldpopularsuperstitionsarenow
mostlyforgotten,butwhen,hereandthere,wemeet
withafewtracesofthem,theyareofacharacter
whichleadsustobelievethattheybelongedtoa
greatextenttothatsameworshipofthegenerative
powerswhichprevailedsogenerallyamongallpeo-
ples.Werememberthat,webelieveinoneofthe
97

320. ee ST
oooaaaea®o®sn®@®«=aomeee—————E—EE————EE——————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
earliereditionsofMotherBunch,maidenswho
wishedtoknowiftheirloverswereconstantornot
weredirectedtogooutexactlyatmidnightonSt.
John’seve,tostripthemselvesentirelynaked,and
inthatconditiontoproceedtoaplantorshrub,the
nameofwhichwasgiven,androundittheywereto
formacircleanddance,repeatingatthesametime
certainwordswhichtheyhadbeentaughtbytheir
instructress.Havingcompletedthisceremony,they
weretogatherleavesoftheplantroundwhichthey
haddanced,whichtheyweretocarryhomeand
placeundertheirpillows,andwhattheywishedto
knowwouldberevealedtothemintheirdreams.
Wehaveseeninsomeofthemedievaltreatiseson
thevirtueofplantsdirectionsforgatheringsome
plantsofespecialimportance,inwhichitwasre-
quiredthatthisshouldbeperformedbyyounggirls
inasimilarstateofcompletenakedness.
Plantsandflowerswere,indeed,intimatelycon-
nectedwiththisworship.Wehaveseenhowcon-
stantlytheyareintroducedintheformofgarlands,
andtheywerealwaysamongtheofferingstoPriapus.
Itwastheuniversalpractice,indancingroundthe
fireonSt.John’seve,toconcludebythrowingvari-
ouskindsofflowersandplantsintoit,whichwere
consideredtobepropitiatory,toavertcertainevils
towhichpeoplewereliableduringthefollowing
rr
98

321. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
year.Amongtheplantstheyofferedarementioned
mother-wort,vervain,andviolets.Itisperhapsto
thisconnectionofplantswiththeoldpriapicworship
thatweowethepopulartendencytogivethemnames
whichweremoreorlessobscene,mostofwhichare
nowlost,oraresofarmodifiedastopresentno
longerthesameidea.Thusthewell-knownarumof
ourhedge-bottomsreceivedthenames,nodoubt
suggestedbyitsform,ofcuckoo’spintle,orpriest’s
pintle,ordog’spintle;and,inFrench,thoseofvit
dechienandvitdeprestre;inEnglishitisnowab-
breviatedintocuckoo-pint,or,sometimes,cuckoo-
point.Thewholefamilyoftheorchideswasdis-
tinguishedbyacorrespondingword,accompanied
withvariousqualifications.WehaveinWilliam
Coles’sAdaminEden,(fol.1659)thedifferentnames,
fordifferentvarieties,ofdoggs-stones,fool-stones,
fox-stones;intheolderHerbalofGerard(fol.1597)
tripleballockes,sweetballockes,sweetcods,goat’s-
stones,hare’s-stones,&c.;inFrench,couillondebouc
(thegoatwasespeciailyconnectedwiththepriapic
mysteries)andcouille,orcouillondechien.In
French,too,aswelearnfromCotgraveandthe
herbals,“akindofsallethearbe”wascalledcouille
al’évéque;thegreaterstone-cropwasnamedcouille
auloup;andthespindle-treewasknownbythename
ofcouillondeprétre.Thereareseveralplantswhich
99

322. OOOO SS——————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
possesssomewhattheappearanceofaroughbushof
hair.Oneofthese,aspeciesofadiantum,wasknown
eveninRomantimesbythenameofCapillus
Veneris,andinmoremoderntimesithasbeencalled
maiden-hair,andourlady’shair.Anotherplant,the
aspleniumtrichomanes,wasandisalsocalledpopu-
larlymaiden-hair,ormaiden’s-hair;andwebelieve
thatthesamenamehasbeengiventooneortwo
otherplants.Thereisreasonforbelievingthatthe
hairimpliedinthesenameswasthatofthepubes.*
Wemightcollectanumberofotheroldpopular
namesofplantsofasimilarcharacterwiththesejust
enumerated.
InanoldcalendaroftheRomishchurch,which
isoftenquotedinBrand’sPopularAntiquities,the
seekingofplantsfortheirhiddenvirtuesandmagical
propertiesisespeciallynotedaspartofthepractices
ontheeveofSt.John(herbediversigenerisquerun-
tur);andoneplantisespeciallyspecifiedinterms
toomysterioustobeeasilyunderstood.Fern-seed,
also,wasagreatobjectofsearchonthisnight;for,
iffoundandproperlygathered,itwasbelievedto
possesspowerfulmagicalproperties,andespecially
1Fumitory wasanotheroftheseplants,andinavocabularyof
plantsinaMS.ofthemiddleofthethirteenthcentury,wefind
itsnames inLatin,French,andEnglishgivenasfollows,
“Fumus terrae,fumeterre,cunteboare.”SeeWright’sVolume
ofVocabularies,p.17.
100

323. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thatofrenderinginvisibletheindividualwhocar-
riedituponhisperson.Butthemostremarkableof
alltheplantsconnectedwiththeseancientpriapic
superstitionswasthemandrake (mandragora),a
plantwhichhasbeenlookeduponwithasortof
feelingofreverentialfearatallperiods,andalmost
inallparts.ItsTeutonicname,alrun,or,initsmore
modernform,alraun,speaksatonceofthebeliefin
itsmagicalqualitiesamongthatrace.Peoplelooked
uponitaspossessingsomedegreeofanimallife,and
itwasgenerallybelievedthat,whenitwasdrawn
outoftheearth,itutteredacry,andthatthiscry
carriedcertaindeathormadnesstothepersonwho
extractedit.Toescapethisdanger,theremedywas
totieastringroundit,whichwastobeattachedtoa
dog,andthelatter,beingdrivenaway,draggedup
therootinitsattempttorunoff,andexperiencedthe
fatalconsequences.Therootwastheimportantpart
oftheplant;ithassomewhattheformofaforked
radish,andwasbelievedtorepresentexactlythe
humanformbelowthewaist,with,inthemaleand
femaleplants,thehumanorgansofgenerationdis-
tinctlydeveloped.Themandrake,whenitcouldbe
obtained,wasusedinthemiddleagesintheplaceof
thephallicamulet,andwascarefullycarriedonthe
person,orpreservedinthehouse.Itconferredfer-
tilityinmoresensesthanone,foritwasbelievedthat
101

324. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
aslongasyoukeptitlockedupwithyourmoney,
thelatterwouldbecomedoubledinquantityevery
year;andithadatthesametimealltheprotective
qualitiesofthephallus.TheTemplarswereaccused
ofworshippingthemandrake,ormandragora,which
becameanobjectofgreatcelebrityinFranceduring
thereignsoftheweakmonarchsCharlesVI.and
CharlesVII.In1429oneFriarRichard,oftheorder
oftheCordeliers,preachedafiercesermonagainst
theuseofthisamulet,thetemporaryeffectofwhich
Wassopreat,thatacertainnumberofhiscongrega-
tiondelivereduptheir“mandragoires”tothepreach-
ertobeburnt.
Itappearsthatthepeoplewhodealtintheseamu-
letshelpednaturetoaratherconsiderableextentby
themeansofart,andthattherewasaregularprocess
ofcookingthemup.Theywerenecessarilyaware
thattherootsthemselves,intheirnaturalstate,pre-
sented,losaytheleast,veryimperfectlytheform
whichmen’simaginationhadgiventothem,sothey
obtainedthefinestrootstheycould,which,when
freshfromtheground,wereplumpandsoft,and
readilytookanyimpressionwhichmightbegivento
them.Theythenstuckgrainsofmilletorbarleyinto
thepartswheretheywishedtohavehair,andagain
1Journala’unBourgeoisdeParis,undertheyear1429.
102

325. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
putitintoaholeintheearth,untilthesegrainshad
germinatedandformedtheirroots.Thisprocess,
itwassaid,wasperfectedwithintwentydays.They
thentookupthemandrake again,trimmedthe
fibrousrootsofmilletorbarleywhichservedforhair,
retouchedthepartsthemselvessoastogivethem
theirformmoreperfectlyandmorepermanently,
andthensoldit.
Besidesthesegreatandgeneralpriapicfestivals,
thereweredoubtlessothersoflessimportance,or
morelocalintheircharacter,whichdegeneratedin
aftertimesintomerelocalceremoniesandfestivities.
Thiswouldbethecaseespeciallyincitiesandcor-
poratetowns,wheretheguildscamein,toperpetu-
atetheinstitution,andtogiveitgraduallyamodified
form.MosttownsinEnglandhadoncefestivalsof
thischaracter,andatleastthreerepresentativesof
themarestillkeptup,theprocessionofLadyGodiva
atCoventry,theShrewsburyshow,andtheguild
festivalatPrestoninLancashire.Inthefirstofthese,
theladywhoissupposedtoridenakedintheproces-
sionprobablyrepresentssomefeatureintheancient
priapiccelebration;andthestoryofthemannerin
whichtheLadyGodivaavertedtheangerofherhus-
bandfromthetownsmen,whichiscertainlyamere
1See theauthorities forthesestatements inDulaure, pp.
254—256.
103

326. inT
Slee 858588888
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ee REE PKAAGIEICE.SOELIEEOETSa
fable,wasnodoubtinventedtoexplainafeatureof
thecelebration,therealmeaningofwhichhadin
courseoftimebeenforgotten.Thepageantryofthe
Shrewsburyshowappearstobesimilarlytheun-
meaningreflectionofformsbelongingtoolderand
forgottenpracticesandprinciples.OntheContinent
thereweremanysuchlocalfestivals,suchasthefeast
offools,thefeastofasses(theasswasananimal
sacredtoPriapus),andothers,allwhichwere
adaptedbythemedizvaichurchexactlyastheclergy
hadtakenadvantageoftheprofittobederivedfrom
thephallicworshipinotherforms.
Theleadentokens,ormedalets,whichwehaveal-
readydescribed,!seemtopointevidentlytotheex-
istenceinthemiddleagesofsecretsocietiesorclubs
connectedwiththisobsceneworship,besidesthe
publicfestivals.Oftheseitcanhardlybeexpected
thatanydescriptionwouldsurvive,but,ifnotthe
fact,thebeliefinitisclearlyestablishedbythe
eagernesswithwhichsuchobsceneriteswerelaidto
thechargeofmostofthemedizvaisecretsocieties,
whetherlayclubsorreligioussects,andweknow
thatsecretsocietiesaboundedinthemiddleages.
HoweverwillingtheRomishclergyweretomake
profitoutofthepopularphallicworship,theywere
1Seebefore,p.60,andPlate1x.
I
104

327. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
equallyreadytousethebeliefinitasameansof
excitingprejudiceagainstanysectswhichthechurch
chosetoregardasreligiousorpoliticalheretics.
Itisveryevidentthat,intheearlieragesofthe
church,theconversionofthePaganstoChristianity
wasinavastnumberofcaseslessthanahalf-con-
version,andthatthepreachersofthegospelwere
satisfiedbypeopleassumingthenameofChristians,
withoutinquiringtoocloselyintothesincerityof
theirchange,orintotheirpractice.Wecantrace
intheexpressionsofdisapprovalinthewritingsof
someofthemorezealousoftheecclesiasticalwriters,
andinthecanonsoftheearliercouncils,thealarm
createdbytheprevalenceamongChristiansofthe
oldpopularfestivalsofpaganism;andtherevival
ofthoseparticularcanonsanddeprecatoryremarks
intheecclesiasticalcouncilsandwritingsofalater
periodofthemiddleages,showsthattheexistence
oftheevilhadcontinuedunabated.Therewasan
Africancouncilintheyear381,fromwhichBurch-
ardus,whocompiledhiscondensationofecclesiasti-
caldecreesfortheuseofhisowntime,professesto
derivehisprovisionsagainst“thefestivalswhich
wereheldwithPaganceremonies.”Wearethere
toldthat,evenonthemostsacredoftheChristian
commemoration days,theseritesderivedfromthe
-Paganswereintroduced,andthatdancingwasprac-
105

328. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ticedintheopenstreetofsoinfamousacharacter,
andaccompaniedwithsuchlasciviouslanguageand
gestures,thatthemodestyofrespectablefemaleswas
shockedtoadegreethatpreventedtheirattendance
attheserviceinthechurchesonthosedays.Itis
addedthatthsePaganceremonieswereevencar-
riedintothechurches,andthatmanyoftheclergy
tookpartinthem.
Itisprobable,too,thatwhenPaganismitselfhad
becomeanoffenceagainstthestate,andthosewho
continuedattachedtoitwereexposedtopersecution,
theyembracedthenameofChristiansasacoverfor
thegrossestsuperstitions,andformedsectswhoprac-
tisedtheritesofPaganismintheirsecretconventi-
cles,butwereplacedbythechurchamongtheChris-
tianheresics.Insomeofthese,especiallyamong
thoseofanearlydate,theobsceneritesandprin-
ciplesofthephallicworshipseemtohaveentered
largely,for,thoughtheiropponentsprobablyexag-
geratedtheactualvicecarriedonundertheirname,
yetmuchofitmusthavehadanexistenceintruth.
ItwasamixtureofthelicenceofthevulgarPagan-
ismofantiquitywiththewilddoctrinesofthelatter
easternphilosophers.Theolderorthodoxwriters
dwellonthedetailsoftheselibidinousrites.Among
thecarliestindateweretheAdamiani,orAdamites,
whoproscribedmarriage,andheldthatthemostper-
106

329. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
fectinnocencewasconsistentonlywiththecom-
munityofwomen. Thechoselatibula,orcaverns,
fortheirconventicles,atwhichbothsexesassembled
togetherinperfectnakedness.Thissectperhaps
continuedtoexistunderdifferentforms,butitwas
revivedamongtheintellectualvagariesofthefif-
teenthcentury,andcontinuedatleasttobemuch
talkedoftilltheseventeenth.Thedoctrineofthe
munityofwomen. Theychoselatibula,orcaverns,
oussexualintercourseintheirmeetings,wereas-
cribedbytheearlyChristiancontroversialiststosev-
eralsects,suchasthefollowersofFlorian,andof
Carpocratian,whowereaccusedofputtingoutthe
lampsintheirchurchesattheendoftheevening
service,andindulginginsexualintercourseindis-
criminately;theNicolaite,whoheldtheirwivesin
common; theEbionei;andespeciallytheGnostics,
orfollowersofBasilides,andtheManichzans.The
Nicolaitesheldthattheonlywaytosalvationlay
throughfrequentintercoursebetweenthesexes.*
Epiphaniusspeaksofasectwhosacrificedachildin
theirsecretritesbyprickingitwithbrazenpins,and
thenofferingitsblood.2,TheGnosticswereaccused
ofeatinghumanfleshaswellasoflasciviousness,
andtheyalsoaresaidtohaveheldtheirwomenin
1EpiphaniiPanarium,vol.I,p.72.
_2Epiphanius,vol.i,p.416.
107

330. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
common,andtaughtthatitwasadutytoprostitute
theirwivestotheirguests.1Théyknewtheirfellow
sectariansbyasecretsign,whichconsistedintickling
thepalmofthehandwiththefingerinapeculiar
manner.Thesignhavingbeenrecognized,mutual
confidencewasestablished,andthestrangerwasin-
vitedtosupper;aftertheyhadeatentheirfill,the
husbandremovedfromthesideofhiswife,andsaid
toher,“Go,exhibitcharitytoourguest,”whichwas
thesignalforthosefurtherscenesofhospitality.This
accountisgivenusbySt.Epiphanius,bishopofCon-
stantia.Wearetoldfurtherofritespracticedby
theGnostics,whichwerestillmoredisgusting,for
theyweresaid,aftertheselibidinousscenes,tooffer
andadministerthesemenvirileastheirsacrament.”
Asimilarpracticeisdescribedasexistingamong
womeninthemiddleagesforthepurposeofsecur-
ingtheloveoftheirhusbands,andwasperhapsde-
rivedfromtheGnosticsandManicheans,whosedoc-
trines,broughtfromtheEast,appeartohavespread
themselvesextensivelyintoWesternEurope.
Ofthesedoctrines,however,wehavenotracesat
1QnthesecretworshipandcharacteroftheGnostics,see
EpiphaniiPanarium,vol.i,pp.84—102.
2SeedetailsonthissubjectinEpiphaniiPanarium,ib.Conf.
PrecestinatiAdversusHaeres.,lib.i,c.46,wherethesamething
issaidoftheManichzans.
108

331. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
leastuntiltheeleventhcentury,whenagreatintellec-
tualagitationbeganinWesternEurope,which
broughttothesurfaceofsocietyamultitudeof
strangecreedsandstrangetheories.Thepopular
worshipdisplayedinthegreatannualfestivals,and
theequallypopularlocalfétes,urbanorrural,were
hardlyinterferedwith,oranysecretsocietiesbelong-
ingtotheoldworship;themedievalchurchdidnot
considerthemasheresies,andletthemalone.Thus,
exceptnowandthenaprovisionofsomeecclesiasti-
calcouncilexpressedingeneraltermsagainstsuper-
stitions,whichwashardlyheardatthetimeandnot
listenedto,theyarepassedoverinsilence.Butthe
momentanythingunderthenameofheresyraised
itshead,thealarmwasgreat.GnosticismandMani-
chzism,whichhadindeedbeenidentical,werethe
heresiesmosthatedintheEasternempire,and,as
maybesupposed,mostpersecuted;andthisperse-
cutionwasdestinedtodrivethemwestward.Inthe
seventhcenturytheybecamemodifiedintoasect
whichtookthenameofPaulicians,itissaid,from
anArmenianenthusiastnamedPaulus,andthey
seemtohavestillfurtherprovokedthehatredofthe
churchbymakingthemselves,intheirowninterests,
theadvocatesoffreedomofthoughtandofecclesi-
asticalreform.Ifhistorybetobebelieved,their
Christianfeelingscannothavebeenverystrong,for,
109

332. rT
SSS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
unabletoresistpersecutionwithintheempire,they
retiredintotheterritoryheldbytheSaracens,and
unitedwiththeenemiesoftheCrossinmakingwar
upontheChristianGreeks.Otherssoughtrefugein
thecountryoftheBulgarians,whohadverygener-
allyembracedtheirdoctrines,whichsoonspread
thencewestward.IntheirprogressthroughGer-
manytoFrancetheywereknownbestasBulgarians,
fromthenameofthecountrywhencetheycame;in
theirwaythroughItalytheyretainedtheirnameof
Paulicians,corruptedintheLatinofthatperiodof
themiddleagesintoPopulicani,Poplicani,Publicani,
&c;and,inFrench,intoPopelican,Poblican,Policien,
andvariousotherformswhichitisunnecessaryto
enumerate.TheybegantocausealarminFranceat
thebeginningoft!1eeleventhcentury,inthereignof
kingRobert,when,underthenameofPopelicans,
theyhadestablishedthemselvesinthedioceseofOr-
leans,inwhichcityacouncilwasheldagainstthem
in1022,andthirteenindividualswerecondemnedto
beburnt.Thenameappearstohavelastedintothe
thirteenthcentury,butthenameofBulgariansbe-
camemorepermanent,and,initsFrenchformof
Bolgres,Bougres,orBogres,becamethepopular
nameforhereticsingeneral.Withtheseheresies,
throughthemoresensualpartsofGnosticismand
Manichzism,thereappearstobelefthardlyroomfor
110

333. ——aS—S——=[€[{—[—[{x*xx5=*{{*==*—]T—"_======
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
doubtthattheancientphallicworship,probably
somwhatmodified,andundertheshadowofsecret
rites,wasimportedintoWesternEurope;for,ifwe
makeallowanceforthewillingexaggerationsofre-
ligioushatred,andconsequentpopularprejudice,the.
generalconvictionthatthesesectarianshadritesand
practicesofalicentiouscharacterappearstoostrong
tobeentirelydisregarded,nordoesitpresentany-
thingcontrarytowhatweknowofthestateofmedi-
zvalsociety,ortothefactswhichhavealreadybeen
broughtforwardinthepresentessay.Theseearly
sectsapeartohaveprofesseddoctrinesratherclosely
resemblingmoderncommunism,including,likethose
oftheirearliersectarianpredecessors,thecommunity
ofwomen;andthiscommunitynaturallyimpliesthe
abolitionofdistinctiveaffinities.Oneofthewriters
againstthemedievalhereticsassuresusthatthere
were“manyprofessedChristians,bothmenand
women,whofearednomoretogototheirsister,or
sonordaughter,orbrother,ornepheworniece,or
kinorrelation,thantotheirownwifeorhusband.”
Theywereaccused,beyondthis,ofindulginginun-
naturalvices,andthischargewassogenerallybe-
lieved,thatthenameofBulgarus,orheretic,became
equivalentwithSodomite,andhencecamethemod-
ernFrenchwordbougre,anditsEnglishrepresen-
tatives.
111

334. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Inthecourseoftheeleventhcenturythesectarians
appearedinItalyunderthenameofPatarini,Pater-
ini,orPatrini,whichissaidtohavebeentakenfrom
anoldquarterofthecityofMilannamedPataria,in
whichtheyfirstheldtheirassemblies.Acontempo-
raryEnglishman,WalterMapes,givesusasingular
accountofthePateriniandtheirsecretrites.Some
apostatesfromthisheresy,hetellsus,hadrelated
that,atthefirstwatchofnight,theymetintheirsyna-
gogues,closedcarefullythedoorsandwindows,and
waitedinsilence,untilablackcatofextraordinary
bignessdescendedamongthembyarope,andthat,
assoonastheysawthisstrangeanimal,theypuiout
thelights,andmutteringthroughtheirteethinstead
ofsingingtheirhymns,felttheirwaytothisobject
oftheirworship,andkissedit,accordingtotheir
feelingsofhumilityorpride,someonthefeet,some
underthetail,andothersonthegenitals,afterwhich
eachseizeduponthenearestpersonofadifferentsex,
andhadcarnalintercourseaslongaskewasable.
Theirleaderstaughtthemthatthemostperfectde-
greeofcharitywas“todoorsufferinthismanner
whateverabrotherorsistermightdesireandask,”
andhence,saysMapes,theywerecalledPaterini,a
patiendo.Otherwritershavesuggestedadifferent
derivation,buttheonefirstgivenappearstobethat
mostgenerallyaccepted.Thedifferentsectsorcon-
112

335. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
gregationsinItalyandthesouth,indeed,appear
generallytohavetakentheirnamesfromthetowns
inwhichtheyhadtheirseatsorhead-quarters.Thus,
thosewhowereseatedatBagnols,inthedepartment
oftheGard,inthesouthofFrance,werecalledby
theLatinwritersBagnolenses;thesamewritersgive
thenameofConcordenses,orConcorezenses,tothe
hereticsofConcordiainLombardy;andthecityof
Albi,nowthecapitalofthedepartmentoftheTarn,
gaveitsnametothesectoftheAlbigenses,orAl-
bigeois,themostextensiveofthemall,whichspread
overthewholeofthesouthofFrance.Arichen-
thusiastofthecityofLyons,namedWaldo,whohad
collectedhiswealthbymercantilepursuits,andwho
livedinthetwelfthcentury,soldhispropertyand
distributeditamongthepoor,andhebecamethe
headofasectwhichpossessedpovertyasoneofits
tenets,andreceivedfromthenameofitsfounder
thatofWaldensesorVaudois.Fromtheirposession
ofvoluntarypovertytheyaresometimesspokenof
bythenameofPauperesdeLugduno,thepaupersof
Lyons.ContemporariesspeakoftheWaldensesas
beinggenerallypoorignorantpeople;yettheyspread
widelyoverthatpartofFranceandintothevalleys
ofSwitzerland,andbecamesocelebrated,thatatlast
nearlyallthemedievalhereticswereusuallyclassed
undertheheadofWaldenses.Anothersect,usually
113

336. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
classedwiththeWaldenses,werecalledCathari.The
Novatians,asectwhichsprangupinthechurchin
thethirdcentury,assumedalsothenameofCathari,
aslayingclaimtoextraordinarypurity(xadagor),but
thereisnoreasonforbelievingthattheancientsect
wasrevivedintheCathariofthelaterperiod,oreven
thatthetwowordsareidentical.Thenameofthe
lattersectisoftenspeltGazari,Gazeri,Gagari,and
Chazari;and,astheyweremoreespeciallyaGerman
sect,itissupposedtohavebeentheoriginofthe
GermanwordsKetzerandKetzerie,whichbecame
thecommon Germantermsforahereticandheresy.
ItwassuggestedbyHenscheniusthatthisnamewas
derivedfromtheGermanKaizeorKeize,acat,in
allusiontothecommonreportthattheyassembledat
nightlikecats,orghosts;orthecatmayhavebeenan
allusiontothebeliefthatintheirsecretmeetings
theyworshipped thatanimal.Thissectmusthave
beenveryignorantandsuperstitiousifitbetrue
whichsomeoldwriterstellus,thattheybelievedthat
thesunwasademon,andthemoonafemalecalled
Heva,andthatthesetwohadsexualintercourse
everymonth. Liketheotherhereticalsects,these
Cathariwereaccusedofindulginginunnaturalvices,
1Bonacursus, VitaHaereticornm, inD’Achery,Spicilegium,
tom.i,p.209.Thisbookisconsideredtohavebeenwrittenabout
theyear1190.
114.

337. eeeoOo Sa
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
iaaaedanRESaAae a a
andtheGermanwordsKefzerieandKetzerwere
eventuallyusedtosignifysodomyandasodomite,
aswellasheresyandaheretic.
TheWaldensesgenerally,takingallthesectswhich
peopleclassunderthisname,includingalsotheolder
BulgariandPublicani,werechargedwithholding
secretmeetings,atwhichthedevilappearedtothem
intheshape,accordingtosome,ofagoat,whomthey
worshippedbyofferingthekissinano,afterwhich
theyindulgedinpromiscuoussexualintercourse.
Somebelievedthattheywereconveyedtothesemeet-
ingsbyunearthlymeans.TheEnglishchronicler,
RalphdeCoggeshall,tellsastrangestoryofthe
meansoflocomotionpossessedbytheseheretics.In
thecityofRheims,inFrance,inthetimeofSt.Louis,
ahandsomeyoungwomanwaschargedwithheresy,
andcarriedbeforethearchbishop,inwhosepresence
sheavowedheropinions,andconfessedthatshehad
receivedthemfromacertainoldwomanofthatcity.
Theoldwomanwasthenarrested,convictedofbeing
anobstinateheretic,andcondemnedtothestake.
Whentheywerepreparingtocarryherouttothe
fire,shesuddenlyturnedtothejudgesandsaid,“Do
youthinkthatyouareabletoburnmeinyourfire?
Icareneitherforitnorforyou!”Andtakingaball
ofthread,shethrewitoutatalargewindowby
whichshewasstanding,holdingtheendofthethread
inherhands,andexclaiming,“Takeit!”(recipe).
115

338. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Inaninstant,inthesightofall,whowerethere,the
oldwomanwasliftedfromtheground,and,follew-
ingtheballofthread,wascarriedintotheairno-
bodyknewwhere;andthearchbishop’sofficersburnt
theyoungwomaninherplace.’_Itwasthebeliefof
mostoftheoldsectsofthisclass,aswellasofthe
moreancientPagansfromwhomtheywerederived,
thatthosewhowerefullyinitiatedintotheirmost
secretmysteriesbecameendowedwithpowersand
facultiesabovethosepossessedbyordinaryindividu-
als.AlistoftheerrorsoftheWaldenses,printedin
theReliquizAntique,fromanEnglishmanuscript,
enumeratesamongthemthattheymettoindulgein
promiscuoussexualintercourse,andheldperverse
doctrinesinaccordancewithit;that,insomeparts,
thedevilappearedtothemintheformofacat,and
thateachkissedhimunderthetail;andthatinother
partstheyrodetotheplaceofmeetinguponastaff
anointedwithacertainunguent,andwereconveyed
thitherinamomentoftime.Thewriteraddsthat,
1Radulphus Cogeshalenfis,intheAmplissima CollectioofMar-
teneandDurand. Ontheoffenceswithwhichthedifferentsects
comprisedunderthenameofWaldenses werecharged,seeGret-
ser’sScriptorescontraSectamWaldensium, whichwillbefound
inthetwelfthvolumeofhisworks,Bonacursus, VitaHaereti-
corum,inthefirstvolumeofD’Achery’sSpicilegium,andthe
workofaCarthusianmonkinMarteneandDurand,Amplissima
Collectio,vol.vi,col.57etseq.
SSSS
116

339. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
inthepartswherehelived,thesepracticeshadnot
beenknowntoexistforalongtime.
Ouroldchroniclersexultoverthesmallsuccess
whichattendedtheeffortsofthesehereticsfrom
FranceandtheSouthtointroducethemselvesinto
ourisland.?Thesesects,withsecretandobscenerites,
appear,indeed,tohavefoundmostfavouramong
thepeopleswhospokeadialectderivedfromthe
Latin,andthiswemightnaturallybeledtoexpect,
forthefactofthepreservationoftheLatintongueis
itselfaproofofthegreaterforceoftheRomanele-
mentinthesociety,thatfromwhichthesesecretrites
appeartohavebeenchieflyderived.Itisacurious
circumstance,inconnectionwiththissubject,thatthe
popularoathsandexclamationsamongthepeople
speakingthelanguagesderivedfromtheRomansare
almostallcomposedofthenamesoftheobjectsof
thisphallicworship,anentirecontrasttothepractice
oftheTeutonictribes—thevulgaroathsofthepeople
speakingNeo-Latindialectsareobscene,thoseofthe
Germanraceareprofane.Wehaveseenhowthe
womenofAntwerp,who,thoughperhapstheydid
notspeaktheRomandialect,appeartohavebeen
muchinfluencedbyRomansentiments,madetheir
1WrightandHalliwell,ReliqueAntiquae,vol.i,p.247.
2See,forexample,Guil,Neubrigensis,DeRebusAnglicis,lib.
ii,c.13,andWalterMapes,deNugisCurialium,p.62.
117

340. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
appealtotheirgeniusTers.WhenaSpaniardisirri-
tatedorsuddenlyexcited,heexclaims,Carajo!(the
virilemember) orCojones!(thetesticles).An
Italian,undersimilarcircumstances,usestheexcla-
mationCazzo!(thevirilemember). TheFrenchman
apostrophizestheact,Foutre!Thefemalemember,
conowiththeSpaniard,connowiththeItalian,and
conwiththeFrechman,wasandisusedmoregen-
erallyasanexpressionofcontempt,whichisalsothe
casewiththetesticles,couillons,inFrench—those
whohavehadexperienceintheolddaysof“dili-
gence”travellingwillrememberhowusualitwas
forthedriver,whenthehorseswouldnotgoquick
enough,toaddresstheleaderinsuchtermsas,“Va,
donc,vieuxcon!”Wehavenosuchwordsusedin
thismannerintheGermaniclanguages,withthe
exception,perhaps,oftheGermanPoftz!andPotz-
tausend!andtheEnglishequivalent,Pox!whichlast
isgonequiteoutofuse.Therewasanattemptamong
thefashionablesofourElizabethanageofliterature,
tointroducetheItaliancazzoundertheformofcatso,
andtheFrenchfoutreunderthatoffoutra,butthese
weremereaffectationsofamoment,andwereso
littleinaccordwithournationalsentimentsthatthey
soondisappeared.
Theearliestaccountsofasectwhichheldsecret
meetings forcelebratingobsceneritesisfoundin
118

341. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
France.Itappearsthat,earlyintheeleventhcen-
tury,therewasinthecityofOrleansasocietycon-
sistingofmembersofbothsexes,whoassembledat
certaintimesinahousethere,forthepurposeswhich
aredescribedratherfullyinadocumentfoundin
thecartularyoftheabbeyofSt.PéreatChartres.As
therestated,theywenttothemeeting,eachcarrying
inthehandalightedlamp,andtheybeganbychaunt-
ingthenamesofdemonsinthemannerofalitany,
untilademonsuddenlydescendedamongtheminthe
formofananimal.Thiswasnosoonerseen,than
theyallextinguishedtheirlamps,andeachmantook
thefirstfemaleheputhishandupon,andhadsexual
intercoursewithher,withoutregardifshewerehis
mother,orhissister,oraconsecratednun;andthis
intercourse,wearetold,waslookeduponbythem
asanactofholinessandreligion.Thechildwhich
wasthefruitofthisintercoursewastakenonthe
eighthdayandpurifiedbyfire,“inthemannerof
theancientPagans,”—sosaysthecontemporary
writerofthisdocument,—itwasburnttoashesina
largefiremadeforthatpurpose.Theasheswere
collectedwithgreatreverence,andpreserved,tobe
administeredtomembersofthesocietywhoweredy-
ing,justasgoodChristiansreceivedtheviaticum.It
isaddedthattherewassuchavirtueintheseashes,
thatanindividualwhohadoncetastedthemwould
119

342. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
hardlyeverafterbeabletoturnhismindfromthat
heresyandtakethepathoftruth.
Whateverdegreeoftruththeremayhavebeenin
thisstory,itmusthavebeengreatlyexaggerated;but
theconvictionoftheexistenceofsecretsocietiesof
thischaracterduringthemiddleagesappearstohave
beensostrongandsogenerallyheld,thatwemust
hesitateinrejectingit.Perhapswemaytakethe
leadentokensalreadydescribed,andrepresentedin
oneofourplates,'asevidenceoftheexistenceof
suchsocieties,forthesecuriousobjectsappeartoad-
mitofnoothersatisfactoryexplanationthanthatof
havingbeeninuseinsecretclubsofaveryimpure
character.
Ithasbeenalreadyremarkedthatpeoplesoon
seizeduponaccusationsofthiskindasexcusesfor
persecution,religiousandpolitical,andwemeetwith
acuriousexampleintheearlierhalfofthethirteenth
century.ThedistrictofSteding,inthenorthofGer-
many,nowknownasOldenburg,wasatthebegin-
ningofthethirteenthcenturyinhabitedbyapeople
wholivedinsturdyindependence,butthearch-
bishopsofBremenseemtohaveclaimedsomesortof
feudalsuperiorityoverthem,whichtheyresistedby
force.Thearchbishop,inrevenge,declaredthem
1Seebefore,p.60,andPlaterx.
120

343. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
heretics,andproclaimedacrusadeagainstthem.
Crusadesagainsthereticsweretheninfashion,forit
wasjustatthetimeofthegreatwaragainstthe
Albigcois.TheStedingersmaintainedtheirinde-
pendencesuccessfullyforsomeyears.In1232and
1233,thepopeissuedtwobullsagainsttheoffending
Stedingers,inbothofwhichhechargesthemwith
variousheathenandmagicalpractices,butinthe
secondheentersmorefullyintodetails.TheseSted-
ingers,thepope(GregoryIX.)tellsus,performed
thefollowingceremoniesattheinitiationofanew
convertintotheirsect.Whenthenovicewasintro-
duced,atoadpresenteditself,whichallwhowere
presentkissed,someontheposteriors,andotherson
themouth,whentheydrewitstongueandspittle
intotheirownmouths.Sometimesthistoadap-
pearedofonlythenaturalsize,butsometimesitwas
asbigasagooseorduck,andoftenitssizewasthat
ofanoven.Asthenoviceproceeded,heencountered
amanwhowasextraordinarilypale,withlargeblack
eyes,andwhosebodywassowastedthathisflesh
seemedtobeallgone,leavingnothingbuttheskin
hangingonhisbones.Thenovicekissedthisper-
sonage,andfoundhimascoldasice;andafterthis
kissalltracesoftheCatholicfaithvanishedfromhis
heart.Thentheyallsatdowntoabanquet;and
whenthiswasover,theresteppedoutofastatue,
121

344. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
whichstoodintheirplaceofmeeting,ablackcat,
aslargeasamoderatesizeddog,whichadvanced
backwards tothem,withitstailturnedup.The
novicefirst,thenthemaster,andthenalltheothers
intheirturns,kissedthecatunderthetail,andthen
returnedtotheirplaces,wheretheyremainedin
silence,withtheirheadsinclinedtowardsthecat.
Thenthemastersuddenlypronounced thewords
“‘Spareus!”whichheaddressedtothenextinorder;
andthethirdanswered,“Weknowit,lord;”anda
fourthadded,“Weoughttoobey.”Atthecloseof
thisceremonythelightswereextinguished,andeach
mantookthefirstwomanwhocametohand,and
hadcarnalintercoursewithher.When thiswas
over,thecandleswereagainlighted,andtheper-
formersresumedtheirplaces.Thenoutofadark
corneroftheroomcameaman,theupperpartof
whom,abovetheloins,wasbrightandradiantasthe
sun,andilluminatedthewholeroom,whilehislower
partswereroughandhairylikeacat.Themaster
thentoreoffabitofthegarmentofthenovice,and
saidtotheshiningpersonage,“Master,thisisgiven
tome,andIgiveitagaintothee.”Themasterre-
plied,“Thouhastservedmewell,andthouwilt
servememoreandbetter;whatthouhastgivenme
Igiveuntothykeeping.”Whenhehadsaidthis,the
shiningmanvanished,andthemeetingbrokeup.
122

345. ————————————————————————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
aEE OY SOE
Suchwerethesecretceremonies oftheStedingers,
accordingtothe.deliberatestatementofPope
GregoryIX,whoalsochargesthemwithoffering
directworshiptoLucifer.
Butthemostremarkable,andatthesametimethe
mostcelebrated,affairinwhichtheseaccusations
ofsecretandobsceneceremonieswerebroughtto
bear,wasthatofthetrialanddissolutionofthe
orderoftheknightstemplars.Thechargesagainst
theknightstemplarswerenotheardofforthefirst
timeattheperiodoftheirdissolution,butformany
yearsithadbeenwhisperedabroadthattheyhad
secretopinionsandpracticesofanobjectionable
character.Atlengththewealthoftheorder,which
wasverygreatinFrance,excitedthecupidityof
KingPhilippeIV,anditwasresolvedtoproceed
againstthem,anddespoilthemoftheirpossessions.
Thegroundsfortheseproceedingswerefurnishedby
twotemplars,oneaGascon,theotheranItalian,who
wereevidentlymenofbadcharacter,andwho,hav-
ingbeenimprisonedforsomeoffenceoroffences,
madeaconfessionofthesecretpracticesoftheiror-
der,andupontheseconfessionscertainarticlesof
accusationweredrawnup.Theseappeartohave
1Baronius,AnnalesEcclesiastici,tom.xxi,p.89,wherethetwo
bullsareprinted,andwherethedetailsofthehistoryofthe
Stedingerswillbefound.
123

346. ooo
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
GE EsNOSeISTEN
beenenlargedafterwards.In1307,JacquesdeMolay,
thegrandmasteroftheorder,wastreacherously
alluredtoParisbytheking,andthereseizedand
thrownintoprison.Others,similarlycommittedto
prisoninallpartsofthekingdom,wereexamined
individuallyonthechargesurgedagainstthem,and
manyconfessed,whileothersobstinatelydeniedthe
whole.Amongstthesechargeswerethefollowing:
I.Thatontheadmissionofanewmemberofthe
order,afterhavingtakentheoathofobedience,he
wasobligedtodenyChrist,andtospit,andsome-
timesalsototrample,uponthecross;2.Thatthey
thenreceivedthekissofthetemplar,whoofficiated
asreceiver,onthemouth,andafterwardswere
obligedtokisshiminano,onthenavel,andsome-
timesonthegenerativemember;3.That,indespite
oftheSaviour,theysometimesworshippedacat,
whichappearedamongstthemintheirsecretcon-
clave;4.Thattheypractisedunnaturalvicetogether;©
5.Thattheyhadidolsintheirdifferentprovinces;in
theformofahead,havingsometimesthreefaces,
sometimestwo,oronlyone,andsometimesabare
skull,whichtheycalledtheirsaviour,andbelieved
itsinfluencetobeexertedinmakingthemrich,and
inmakingflowersgrowandtheearthgerminate;
and6.Thattheyalwaysworeabouttheirbodiesa
LS SSS?
124

347. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
cordwhichhadbeenrubbedagainstthehead,and
whichservedfortheirprotection.?
Theceremoniesattendingthereceptionintothe
orderweresouniversallyacknowledged,andarede-
scribedintermswhichhavesomuchtheappearance
oftruthfulness,thatwecanhardlyaltogetherdis-
believeinthem. Thedenialwastoberepeated
thrice,nodoubtinimitationofSt.Peter.Itappears
tohavebeenconsideredasatrialofthestrengthof
theobediencetheyhadjustsworntotheorder,and
theyallpleadedthattheyhadobeyedwithreluc-
tance,thattheyhaddeniedwiththemouthbutnot
withtheheart;andthattheyhadintentionallyspit
besidethecrossandnotuponit.Inoneinstance
thecrosswasofsilver,butitwasmorecommonly of
brass,andstillmorefrequentlyofwood;onone
occasionthecrosspaintedinamissalwasused,and
thecrossonthetemplar’smantleoftenservedthe
purpose.WhenoneNicholasdeCompiegneprotested
againstthesetwoacts,allthetemplarswhowere
presenttoldhimthathemustdothem,foritwas
thecustomoftheorder.2,BaldwindeSt.Justatfirst
refused,butthereceptorwarnedhimthatifheper-
sistedinhisrefusal,itwouldbetheworseforhim
(alitermaleaccideretsibi),andthen“hewasso
1ProcésdesTempliers,editedbyM.Michelet,vol.i,pp.90-92.
2ProcéesdesTempliers,ii,418.
125

348. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
muchalarmedthathishairstoodonend.”Jacques
deTrecissaidthathediditunderfear,becausehis
receptorstoodbywithagreatnakedswordinhis
hand.tAnother,GeoffreydeThatan,havingsimi-
larlyrefused,hisreceptortoldhimthattheywere
“pointsoftheorder,”andthatifhedidnotcomply,
“heshouldbeputinsuchaplacethathewould
neverseehisownfeet.”Andanotherwhorefused
toutterthewordsofdenialwasthrownintoprison
andkeptthereuntilvespers,andwhenhesawthat
hewasinperilofdeath,heyielded,anddidwhatever
thereceptorrequiredofhim,butheaddsthathewas
sotroubledandfrightenedthathehadforgotten
whetherhespatonthecrossornot.Guidela
Roche,apresbyterofthedioceseofLimoges,said
thatheutteredthedenialwithgreatweeping.
Another,whenhedeniedChrist,“wasallstupified
andtroubled,anditseemedasifhewereenchanted,
notknowingwhatcounseltotake,astheythreatened
himheavilyifhedidnotdoit.’WhenEtiennede
DijonsimilarlyrefusedtodenyhisSaviour,thepre-
ceptortoldhimthathemustdoitbecausehehad
sworntoobeyhisorders,andthen“hedeniedwith
hismouth,”hesaid,“butnotwithhisheart;andhe
didthiswithgreatgrief,”andheaddsthatwhenit
1Procés,1,254.
catiaahiinncenimenentnsadnatineTenant Le ae
126

349. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
wasdone,hewassoconscience-struckthat“he
wishedhehadbeenoutsideathisliberty,eventhough
ithadbeenwiththelossofoneofhisarms.”When
OdodeDompierre,withgreatreluctance,atlength
spatonthecross,hesaidthathediditwithsuch
bitternessofheartthathewouldratherhavehadhis
twothighsbroken.Michelet,intheaccountofthe
proceedingsagainstthetemplarsinhis“Historyof
France,”offersaningeniousexplanationofthese
ceremoniesofinitiationwhichgivesthematypical
meaning.Heimaginesthattheywereborrowedfrom
thefigurativemysteriesandritesoftheearlyChurch,
andsupposesthat,inthisspirit,thecandidatefor
admissionintotheorderwasfirstpresentedasa
sinnerandrenegade,inwhichcharacter,afterthe
exampleofPeter,hewasmadetodenyChrist.This
denial,hesuggests,wasasortofpantomimein
whichthenoviceexpressedhisreprobatestateby
spittingonthecross;afterwhichhewasstrippedof
hisprofaneclothing,received,throughthekissof
theorder,intoahigherstateoffaith,andclothed
withthegarbofitsholiness.Ifthiswerethecase,
thetruemeaningoftheperformancemusthavebeen
verysoonforgotten.
Thiswasespeciallythecasewiththekiss.Accord-
ingtothearticlesofaccusation,oneofthecere-
monies ofinitiationrequiredthenovicetokissthe
127

350. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
receiveronthemouth,ontheanus,ortheendofthe
spine,onthenavel,andonthevirgavirilis.The
lastisnotmentionedintheexaminations,butthe
othersaredescribedbysomanyofthewitnessesthat
wecannotdoubtoftheirtruth.Fromthedepositions
ofmanyofthetemplarsexamined,itwouldappear
thattheusualorderwastokissthereceptorfirstin
ano,nextonthenavel,andthenonthemouth. The
firstofthesewasanactwhichwould,ofcourse,be
repulsivetomostpeople,andthepracticearosegrad-
uallyofonlykissingtheendofthespine,or,asitwas
calledinmedizvalLatin,inanca. Bertrandde
Somorens,ofthedioceseofAmiens,describinga
receptionatwhichmorethanonenewmember was
admitted,saysthatthereccivernexttoldthemthat
theymustkisshiminano;but,insteadofkissing
himthere,theylifteduphisclothesandkissedhim
onthespine.Thereceptor,itappears,hadthepower
ofremittingthiskisswhenhejudgedtherewasa
sufficientreason.EtiennedeDijon,apresbyterof
thedioceseofLangres,saidthat,whenhewasad-
mittedintotheorder,thepreceptortoldhimthat
heought,“accordingtotheobservancesoftheor-
der,”tokisshisreceiverinano,butthatinconsid-
erationofhisbeingapresbyter,hewouldsparehim
andremitthiskiss.PierredeGrumenil,alsoa
1SeetheProcés,ii.286,362,364.
128

351. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
presbyter,whencalledupontoperformthisact,re-
fused,andwasallowedtokisshisreceiveronthe
navelonly.ApresbyternamedAdodeDompierre
wasexcusedforthesamereason,’aswellasmany
others.Anothertemplar,namedPierredeLanhiac,
saidthat,athisreceptionintotheorder,hisreceptor
toldhimthathemustkisshiminano,becausethat
wasoneofthepointsoftheorder,butthat,atthe
earnestsupplicationofhisuncle,whowaspresent,
andmustthereforehavebeenaknightoftheorder,
heobtainedaremissionofthiskiss.
Anotherchargeagainstthetemplarswasstillmore
disgusting.Itwassaidthattheyproscribedallin-
tercoursewithwomen,andoneofthemenexamined
stated,whichwasalsoconfessedbyothers,thathis
receptortoldhimthat,fromthathour,hewasnever
toenterahouseinwhichawoman layinlabour,
nortotakepartasgodfatheratthebaptismofany
child,butheaddedthathehadbrokenhisoath,for
hehadassistedatthebaptismofseveralchildren
whilestillintheorder,whichhehadleftabouta
yearbeforetheseizureofthetemplars,forthelove
ofawomanofwhomhehadbecomeenamoured.On
theotherhand,thosewhorepliedtotheinterroga-
toryoftheking’sofficersinthisprocess,wereallbut
unanimous intheavowalthatonenteringtheorder
1Procés,i,307.
129

352. iT
IIIICIla=EpeomEeeeaeaeaeaeaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaSESEeee———eEeEE—E———
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
theyreceivedthepermissiontocommitsodomy
amongstthemselves.Twoorthreeprofessednotto
haveunderstoodthisinjunctioninabadsense,but
tohavesupposedthatitonlymeantthat,whenthe
brethrenwereshortofbeds,eachwastobereadyto
lendhalfofhisbedtohisfellow.Oneofthem,
namedGilletdeEncraye,saidthatheatfirstsup-
posedittobemeantinnocently,butthathisreceptor
immediatelyundeceivedhim,byrepeatingitinless
covertterms,atwhichhewashimselfsohorrified
thathewishedhimselffarawayfromthechapelin
whichtheceremonytookplace.Agreatnumberof
templarsstatedthat,afterthekissesofinitiation,
theywereinformedthatiftheyfeltmovedbynatural
heat,theymightcallanyoneofthebrethrentotheir
relief,andthattheyoughttorelievetheirbrethren
whenappealedtounderthesamecircumstances.
Thisappearstohavebeenthemostcommon form
oftheinjunction.Inoneortwoinstancesthere-
ceiverisdescribedasaddingthatthiswasanactof
contempttowardstheothersex,whichmayperhaps
beconsideredasshowingthattheceremonywasde-
rivedfromsomeofthemysteriesofthestrangesects
whichappearedintheearlieragesofChristianity.
JeandeSt.Loup,whoheldtheofficeofmasterofthe
houseoftemplarsatSoisiac,saidthat,onhisre-
ceptionintotheorder,hereceivedtheinjunctionnot
130

353. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
tohaveintercoursewithwomen,but,ifhecouldnot
persevereincontinence,hemighthavethesamein-
tercoursewithmen;andothersweretoldthatit
would“bebettertosatisfytheirlustamongthem-
selves,wherebytheorderwouldescapeevilreport,
thaniftheywenttowomen.” Butalthoughtheal-
mostunanimityoftheconfessionsleavehardlyroom
foradoubtthatsuchinjunctionsweregiven,yeton
theotherhandtheyareequallyunanimousindeny-
ingthattheseinjunctionswerecarriedintopractice.
Almosteverytemplar,asthequestionswereputto
him,afteradmittingthathewastoldthathemight
indulgeinsuchvicewiththeotherbrethren,asserted
thathehadneverdonethis,andthathehadnever
beenaskedtodosobyanyofthem.Theobaldde
Taverniac,whosenametellsusthathecamefrom
thesouth,deniedindignantlytheexistenceofsucha
viceamongtheirorderbutintermswhichthem-
selvestoldnotverymuchinfavourofthemorality
ofthetemplarsinotherrespects.Hesaidthat,“as
tothecrimeofsodomy,”hebelievedthechargeto
betotallyuntrue,“becausetheycouldhavevery
handsomeandelegantwomenwhentheyliked,and
thattheydidhavethemfrequentlywhentheywere
richandpowerfulenoughtoaffordit,andthaton
thisaccountheandotherbrothersoftheorderwere
removedfromtheirhouses,ashesaid.”Wehave
131

354. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
animpliedacknowledgment thatthetemplarsdid
notentirelyneglecttheothersexinastatement
quotedbyDuPuythat,ifachildwerebornfrom
theintercoursebetweenatemplarandavirgin,they
roastedit,andmadeanunguentofitsfat,withwhich
theyanointedtheiridol.Thosewhoconfessedto
theexistenceoftheviceweresofew,andtheirevi-
dencesoindefiniteorindirect,thattheyaredeserv-
ingofnoconsideration.Onehadheardthatsome
brethrenbeyondtheseahadcommittedunnatural
vices.1Another,HughdeFaure,hadheardsaythat
twobrothersoftheorder,dwellingintheChateau
Pelerin,hadbeenchargedwithsodomy;that,when
thisreachedtheearsofthemaster,hegaveorders
fortheirarrest,andthatonehadbeenkilledinthe
attempttoescape,whiletheotherwastakenandim-
prisonedforlife.PeterBrocart,atemplarofParis,
declaredthatoneoftheorder,onenight,calledhim
andcommittedsodomywithhim;addingthathehad
notrefused,becauseheconsideredhimselfboundto
obediencebytherulesoftheorder.2,Theevidence
isdecidedlystrongagainsttheprevalenceofsucha
viceamongthetemplars,andtheallegedpermission
wasperhapsamereformofwords,whichconcealed
someoccultmeaningunknown tothemassofthe
1Procés,ii,213.
2Proceés,ii,294.
saesearimanamaintnte,cacbtenaientemubeameaneatechniemeiae
132

355. ———eaeaeaeaeaeaao—OOOOO
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
nt ee
templarsthemselves.Wearenotinclinedtoreject
altogetherthetheoryofthebaronvonHammer-
Piirgstall,thatthetemplarshadadoptedsomeofthe
mysterioustenetsoftheeasternGnostics.
Inregardtothesecretidolatrywithwhichthe
templarswerecharged,itisasubjectinvolvedin|
greatobscurity.Thecatisbutlittlespokenofin
thedepositions.SomeItalianknightsconfessedthat
theyhadbeenpresentatasecretchapteroftwelve
knightsheldatBrindisi,whenagreycatsuddenly
appearedamongstthem,andtheyworshippedit.At
Nismes,sometemplarsdeclaredthattheyhadbeen
presentatachapteratMontpellier,whenthedemon
appearedtothemintheformofacat,andpromised
themworldlyprosperity,buttheyappeartohave
beenvisionariesnottobetrusted,fortheystatedthat
atthesametimedevilsappearedintheshapeof
women. AnEnglishtemplar,examinedinLondon,
deposedthatinEnglandtheydidnotadorethecat,
ortheidol,butthathehadhearditpositivelystated
thatthecatandtheidolwereworshippedbythe
templarsinpartsbeyondsea.AsolitaryFreshman,
examinedinParis,GilletdeEncreyo,spokeofthe
cat,andsaidthathehadheard,buthadforgotten
whowerehisinformants,anddidnotbelievethem,
thatbeyondseaacertaincathadappearedtothe
templarsintheirbattles.Thecatbelongstoalower
133

356. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
classofpopularsuperstitions,perhaps,thanthatof
thetemplars.
This,however,wasnotthecasewiththeidol,which
wasgenerallydescribedasthefigureofahuman
head,andappearsonlytohavebeenshowninthe
moresecretchaptermeetingsonparticularocca-
sions.Manyofthetemplarsexaminedbeforethe
commissioners,saidthattheyhadheardthisidol
headspokenofasexistingintheorder,andothers
deposedtohavingseenit.Itwasgenerallydescribed
asbeingaboutthenaturalsizeofaman’shead,with
averyfierce-lookingfaceandabeard,thelatter
sometimeswhite.Differentwitnessesvariedasto
thematerialofwhichitwasmade,and,indeed,in
variousotherparticulars,whichleadustosuppose
thateachhouseofthetemplars,wheretheidolex-
isted,haditsownhead,andthattheyvariedinform.
Theyagreedgenerallythatthisheadwasanobject
ofworship.Onetemplardeposedthathewaspresent
atachapteroftheorderinParis,whentheheadwas
broughtin,buthewasunabletodescribeitatall,
for,whenhesawit,hewassostruckwithterrorthat
hehardlyknewwherehewas.Another,Ralphde
Gysi,whoheldtheofficeofreceptorfortheprovince
ofChampagne,saidthathehadseentheheadin
manychapters;that,whenitwasintroduced,all
presentthrewthemselvesonthegroundandadored
134

357. tae acted ernetcceerenesoiecnniacinoem
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
it:andwhenaskedtodescribeit,hesaid,onhisoath,
thatitscountenancewassoterrible,thatitseemed
tohimtobethefigureofademon—using theFrench
wordunmaufé,andthatasoftenashesawit,so
greatafeartookpossessionofhim,thathecould
hardlylookuponitwithoutfearandtrembling.Jean
Taylafersaidthat,athisreceptionintotheorder,his
attentionwasdirectedtoaheaduponthealtarinthe
chapel,whichhewastoldhemustworship;hede-
scribeditasofthenaturalsizeofamanshead,but
couldnotdescribeitmoreparticularly,exceptthat
hethoughtitwasofareddishcolour.1Raynerusde
Larchentsawtheheadtwiceinachapter,especially
onceinParis,whereithadabeard,andtheyadored
andkissedit,andcalledittheirsaviour.Guillermus
deHerbaleyosawtheheadwithitsbeard,attwo
chapters.Hethoughtitwasofsilvergilt,andwood
inside.He“sawthebrethrenadoreit,andhewent
throughtheformofadoringithimself,buthedidit
notinhisheart.”Accordingtoonewitness,Deo-
datusJaffet,aknightfromthesouthofFrancewho
hadbeenreceivedatPedenat,thereceptorshowed
himahead,oridol,whichappearedtohavethree
faces,andsaidtohim,“Youmustadorethisasyour
saviour,andthesaviouroftheorderofthetemple,”
andheaddedthathewasmadetoworshiptheidol,
1Proces,i,190.
135

358. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
3”!saying,“Blessedbehewhoshallsavemysoul
Anotherdeponentgaveaverysimilaraccount.An-
otherknightoftheorder,HugodeParaudo,said
that,inachapteratMontpellier,hehadbothseen,
held,andfelt,theidolorhead,andthatheandthe
otherbrothersadoreditbuthe,liketheothers,
pleadedthathedidnotadoreitinhisheart.He
describeditassupportedonfourfeet,twobefore
andtwobehind.GuillaumedeArrablay,theking’s
almoner(eleemosynariusregius),saidthatinthe
chapteratwhichhewasreceived,aheadmadeof
silverwasplacedonthealtar,andadoredbythose
whoformedthechapter;hewastoldthatitwasthe
headofoneoftheeleventhousandvirgins,andhad
alwaysbelievedthistobethecase,untilafterthear-
restoftheorder,when,hearingallthatwassaidon
thematter,he“suspected”thatitwastheidol;and
headdsinhisdepositionthatitseemedtohimto
havetwofaces,aterriblelook,andasilverbeard.
Itdoesnotappearveryclearwhyheshouldhave
takenaheadwithtwofaces,afiercelook,anda
beard,foroneoftheeleventhousandvirgins,but
thisis,perhaps,partlyexplainedbythedeposition
ofanotherwitness,GuillaumePidoye,whohadthe
chargeoftherelics,&c.,belongingtotheTemplein
Paris,andwhoproducedaheadofsilvergilt,hav-
1Proces,ii,363.
SS
136

359. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ingawoman’sface,andasmallskull,resembling
thatofawoman,inside,whichwassaidtobethatof
oneoftheeleventhousandvirgins.Atthesametime
anotherheadwasbroughtforward,havingabeard,
andsupposedtobethatoftheidol.tBoththese
witnesseshadnodoubtconfounded twothings.
PierreGarald,ofMursac,anotherwitness,saidthat
afterhehaddeniedChristandspittenonthecross,
thereceptordrewfromhisbosomacertainsmall
imageofbrassorgold,whichappearedtorepresent
thefigureofawoman,andtoldhimthat“hemust
believeinit,andhavefaithinit,andthatitwould
bewellforhim.”Heretheidolappearsintheform
ofastatuette.Therewasalsoanotheraccountofthe
ido!,whichperhapsreferstosomefurtherobjectof
superstitionamongthetemplars.Accordingtoone
deponent,itwasanoldskinembalmed,withbright
carbunclesforeyes,whichshonelikethelightof
heaven.Otherssaidthatitwastheskinofaman,
butagreedwiththeothersinregardtothecar-
buncles.2,InEnglandaminoritefriardeposedthat
anEnglishknightoftheTemplehadassuredhim
thatthetemplarshadfourprincipalidolsinthis
country,oneinthesacristyoftheTempleinLondon,
anotheratBristelham,athirdatBrueria(Bruernin
1Procés,ii,218.
2DuPuy,Hist.desTempl.,pp.22,24.
137

360. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Lincolnshire),andthefourthatsomeplacebeyond
theHumber.
Anotherpieceofinformationrelatingtothis
“idol,”whichhasbeenthesubjectofconsiderable
discussionamongmodernwriters,waselicitedfrom
theexaminationofsomeknightsfromthesouth.
GauseranddeMontpesant,aknightofProvence,said
thattheirsuperiorshowedhimanidolmadeinthe
formofBaffomet;another,namedRaymondRubei,
describeditasawoodenhead,onwhichthefigureof
Baphometwaspainted,andadds,“thathewor-
shippeditbykissingitsfeet,andexclaiming,‘Yalla,’
whichwas,”hesays,“verbumSaracenorum,”aword
takenfromtheSaracens.?AtemplarofFlorencede-
claredthat,inthesecretchaptersoftheorder,one
brothersaidtotheother,showingtheidol,“Adore
thishead—thisheadisyourgodandyourMahomet.”
ThewordMahometwasusedcommonlyinthemid-
dleagesasageneraltermforanidolorfalsegod;
butsomewriters‘havesuggestedthatBaphometis
itselfamerecorruptionofMahomet,andsuppose
thatthetemplarshadsecretlyembracedMahometan-
ism.Amuchmoreremarkableexplanationofthis
wordhas,however,beenproposed,whichis,atthe
least,worthyofverygreatconsideration,especially
1Wilkins,Concil.,vol.ii,p.363.
2DuPuy,Hist.desTempliers,p.21.
138

361. SSS mses
—{{
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
asitcomesfromsodistinguishedanorientalist:and
scholarasthelatebaronJosephvonHammer-Piirg-
stall.Itarosepartlyfromthecomparisonofanum-
berofobjectsofart,ornamentedwithfigures,and
belongingapparentlytothethirteenthcentury.These
objectsconsistchieflyofsmallimages,orstatuettes,
coffers,andcups.
VonHammerhasdescribed,andgivenengravings
of,twenty-foursuchimages,whichitmustbeac-
knowledgedanswerverywelltothedescriptionsof
their“idol”givenbythetemplarsintheirexamina-
tions,exceptonlythatthetemplarsusuallyspeak
ofthemasofthesizeoflife,andasbeingmerely
heads.Mostofthemhavebeards,andtolerablyfierce
countenances.AmongthosegivenbyVonHammer
aresevenwhichpresentonlyahead,andtwowith
twofaces,backwardsandforwards,asdescribedin
someofthedepositions.Thesetwoappeartobein-
tendedforfemaleheads.AltogetherVonHammer
hasdescribedfifteencupsandgoblets,butamuch
smallernumberofcoffers.Bothcupsandcoffers
areornamentedwithextremelycuriousfigures,rep-
resentingacontinuousscene,apparentlyreligious
ceremoniesofsqmekindorother,butcertainlyofan
obscenecharacter,allthepersonsengagedinwhich
arerepresentednaked.Itisnotapartofoursubject
toenterintoadetailedexaminationofthesemys-
139

362. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
teries.Themostinterestingofthecoffersdescribed
byVonHammer,whichwaspreservedintheprivate
museumoftheducdeBlacas,isofcalcarousstone,
nineincheslongbysevenbroad,andfourandahalf
deep,withalidabouttwoinchesthick.Itwasfound
inBurgundy.Onthelidissculpturedafigure,naked,
withahead-dressresemblingthatgiventoCybele
inancientmonuments,holdingupachainwitheach
hand,andsurroundedwithvarioussymbols,thesun
andmoonabove,thestarandthepentaclebelow,and
underthefeetahumanskull.t_Thechainsareex-
plainedbyVonHammer asrepresentingthechains
ofzonsoftheGnostics.Onthefoursidesofthe
cofferweseeaseriesoffiguresengagedintheper-
formanceofvariousceremonies,whicharenoteasily
explained,butwhichVonHammer considersasbe-
longingtotheritesoftheGnosticsandOphians.The
offeringofacalffiguresprominentlyamongthese
rites,aworshipwhichissaidstilltoexistamongthe
Nossarii,orNessarenes,theDruses,andothersects
intheEast.Inthemiddleofthesceneononeside,a
humanskullisseen,raiseduponapole.Onanother
sideanandrogynousfigureisrepresentedastheob-
jectofworshipoftwocandidatesforinitiation,who
wearmasksapparentlyofacat,andwhoseformof
adorationremindsusofthekissenactedattheiniti-
1Seeourplatexiv.
140

363. chNBE
ei\=)“Gy=°
Avos
|aMabeS|<
mei\82aawyN
RE
SS
Sea
‘we
PLATE XIV
PRIAPIC ILLUSTRATIONS FROM OLDBALLADS

364. ="

365. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ationofthetemplars.t_Thisgroupremindsus,too,
ofthepicturesoftheorgiesintheworshipofPriapus,
asrepresentedonRomanmonuments.Thesecondof
thecoffersinthecabinetoftheducdeBlacaswas
foundinTuscany,andisratherlargerthantheone
justdescribed,butmadeofthesamematerial,though
ofafinergrain.Thelidofthiscofferislost,butthe
sidesarecoveredwithsculptureofasimilarcharac-
ter.Alargegoblet,orbowl,ofmarble,intheim-
perialmuseumatVienna,issurroundedbyaseries
offiguresofsimilarcharacter,whichareengraved
byVonHammer,whoseesinonegroupofmen(who
arefurnishedintheoriginalwithprominentphalli)
andserpents,adirectallusiontoOphiterites.Next
afterthesecomesagroupwhichwehavereproduced
inourplate,?representingastrangefigureseated
uponaneagle,andaccompaniedwithtwoofthesym-
bolsrepresentedonthecofferfoundinBurgundy,
thesunandmoon.Thetwosymbolsbelowarecon-
sideredbyVonHammertorepresent,accordingto
therudemedizvalnotionsofitsform,thewomb,or
matrix;thefecundatingorganispenetratingtheone,
whiletheinfantisemergingfromtheother.The
lastfigureinthisseries,whichwehavealsocopied,*
1Platexv,fig.1.
2Platexv,fig.2.
3Platexv,fig.3.
143

366. SS
—aoOOoooaoaoaoaeeeEeEeEEeEEEEEEEEEEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
isidenticalwiththatonthelidofthecofferfound
inBurgundy,butitisdistinctlyrepresentedasandro-
gynous.Wehaveexactlythesamefigureonanother
coffer,intheViennamuseum,’withsomeofthesame
symbols,thestar,pentacle,andhumanskull.Per-
haps,inthislast,thebeardisintendedtoshowthat
thefiguremustbetakenasandrogynous.
Onanimpartialcomparisonwecanhardlydoubt
thatthesecuriousobjects,—images,coffers,cups,and
bowls,—havebeenintendedforuseinsomesecret
andmysteriousrites,andtheargumentsbywhich
VonHammerattemptstoshowthattheybelongedto
thetemplarsseematleasttobeveryplausible.Sev-
eraloftheobjectsrepresenteduponthem,eventhe
skull,arealludedtoinsomeoftheconfessionsof
thetemplars,andtheseevidentlyonlyconfesseda
partofwhattheyknew,orotherwisetheywerevery
imperfectlyacquaintedwiththesecretsoftheirorder.
Perhapsthemostsecretdoctrinesandriteswereonly
communicatedfullytoasmallnumber.Thereis,
however,anothercircumstanceconnectedwiththese
objectswhichappearstofurnishanalmostirresisti-
bleconfirmationofVonHammer’stheory.Mostof
thembearinscriptions,writteninArabic,Greek,and
Romancharacters.Theinscriptionsontheimages
appeartobemerelypropernames,probablythoseof
1Platexv,fig.4.
144

367. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
theirpossessors.Butwiththecoffersandbowlsthe
caseisdifferent,fortheycontainanearlyuniform
inscriptioninArabiccharacters,which,accordingto
theinterpretationgivenbyVonHammer,contains
areligiousformula.TheArabiccharacters,hesays,
havebeencopiedbyaEuropean,andnotveryskil-
ful,carver,whodidnotunderstandthem,froman
Easternoriginal,andtheinscriptionscontaincor-
ruptionsanderrorswhicheitherarosefromthiscir-
cumstance,or,asVonHammersuggests,mayhave
beenintroduceddesignedly,forthepurposeofcon-
cealingthemeaningfromtheuninitiated.Agood
exampleofthisinscriptionsurroundsthelidofthe
cofferfoundinBurgundy,andisinterpretedasfol-
lowsbyVonHammer,whoregardsitasasortof
parodyontheCantatelaudesDomini.Infact,the
wordunderthefeetofthefigure,betweenthemand
theskull,isnothingmorethantheLatincantate
expressedinArabicletters.Thewordswithwhich
thisCantatebeginsarewrittenabovetheheadofthe
figure,andarereadbyVonHammerasFahlaSidna,
whichismorecorrectlyFellaSidna,i.e.OGod,our
Lord!Theformulaitself,towhichthisisanintro-
duction,commencesontherightside,andthefirst
partofitreadsHouvéMeteZonarfeseba(orsebaa)
B.Mounkirteaalatiz.Thereisnosuchwordin
Arabicasmete,andVonHammerconsidersittobe
145

368. ET—aoaaes=aooaaeaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ce
simplytheGreekwordpijtis,wisdom,apersonifica-
tioninwhatwemayperhapscalltheGnosticmyth-
ologyansweringtotheSophiaoftheOphianites.He
considersthatthenameBaphometisderivedfrom
theGreekwordsBaypntoes,i.e.thebaptism-of
Metis,andthatinitsapplicationitisequivalentwith
thenameMeteitself.Hehasfurthershown,we
thinkconclusively,thatBaphomet,insteadofbeing
acorruptionofMahomet,wasanameknownamong
theGnosticsectsintheEast.ZonarisnotanArabic
word,andisperhapsonlyacorruptionorerrorof
thesculptor,butVonHammer thoughtitmeanta
girdle,andthatitalludedtothemysteriousgirdleof
thetemplars,ofwhichsomuchissaidintheirexami-
nations.TheletterBissupposedbyVonHammer
tostandhereforthenameBaphomet,orforthatof
Barbalo,oneofthemostimportantpersonagesinthe
Gnosticmythology.MounkiristheArabicwordfor
apersonwhodeniestheorthodoxfaith.Therestof
theformulaisgivenontheothersideofthefigure,
butastheinscriptionherepresentsseveralcorrup-
tions,wewillgiveVonHammer’stranslation(in
Latin)ofthemorecorrectcopyoftheformulain-
scribedonthebowlorgobletpreservedinthe
museumatVienna.IntheViennabowl,theformula
offaithiswrittenonasortoflargeplacard,which
ishelduptoviewbyafigureapparentlyintendedfor
146

369. ‘x
LIa
tal
ear
‘|lif
LAlif
Cs
|.Ai
\
\
PLATE XV
“IDOL” OFTHEKNIGHTS TEMPLARS

371. ——————LLLL ES
a
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
anotherrepresentationofMeteorBaphomet.Von
Hammertranslatesit:—
“ExalteturMetegerminans,stirpsnostraegoetseptemfuere,
turenegansreditusGowxtdc fis.”
Thisstillis,itmustbeconfessed,rathermysterious,
and,infact,mostofthesecopiesoftheformulaof
faitharemoreorlessdefective,but,fromacompari-
sonofthem,thegeneralformandmeaningofthe
wholeismadeperfectlyclear.Thismaybetrans-
lated,“LetMetebeexalted,whocausesthingstobud
andblossom!heisourroot;it(theroot)isoneand
seven;abjure(thefaith),andabandonthyselftoall
pleasures.”Thenumbersevenissaidtorefertothe
sevenarchonsoftheGnosticcreed.
Therearecertainlyseveralpointsinthisformula
whichpresentatleastasingularcoincidencewiththe
statementsmadeintheexaminationsofthetemplars.
Inthefirstplacetheinvocationwhichprecedesthe
formula,Yalla(Jahla),agreesexactlywiththestate-
mentofRaymondRubei,oneoftheProvencaltemp-
larsthatwhenthesuperiorexhibitedtheidol,or
figureofBaphomet,hekisseditandexclaimed
“Yalla!”whichhecalls“awordoftheSaracens,”
i.e.Arabic.Itisevidentthat,inthiscase,thewit-
nessnotonlyknewtheword,butthatheknewto
whatlanguageitbelonged.Again,theepithetgermi-
2DuPuy,Hist.desTempliers,p.94.
149

372. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
nans,appliedtoMete,orBaphomet,isinaccordwith
thestatementintheformallistofarticlesofaccusa-
tionagainstthetemplars,thattheyworshippedtheir
idolbecause“itmadethetreestoflourishandthe
earthtogerminate.”Theabjurationoftheformula
onthemonuments seemstobeidenticalwiththede-
nialintheinitiationofnovicestotheorderofthe
Temple;anditmaybeadded,thattheclosingwords
oftheformulainvolveintheoriginalanideamore
obscenethanisexpressedinthetranslation,anal-
lusiontotheunnaturalviceinwhichthetemplars
arestatedtohavereceivedpermissiontoindulge.
Thereisanothercuriousstatementintheexamina-
tionswhichseemstopointdirectlytoourimagesand
coffers—oneoftheEnglishwitnessesunderexamina-
tion,namedJohndeDonington,whohadleftthe
orderandbecomeafriaratSalisbury,saidthatan
oldtemplarhadassuredhimthat“sometemplars
carriedsuchidolsintheircoffers.”Theyseemto
havebeentreasuredupforthesamereasonasthe
mandrake,foronearticleinthearticlesagainstthe
templarsisthattheyworshippedtheiridolbecause
“itcouldmakethemrich,andthatithadbrought
alltheirgreatwealthtotheorder.”
ThetwootherclassesofwhattheBaronVonHam-
mersupposed toberelicsofthesecretworship of
thetemplars,appeartoustobemuch lesssatisfac-
150

373. —_———————>=—oeE=aee_=qm=====la_e_s__—_——————_—_——S—
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
torilyexplained.Thesearesculpturesonold
churches,andcoinsormedals.Suchsculpturesare
found,accordingtoVonHammer,onthechurches
ofSchéngraber,Waltendorf,andBercktoldorf,in
Austria;inthatofDeutschaltenburg,andinthe
ruinsofthatofPostyén,inHungary;andinthose
ofMurau,Prague,andEgra,inBohemia.Tothese
exampleswearetoaddthesculpturesofthechurch
ofMontmorillon,inPoitou,someofwhichhavebeen
engravedbyMontfaucon,?andthoseofthechurch
ofSte.Croix,inBordeaux.Wehavealready?re-
markedtheratherfrequentprevalenceofsubjects
moreorlessobsceneinthesculptureswhichorna-
mentearlychurches,andsuggestedthattheymaybe
explainedinsomedegreebythetonegiventosociety
bytheexistenceofthispriapicworship;butweare
notinclinedtoagreewithVonHammer’sexplana-
tionofthem,ortothinkthattheyhaveanyconnec-
tionwiththetemplars.Wecaneasilyunderstandthe
existenceofsuchdirectallusionsoncoffersorother
objectsintendedtobeconcealed,oratleastkeptin
private;butitishardlyprobablethatmenwhoheld
opinionsandpractisedritestheveryrumourofwhich
wasthensofullofdanger,wouldproclaimthem
publiclyonthewallsoftheirbuildings,forthewall
1Montfaucon,AntiquitéExpliquée,Suppl.tom.ii,plate59.
2Seebefore,p.139.
151

374. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ofachurchwasthen,perhaps,themosteffectual
medium ofpublication.Thequestionofthesup-
posedtemplarmedalsisveryobscure.VonHammer
hasengravedacertainnumberoftheseobjects,which
presentvarioussingularsubjectsontheobverse,
sometimeswithacrossonthereverse,andsometimes
bracteate.Antiquarieshavegiventhenameofabbey
tokenstoarathernumerousclassofsuchmedals,
theuseofwhichisstillveryuncertain,although
thereappearstobelittledoubtofitsbeingofa
religiouscharacter.Somehavesupposedthatthey
weredistributedtothosewhoattendedatcertain
sacramentsorritesoftheChurch,whocouldthus,
whencalledup,provebythenumberoftheirtokens,
thegreaterorlessregularityoftheirattendance.
Whetherthiswerethecaseornot,itiscertainthat
theburlesqueandothersocietiesofthemiddleages,
suchasthefeastoffools,parodiedthese“tokens,”
andhadburlesquemedals,inleadandsometimesin
othermetals,whichwereperhapsusedforasimilar
purpose.Wehavealreadyspokenmorethanonce
ofobscenemedals,andhaveengravedspecimensof
them,whichwereperhapsusedinsecretsocietiesde-
rivedfrom,orfoundedupon,theancientphallic
worship.Itisnotatallimprobablethatthetemp-
larsmayhaveemployedsimilarmedals,andthat
thosewouldcontainallusionstotheritesinwhich
152

375. —————————————————————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
pM ne rROe eee eaete
theywereemployed.ThemedalspublishedbyVon
Hammeraresaidtohavebeenfoundchieflyonthe
sitesofsettlementsoftheorderoftheTemple.How-
ever,thecomparisonoffactsstatedintheconfessions
ofmanyofthetemplars,aspreservedintheofficial
reports,withtheimagesandsculpturedcupsand
coffersgivenbyVonHammer-Piirgstall,leadtothe
conclusionthatthereistruthintheexplanationhe
givesofthelatter,andthatthetemplars,oratleast
someofthem,hadsecretlyadoptedaformofthe
ritesofGnosticism,whichwasitselffoundedupon
thephallicworshipoftheancients.AnEnglish
templar,StephendeStaplebridge,acknowledgedthat
“thereweretwo‘professions’intheorderofthe
Temple,thefirstlawfulandgood,thesecondcon-
trarytothefaith.”Hehadbeenadmittedtothe
firstofthesewhenhefirstenteredtheorder,eleven
yearsbeforethetimeofhisexamination,buthewas
onlyinitiatedintothesecondorinnermysteries
aboutayearafterwards;andhegivesalmosta
picturesquedescriptionofthissecondinitiation,
whichoccurredinachapterheldat“Dineslee”in
Herefordshire.AnotherEnglishtemplar,Thomasde
Tocci,saidthattheerrorshadbeenbroughtinto
EnglandbyaFrenchknightofhighpositioninthe
order.*
1Wilkins,Concil.,ii,387.
153

376. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Wehavethusseeninhowmanyvariousformsthe
oldphallic,orpriapic,worshippresenteditselfin
themiddleages,andhowpertinaciouslyitheldits
groundthroughallthechangesanddevelopmentsof
society,untilatlengthwefindallthecircumstances”
oftheancientpriapicorgies,aswellasthemedieval
additions,combinedinthatgreatandextensive
superstition—witchcraft.Atalltimestheinitiated
werebelievedtohaveobtainedtherebypowerswhich
werenotpossessedbytheuninitiated,andtheyonly
weresupposedtoknowtheproperformsofinvoca-
tionofthedeitieswhoweretheobjectsoftheirwor-
ship,whichdeitiestheChristianteachersinvariably
transformedintodevils.Thevowswhichthepeople
ofantiquityaddressedtoPriapus,thoseofthemiddle
agesaddressedtoSatan.Thewitches’“Sabbath”
wassimplythelastformwhichthePriapeiaand
LiberaliaassumedinWesternEurope,andinits
variousdetailsalltheincidentsofthosegreatand
licentiousorgiesoftheRomanswerereproduced.
TheSabbathofthewitchesdoesnotappeartohave
formedapartoftheTeutonicmythology,butwecan
traceitfromtheSouththroughthecountriesin
whichtheRomanelementofsocietypredominated.
TheincidentsoftheSabbatharedistinctlytracedin
Italyasearlyasthebeginningofthefifteenthcen-
tury,andsoonafterwardstheyarefoundinthesouth
154

377. _=———————Saaa3aaIEO——_
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
oP ES ARC
ofFrance.Towardsthemiddleofthatcenturyan
individualnamedRobinetdeVaulx,whohadlived
thelifeofahermitinBurgundy,wasarrested,
broughttoatrialatLangres,andburnt.Thisman
wasanativeofArtois;hestatedthattohisknowl-
edgetherewereagreatnumberofwitchesinthat
province,andhenotonlyconfessedthathehadat-
tendedthesenocturnalassembliesofthewitches,
buthegavethenamesofsomeinhabitantsofArras
whomhehadmetthere.Atthistime—itwasin
theyear1459—thechaptergeneraloftheJacobins,
orfriarspreachers,washeldatLangres,andamong
thosewhoattendeditwasaJacobinfriarnamed
PierredeBroussart,whoheldtheofficeofinquisitor
ofthefaithinthecityofArras,andwhoeagerly
listenedtothecircumstancesofRobinet’sconfession.
Amongthenamesmentionedbyhimashavingbeen
presentatthewitches’meetings,werethoseofa
prostitutenamedDemiselle,thenlivingatDouai,
andamannamedJehanLevite,butwhowasbetter
knownbythenicknameofAbbédepeudesens(the
abbotoflittlesense). OnBroussart’sreturnto
Arras,hecausedboththesepersonstobearrested
andbroughttothatcity,wheretheywerethrown
intoprison.Thelatter,whowasapainter,anda
composerandsingerofpopularsongs,hadleftArras
beforeRobinetdeVaulxhadmadehisconfession,
155

378. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
buthewastracedtoAbbeville,inPonthieu,andcap-
turedthere.Confessionswereextortedfromthese
personswhichcompromisedothers,andanumberof
individualswerecommittedtoprisoninconsequence.
Inthesequelacertainnumberofthemwereburnt,
aftertheyhadbeeninducedtouniteinastatement
tothefollowingeffect.Atthistime,inthispartof
Franceatleast,thetermVauderie,or,asitwasthen
written,Vaulderie,wasappliedtothepracticeor
professionofwitchcraft.Theysaidthattheplaceof
meetingwascommonlyafountaininthewoodof
Mofflaines,aboutaleaguedistantfromArras,and
thattheysometimeswentthitheronfoot.Themore
usualwayofproceeding,however,accordingtotheir
ownaccount,wasthis—theytookanointmentgiven
tothembythedevil,withwhichtheyannointeda
woodenrod,atthesametimerubbingthepalmsof
theirhandswithit,andthen,placingtherodbetween
theirlegs,theyweresuddenlycarriedthroughthe
airtotheplaceofassembly.Theyfoundtherea
multitudeofpeople,ofbothsexes,andofallestates
andranks,evenwealthyburghersandnobles—and
oneofthepersonsexamineddeclaredthathehad
seentherenotonlyordinaryecclesiastics,butbishops
andevencardinals.Theyfoundtablesalready
spread,coveredwithallsortsofmeats,andabun-
danceofwines.Adevilpresided,usuallyintheform
156

379. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ofagoat,withthetailofanape,andahumancoun-
tenance.Eachfirstdidoblatignandhomagetohim
byofferinghimhisorhersoul,or,atleastsomepart
oftheirbody,andthen,asamarkofadoration,
kissedhimontheposteriors.Allthistimethewor-
shippersheldburningtorchesintheirhands.The
abbotoflittlesense,alreadymentioned,heldthe
officeofmasteroftheceremoniesatthesemeet-
ings,anditwashisdutytoseethatthenew-comers
dulyperformedtheirhomage.Afterthistheytram-
pledonthecross,andspituponit,indespiteof
JesusandoftheHolyTrinity,andperformedother
profaneacts.Theythenseatedthemselvesatthe
tables,andaftertheyhadeatenanddrunksuffi-
ciently,theyroseandjoinedinasceneofpromiscu-
ousintercoursebetweenthesexes,inwhichthe
demontookpart,assumingalternatelytheformof
eithersex,accordingtothatofhistemporarypart-
ner.Otherwickedactsfollowed,andthenthedevil
preachedtothem,andenjoinedthemespeciallynot
togotochurch,orhearmass,ortouchholywater,
orperformanyotherofthedutiesofgoodChristians.
Afterthissermonwasended,themeetingwasdis-
solved,andtheyseparatedandreturnedtotheir
severalhomes."
1Theaccount ofthewitchtrialsatArraswaspublished inthe
supplementary additionstoMonstrelet;buttheoriginalrecords
oftheproceedingshavesincebeenfoundandprinted.
157

380. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
TheviolenceofthesewitchpersecutionsatArras
ledtoareaction,which,however,wasnotlasting,
andfromthistimetotheendofthecentury,thefear
ofwitchcraftspreadoverItaly,France,andGer-
many,andwentonincreasinginintensity.Itwas
duringthisperiodthatwitchcraft,inthehandsof
themorezealousinquisitors,wasgraduallyworked
upintoagreatsystem,andbooksofconsiderableex-
tentwerecompiled,containingaccountsofthevari-
ouspracticesofthewitches,anddirectionsforpro-
ceedingagainstthem.Oneoftheearliestofthese
writerswasaSwissfriar,namedJohnNider,who
heldtheofficeofinquisitorinSwitzerland,andhas
devotedonebookofhisFormicarium towitchcraft
asitexistedinthatcountry.Hemakesnoallusion
tothewitches’Sabbath,which,therefore,appears
thennottohavebeenknownamongtheSwiss.Early
in1489,UlricMolitorpublishedatreatiseonthesame
subject,underthetitleofDePythonicisMulieribus,
andinthesameyear,1489,appearedthecelebrated
book,theMalleusMaleficarn:m,orHammer of
Witches,theworkofthethreeinquisitorsforGer-
many,thechiefofwhomwasJacobSprenger.This
workgivesusacompleteandveryinterestingaccount
ofwitchcraftasitthenexistedasanarticleofbelief
inGermany. Theauthorsdiscussvariousquestions
158

381. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
connectedwithit,suchasthatofthemysterious
transportofwitchesfromoneplacetoanother,and
theydecidethatthistransportwasreal,andthatthey
werecarriedbodilythroughtheair.Itisremarkable,
however,thateventheMalleusMaleficarumcon-
tainsnodirectallusiontotheSabbath,andwemay
concludethateventhenthisgreatpriapicorgiedid
notformapartoftheGermaniccreed;itwasno
doubtbroughtinthereamidthewitchcraftmaniaof
thesixteenthcentury.Fromthetimeofthepublica-
tionoftheMalleusMaleficarumuntilthebeginning
oftheseventeenthcentury,throughallpartsofWest-
ernEurope,thenumberofbooksuponsorcerywhich
issuedfromthepresswasimmense;andwemustnot
forgetthatamonarchofourown,KingJamesI,
shoneamongthewritersonwitchcraft.
Threequartersofacenturynearlyhadpassed
sincethetimeoftheMalleus,whenaFrenchman
namedBodin,LatinisedintoBodinus,publisheda
ratherbulkytreatisewhichbecamefromthattime
thetext-bookonwitchcraft.TheSabbathisdescribed
inthisbookinallitscompleteness.Itwasusually
heldinalonelyplace,andwhenpossibleonthesum-
mitsofmountainsorinthesolitudeofforests.When
thewitchpreparedtoattendit,shewenttoherbed-
room,strippedherselfnaked,andanointedherbody
withanointmentmadeforthatpurpose.Shenext
159

382. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
tookastaff,whichalsoinmanycasessheanointed,
andplacingitbetweenherlegsandutteringacharm,
shewascarriedthroughtheair,inanincredibly
shortspaceoftime,totheplaceofmeeting.Bodin
discusseslearnedlythequestionwhetherthewitches
werereallycarriedthroughtheaircorporeallyor
not,hedecidesitintheaffirmative.TheSabbathit-
selfwasagreatassemblageofwitches,ofbothsexes,
andofdemons.Itwasapointofemulationwiththe
visitorstobringnewconvertswiththem,andon
theirarrivaltheypresentedthesetothedemonwho
presided,andtowhomtheyofferedtheiradoration
bytheuncleankissuponhisposteriors.Theynext
renderedanaccountofallthemischieftheyhad
perpetratedsincethepreviousmeeting,andreceived
rewardorreproofaccordingtoitsamount.Thedevil,
whousuallytooktheformofagoat,nextdistributed
amongthempowders,unguents,andotherarticlesto
beemployedinsimilarevildoingsinfuture.The
worshippersnowmadeofferingstothedevil,con-
sistingofsheep,orotherarticles,or,insomecases,
ofalittlebirdonly,orofalockofthewitches’hair,
orofsomeotherequallytriflingobject.Theywere
thenobligedtosealtheirdenialoftheChristian
faithbytramplingonthecrossandblasphemingthe
saints.Thedevilthen,orinthecourseofthemeet-
ing,hadsexualintercoursewiththenewwitch,
160

383. ——————o—o—ooo—————_—_—_—_—_—
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
oeereSdSTPEASaiigAat aa
placedhismarkuponsomeconcealedpartofher
body,verycommonlyinhersexualparts,andgave
herafamiliarorimp,whowastobeatherbidding
andassistintheperpetrationofevil.Allthiswas
whatmaybecalledthebusinessofthemeeting,and
whenitwasover,theyallwenttoagreatbanquet,
whichwassetoutontables,andwhichsometimes
consistedofsumptuousviands,butmorefrequently
ofloathsomeorunsubstantialfood,sothattheguests
oftenleftthemeetingashungryasthoughtheyhad
tastednothing.*Afterthefeasttheyallrosefromthe
tabletodance,andasceneofwildanduproarious
revelryfollowed.Theusualdanceonthisoccasion
appearstohavebeenthecaroleofthemiddleages,
whichwasnodoubtthecommondanceofthepeas-
antry;aparty,alternatelyamaleandafemale,held
eachother’shandsinacircle,withthispeculiarity
that,whereasinordinarylifethedancersturnedtheir
facesinwardintothecircle,heretheyturnedthem
outwards,sothattheirbacksweretowardsthein-
teriorofthecircle.Itwaspretendedthatthisar-
rangementwasdesignedtopreventthemfromseeing
andrecognizingeachother;butotherssupposedthat
itwasamerecapriceoftheevilone,whowishedto
doeverythinginaformcontrarytothatinwhich
itwasusuallydonebyChristians.Otherdances
wereintroduced,ofamoreviolent,andsomeofthem
161

384. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ofanobscene,character.Thesongs,too,whichwere
sunginthisorgiewereeitherobsceneorvulgarly
ridiculous.Themusicwasoftendrawnfrombur-
lesqueinstruments,suchasastickorabonefora
flute,ahorse’sskullforalyre,thetrunkofatree
foradrum,andabranchforatrumpet.Astheybe-
cameexcited,theybecamemorelicentious,andat
lasttheyabandoned themselvestoindiscriminate
sexualintercourse,inwhichthedemonsplayeda
veryactivepart.Themeetingseparatedintimeto
allowthewitches,bythesameexpeditiousconvey-
ancewhichbroughtthem,toreachtheirhomesbe-
forethecockcrowed.'
SuchistheaccountoftheSabbath,asdescribed
byBodin;butwehaverevieweditbrieflyinorder
todescribethisstrangescenefromthemuchfuller
andmorecuriousnarrativeofanotherFrenchman,
PierredeLancre.Thismanwasaconseillerduroi,
orjudgeintheparliamentofBordeaux,andwas
joinedin1609withoneofhiscolleaguesinacom-
missiontoproceedagainstpersonsaccusedofsor-
ceryinLabourd,adistrictintheBasqueprovinces,
thencelebratedforitswitches,andapparentlyfor
1ThefirsteditionoftheworkofBodin,DelaDémonomanie
desSorciers,waspublishedatParis,in4to,in1580.Itwent
throughmanyeditions,andwastranslatedintoLatinandother
languages.
162

385. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thelowstateofmoralityamongitsinhabitants.Itis
awild,and,inmanyparts,desolateregion,thein-
habitantsofwhichheldtotheirancientsuperstitions
withgreattenacity.DeLancre,afterarguinglearn-
edlyonthenatureandcharacterofdemons,discus-
sesthequestionwhythereweresomanyofthemin
thecountryofLabourd,andwhytheinhabitantsof
thatdistrictweresomuchaddictedtosorcery.The
womenofthecountry,hesays,werenaturallyofa
lascivioustemperament,whichwasshownevenin
theirmannerofdressing,forhedescribestheirhead-
dressasbeingsingularlyindecent,anddescribes
themascommonlyexposingtheirpersonveryim-
modestly.Headds,thattheprincipalproduceof
thiscountryconsistedofapples,andarguesthence,
itisnotveryapparentwhy,thatthewomenpartook
ofthecharacterofEve,andyieldedmoreeasilyto
temptationthanthoseofothercountries.Afterhav-
ingspentfourmonthsindealingoutratherse-
verelywhatwasthencalled“justice”totheseig-
norantpeople,thetwocommissionersreturnedto
Bordeaux,andthereDeLancre,deeplystruckwith
whathehadseenandheard,betookhimselftothe
studyofwitchcraft,andinduetimeproducedhis
greatworkonthesubject,towhichhegavethetitle
ofTableaudeI’InconstancedesMauvaisAngeset
163

386. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Démons.. PierredeLancrewriteshonestlyandcon-
scientiously,andheevidentlyBelieveseverythinghe
haswritten. Hisbookisvaluableforthegreat
amountofnewinformationitcontains,derivedfrom
theconfessionsofthewitches,andgivenapparently
intheirownwords.Thesecondbookisdevoteden-
tirelytothedetailsoftheSabbath.
Itwasstatedbythewitchesintheirexaminations
that,intimesback,theyhadappointedMondaytobe
theday,orrathernight,ofassembly,butthatintheir
timetheyhadtwonightsofmeetingintheweek,
thoseofWednesdayandFriday.Althoughsome
statedthattheyhadbeencarriedtotheplaceofmeet-
inginthemiddleoftheday,theymostlyagreedin
sayingthatthehouratwhichtheywerecarriedto
theSabbathwasmidnight.Theplaceofassembly
wasusuallychosenataspotwhereroadscrossed,but
thiswasnotalwaysthecase,forDeLancretellsus
thattheywereaccustomedtoholdtheirSabbathin
somelonelyandwildlocality,asinthemiddleofa
heath,whichwasselectedespeciallyforbeingfar
fromthehauntsorhabitationsofman.Tothisplace,
hesays,theygavethenameofAquelarre,whichhe
interpretsasmeaningLanedeBouc,thatis,theheath
ofthegoat,meaningthatitwastheplacewherethe
14to.Paris,1612.Anewandimproved editionappearedin
1613.
sxaamapacesesssniiheslepiSasaiestrnemoo
164

387. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
On nneeNtpeneeeaene
goat,theusualformassumedbySatan,convokedhis
assemblies.Andhegoesontoexpresshisopinion
thatthesewildplacesweretheoriginalscenesofthe
Sabbath,thoughsubsequentlyotherplaceshadbeen
oftenadopted.“Forwehaveheardmorethanfifty
witnesseswhoassuredusthattheyhadbeenatthe
Goat’sHeathtotheSabbathheldonthemountainof
LaRhune,sometimesontheopenmountain,some-
timesinthechapeloftheSt.Esprit,whichisonthe
topofit,andsometimesinthechurchofDordach,
whichisonthebordersofLabourd.Attimesthey
helditinprivatehouses,aswhenweheldthetrial,
intheparishofSt.Pé,theSabbathwasheldone
nightinourhotel,calledBarbare-nena,andinthat
ofMaster deSegure,assessor-criminalat*
Bayonne,who,atthesametimewhenwewerethere,
madeamoreampleinquisitionagainstcertain
witches,byanauthorityofanarrestoftheparlia-
mentofBordeaux.Thentheywentthesamenight
toholditattheresidenceofthelordoftheplace,
whoisSieurd’Amou,andinhiscastleofSt.Pé.But
wehavenotfoundinthewholecountryofLabourd
anyotherparishbutthatofSt.Péwherethedevil
heldtheSabbathinprivatehouses.”
Thedevilisfurtherdescribedasseekingforhis
placesofmeeting,besidestheheaths,olddecayed
houses,andruinsofoldcastles,especiallywhenthey
165

388. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
weresituatedonthesummitsofmountains. Anold
cemeterywassometimes selected,where,asDe
Lancrequaintlyobserves,therewere“nohousesbut
thehousesofthedead,”especiallyifitwereina
solitarysituation,aswhenattachedtosolitary
churchesandchapels,inthemiddleoftheheaths,or
onthetopsofcliffsontheseashore,suchasthe
chapelofthePortugueseatSt.JeandeLuz,called
St.Barbe,situatedsohighthatitservesasaland-
marktotheshipsapproachingthecoast,oronahigh
mountain,asLaRhuneinLabourd,andthePuyde
DomeinPerigord,andothersuchplaces.
Atthesemeetings,sometimes,butrarely,Satan
wasabsent,inwhichcasealittledeviltookhisplace.
DeLancreenumeratesthevariousformswhichthe
devilusuallyassumedontheseoccasions,withthe
remarkthattheseformswereasnumerousas“his
movementswereinconstant,fullofuncertainty,il-
lusion,deception,andimposture.”Someofthe
witchesheexamined,amongwhomwasagirlof
thirteenyearsofage,namedMaried’Aguerre,said
thatattheseassembliesthereappearedagreat
pitcherorjuginthemiddleoftheSabbath,andthat
outofitthedevilissuedintheformofagoat,which
suddenlybecamesolargethatitwas“frightful,”and
thatattheendoftheSabbathhereturnedintothe
pitcher.Othersdescribedhimasbeinglikethegreat
166

389. SSS—————————— nnn
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
trunkofatree,withoutarmsorfeet,seatedina
chair,withthefaceofagreatandfrightfullooking
man.Othersspokeofhimasresemblingagreatgoat,
withtwohornsbeforeandtwobehind,thosebefore
turnedupinthesemblanceofawoman’sperruque.
Accordingtothemostcommon account,DeLancre
sayshehadthreehorns,theoneinthemiddlegiving
outaflame,withwhichheusedattheSabbathto
givebothlightandfiretothewitches,someofwhom
whohadcandleslitthemathishorn,inordertohold
thematamockserviceofthemass,whichwasone
ofthedevil’sceremonies. Hehadalso,sometimes,
akindofcaporhatoverhishorns.“Hehasbefore
himhismember hangingout,whichheexhibitsal-
waysacubitinlength;andhehasagreattailbehind,
withaformofafaceunderit,withwhichfacehe
doesnotutteraword,butitservesonlytoofferto
kisstothosehelikes,honouringcertainwitchesof
eithersexmorethantheothers.”Thedevil,itwillbe
observed,ishererepresentedwiththesymbolof
Priapus.Maried’Aspilecute,agednineteenyears,
wholivedatHandaye,deposedthatthefirsttimeshe
waspresentedtothedevilshekissedhimonthisface
behind,beneathagreattail,andthatsherepeatedthe
kissthreetimes,addingthatthisfacewasmadelike
themuzzleofagoat.Otherssaidthathewasshaped
likeagreatman,“envelopedinacloudiness,because
167

390. rT
aa@GSaeananapeaay»]oyaoaSeeSS—eEeeEE—EEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
hewouldnotbeseenclearly,”andthathewasall
“flamboyant,”andhadafaceredlikeanironcoming
outofthefurnace.CorneilleBrolic,aladoftwelve
yearsofage,saidthatwhenhewasfirstintroduced
tohimhehadthehumanform,withfourhornson
hishead,andwithoutarms.Hewasseatedina
pulpit,withsomeofthewomen,whowerehisfavour-
ites,alwaysnearhim.“Andtheyareallagreedthat
itisagreatpulpit,whichseemstobegiltandvery
pompous.” Janetted’Abadie,ofSiboro,sixteenyears
old,saidthatSatanhadafacebeforeandanother
behindhishead,astheyrepresentthegodJanus.
DeLancrehadalsoheardhimdescribedasagreat
blackdog,asalargeoxofErasslyingdown,andasa
naturaloxinrepose.
Althoughitwasstatedthatinformertimesthe
devilhadusuallyappearedintheformofaser-
pent,—another‘coincidencewiththepriapicwor-
ship,—itappearscertainthatinthetimeofDeLan-
crehisfavouriteformofshowinghimselfwasthatof
agoat.AttheopeningoftheSabbaththewitches,
maleorfemale,presentedformallytothedevilthose
whohadneverbeenattheSabbathbefore,andthe
womenespeciallybroughttohimthechildrenwhom
theyalluredtohim.Thenewconverts,thenovices,
weremadetorenounceChrist,theVirginMary,and
thesaints,andtheywerethenre-baptizedwithmock
168

391. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ceremonies.Theynextperformedtheirworshipto
thedevilbykissinghimonthefaceunderthetail,or
otherwise.Theyoungchildrenweretakentothe
edgeofastream—forthescenewasgenerallychosen
onthebanksofastream—and whitewandswere
placedintheirhands,andtheywereentrustedwith
thecareofthetoadswhichwerekeptthere,and
whichwereofimportanceinthesubsequentopera-
tionsofthewitches.Therenunciationwasfrequently
renewed,andinsomecasesitwasrequiredevery
timethewitchattendedtheSabbath. Janette
d’Abadie,agirlofsixteen,saidthathemadeherre-
peatedlygothroughtheceremonyofkissinghim
ontheface,andafterwardsonthenavel,thenonthe
virilemember,andthenontheposteriors.Afterre-
baptism,heputhismarkonthebodyofhisvictim,
insomecoveredpartwhereitwasnotlikelytobe
seen.Inwomenitwasoftenplacedonorwithinthe
sexualparts.
DeLancre’saccountoftheproceedingsattheSab-
bathisveryfullandcurious.Hesaysthatit“resem-
bledafairofmerchantsmingledtogether,furious
andintransports,arrivingfromallparts—ameeting
andminglingofahundredthousandsubjects,sud-
denandtransitory,novel,itistrue,butofafrightful
novelty,whichoffendstheeyeanasickensyou.
Amongthesesamesubjectssomearereal,andothers
169

392. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
deceitfulandillusory.Somearepleasing(butvery
little),asarethelittlebellsandmelodiousinstru-
mentsofallsorts,whichonlytickletheearanddo
nottouchtheheartatall,consistingmoreinnoise
whichamazesandstunsthaninharmonywhich
pleases‘andrejoices,theothersdispleasing,fullof
deformityandhorror,tendingonlytodesolation,
privation,ruin,anddestruction,wherethepersons
becomebrutishandtransformedtobeasts,losing
theirspeechwhiletheyareinthiscondition,andthe
beasts,onthecontrary,talk,andseemtohavemore
reasonthanthepersons,eachbeingdrawnoutofhis
naturalcharacter.”
Thewomen,accordingtoDeLancre,weretheac-
tiveagentsinallthisconfusion,andhadmoreem-
ploymentthanthemen.Theyrushedaboutwith
theirhairhangingloose,andtheirbodiesnaked;
somerubbedwiththemagicalointment,othersnot.
TheyarrivedattheSabbath,orwentfromit,ontheir
errandsofmischief,perchedonastickorbesom,or
carrieduponagoatorotheranimal,withaninfant
ortwobehind,andguidedordrivenonbythedevil
himself.“AndwhenSatanwilltransporttheminto
theair(whichisanindulgenceonlytothemostsu-
perior),hesetsthemoffandlaunchesthemuplike
firedrockets,andtheyrepairtoanddartdownupon
170

393. —_—_—_—
—_—_—_—_—_:.<x$xrRrvooeoe —————— EEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
a ee ee
thesaidplaceahundredtimesmorerapidlythan
aneagleorakitecoulddartuponitsprey.”
Thesewomen,ontheirarrival,reportedtoSatan
allthemischieftheyhadperpetrated.Poison,ofall
kindsandforallpurposes,wastherethearticlemost
invogue.Toadsweresaidtoformoneofitsingredi-
ents,andthechargeoftheseanimals,whilealive,
wasgiventothechildrenwhomthewitchesbrought
withthemtotheSabbath,andtowhom,asasortof
ensignofoffice,littlewhiterodsweregiven,“just
suchastheygivetopersonsinfectedwiththeplague
asamarkoftheircontagion.”
Thedevilwasthesovereignmasteroftheas-
sembly,andappearedatitsometimesintheformof
astinkingandbeardedgoat,asone,DeLancresays,
whichwasespeciallyrepulsivetomankind.The
goat,weknow,wasdedicatedtoPriapus.Sometimes
heassumedaform,ifweclearlyunderstandDeLan-
cre,whichpresentedaconfusedideaofsomething
betweenatreeandaman,whichiscompared,forhe
becomesratherpoetical,totheolddecayedcypresses
onthesummitofahighmountain,ortoagedoaks
whoseheadsalreadybearthemarksofapproaching
decay.
Whenthedevilappearedinhumanform,thatform
washorriblyuglyandrepulsive,withahoarsevoice
andanimperiousmanner.Hewasseatedinapulpit,
171

394. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
whichglitteredlikegold;andathissidesatthequeen
oftheSabbath,oneofthewitcheswhomhehadde-
bauched,towhomhechosetogivegreaterhonour
thantotheothers,andwhomhedeckedingayrobes,
withacrownonherhead,toserveasabaittothe
ambitionoftherest.Candlesofpitch,ortorches,
yieldedafalselight,whichgavepeopleinappearance
monstrousformsandfrightfulfaces.
Hereyouseefalsefires,throughwhichsomeofthe
demonswerefirstpassed,andafterwardsthewitches,
withoutsufferinganypain,which,asexplainedby
DeLancre,wasintendedtoteachthemnottofearthe
fireofhell.Butweseeinthesetheneed-fires,which
formedapartofthepriapicorgies,andofwhichwe
havespokenbefore(p.94).Therewomenarepre-
sentingtohimchildren,whomtheyhaveinitiatedin
sorcery,andheshowsthemadeeppit,intowhich
hethreatenstothrowthemiftheyrefusetorenounce
GodandtoadoreSatan.
Inotherpartsareseengreatcauldrons,fullof
toadsandvipers,heartsofunbaptizedchildren,flesh
ofcriminalswhohadbeenhanged,andotherdis-
gustingingredients,ofwhichtheymakepotsofoint-
ments,&c.andpoisons,theordinaryarticlesofcom-
merceinthis“fair.”Ofsuchobjects,also,were
composedthedishesservedattheSabbathtables,at
SSS
172

395. ——————————————__—S_—X—XKS—SXO
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
a2arEN oT
whichnosaltwasallowed,because Satanwished
everythingtobeinsipid,musty,andbad-tasted.
Hereweseepeople“dancing,either‘inlong,’in
couples,turnedbacktoback,orsometimes‘inround,’
allturningtheirbackstowardsthecentreofthe
dance,thegirlsandwomeneachholdingbythehand
theirdemons,whoteachthemmovementsandges-
turessolasciviousandindecentthattheywouldhor-
rifythemostshamelesswomanintheworld;with
songsofacompositionsobrutal,andintermsand
wordsofsuchlicenseandlubricity,thattheeyesbe-
cometroubled,theearsconfounded,andtheunder-
standingbewitched,attheappearanceofsomany
monstrousthingsallcrowdedtogether.”
“Thewomen andgirlswithwhom thedemons
choosetohaveconnectionarecoveredwithacloud,
toconcealtheexecrationsandorduresattachedto
thesescenes,andtopreventthecompassionwhich
othersmighthaveonthescreamsandsufferingsof
thesepoorwretches.”Inorderto“miximpietywith
theotherabominations,”theypretendedtoperform
religiousrites,whichwereawildandcontemptuous
parodyonthecatholicmass.Analtarwasraised,
andapriestconsecratedandadministeredthehost,
butitwasmadeofsomedisgustingsubstance,and
theprieststoodwithhisheaddownwards andhis
legsintheair,andwithhisbackturnedtothealtar.
2 SSE EE ESaeee
173

396. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
Thusallthingswereperformedinmonstrousor
disgustingforms,sothatSatanhimselfappearedal-
mostashamedofthem.
DeLancreacknowledgesthattherewassomedi-
versityinthemanneroftheproceedingsoftheSab-
bathindifferentcountries,arisingfromdifference
inthecharacterofthelocality,inthe“master”who
presided,andinthevarioushumoursofthosewho
attended.“Butallwellconsidered,thereisageneral
agreementontheprincipalandmostimportantof
themoreseriousceremonies.Wherefore,Iwillre-
latewhatwehavelearntbyourtrials,andIwill
simplyrepeatwhatsomenotablewitchesdeposedbe-
foreus,aswellastotheformalitiesoftheSabbath,
astoallthatwasusuallyseenthere,withoutchanging
oralteringanythinginwhattheydeposed,inorder
thateveryonemayselectwhathelikes.”
ThefirstwitnessadducedbyDeLancreisnotone
belongingtohisowntime,butdatingbackasfaras
the18thofDecember,1567,andhehadobtaineda
copyoftheconfession.EstébenedeCambrue,ofthe
parishofAmou,awomantwenty-fiveyearsofage,
saidthatthegreatSabbathwasheldfourtimesa
year,inderisionofthefourannualfestivalsofthe
Church.Thelittleassemblies,whichwereheldin
theneighbourhoodofthetownsorparishes,wereat-
tendedonlybythoseofthelocality;theywerecalled
174

397. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
“pastimes,”andwereheldsometimesinoneplace
andsometimesinanother,andtheretheyonly
dancedandfrolicked,forthedevildidnotcome
thereinallhisstateasatthegreatassemblies.They
were,infact,thegreaterandlesserPriapeia.She
saidthattheplaceofthegrandconvocationwasgen-
erallycalledthe“LannedeBouc”(thegoat’sheath),
wheretheydancedroundastone,whichwasplanted
inthesaidplace,(perhapsoneoftheso-calledDru-
idicalmonuments,) uponwhichwasseatedagreat
blackman,whom theycalled“Monsieur.” Each
personpresentkissedthisblackmanontheposteri-
ors.Shesaidthattheywerecarriedtothatplaceon
ananimalwhichsometimesresembledahorseandat
othersaman,andtheyneverrodeontheanimal
morethanfouratatime.WhenarrivedattheSab-
bath,theydeniedGod,theVirgin,“andtherest,”
andtookSatanfortheirfatherandprotector,and
theshe-devilfortheirmother.Thiswitnessdescribed
themakingandsaleofpoisons.Shesaidthatshe
hadseenattheSabbathanotary,whosenameshe
gave,whosebusinessitwastodenouncethosewho
failedinattendance.WhenontheirwaytotheSab-
bath,howeverharditmightrain,theywerenever
wet,providedtheyutteredthewords,Hautlacoude,
Quillet,becausethenthetailofthebeastonwhich
theyweremountedcoveredthemsowellthatthey
175

398. lee ———
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
wereshelteredfromtherain.Whentheyhadto
makealongjourneytheysaidthesewords:Pic
suberhoeilhe,entalalanedeboucbienm’ar-
recoueille.
Amanseventy-threeyearsofage,namedPetri
Daguerre,wasbroughtbeforeDeLancreandhisfel-
lowcommissioners atUstarits;twowitnessesas-
sertedthatheheldtheofficeofmasterofceremonies
andgovernoroftheSabbath,andthatthedevilgave
himagiltstaff,whichhecarriedinhishandasa
markofauthority,andarrangedanddirectedthe
proceedings.HereturnedthestafftoSatanatthe
closeofthemeeting.
OneLegerRivasseauconfessedthathehadbeenat
theSabbathtwicewithoutadoringthedevil,ordoing
anyofthethingsrequiredfromtheothers,because
itwaspartofhisbargain,forhehadgiventhehalfof
hisleftfootforthefacultyofcuring,andtheright
ofbeingpresentattheSabbathwithoutfurtherobli-
gation.Hesaid“thattheSabbathwasheldabout
midnight,atameetingofcrossroads,mostfrequent-
lyonthenightsofWednesdayandFriday;thatthe
devilchoseinpreferencethestormiestnights,inor-
derthatthewindsandtroubledelementsmightcarry
theirpowdersfartherandmoreimpetuously;that
twonotabledevilspresidedattheirSabbaths,the
greatnegro,whomtheycalledMasterLeonard,and
176

399. —————Sanae———————————————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
a EAEoeTa tael
anotherlittledevil,whomMasterLeonardattimes
substitutedinhisplace,andwhomtheycalledMas-
terJeanMullin;thattheyadoredthegrandmaster,
andthat,afterhavingkissedhisposteriors,there
wereaboutsixtyofthemdancingwithoutdress,back
toback,eachwithagreatcatattachedtothetailof
hisorhershirt,andthatafterwardstheydanced
naked;thatthisMasterLeonard,takingtheformof
ablackfox,hummed atthebeginningawordill
articulated,afterwhichtheywereallsilent.”
Someofthewitchesexaminedspokeofthedelight
withwhichtheyattendedtheSabbath.JeanneDibas-
son,awomantwenty-nineyearsold,saidthatthe
SabbathwasthetrueParadise,wheretherewasfar
morepleasurethancanbeexpressed;thatthosewho
wenttherefoundthetimesoshortbyreasonofthe
pleasureandenjoyment,thattheyneverleftitwith-
outmarvelousregret,sothattheylookedforward
withinfiniteimpatiencetothenextmeeting.
MariedelaRalde,“averyhandsome woman
tyenty-eightyearsofage,”whohadthenabandoned
herconnectionwiththedevilfiveorsixyears,gave
afullaccountofherexperienceoftheSabbath. She
saidshehadfrequented theSabbathsfromthetime
shewastenyearsold,havingbeenfirsttakenthere
byMarissans,thewifeofSarrauch,andafterher
deaththedeviltookhertherehimself.Thatthefirst
177

400. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
timeshewasthereshesawthedevilintheshapeofa
trunkofatree,withoutfeet,butapparentlysitting
inapulpit,withsomeformofahumanface,very
obscure;butsinceshehadoftenseenhiminman’s
form,sometimesred,sometimesblack.Thatshehad
oftenseenhimapproachahotirontothechildren
whichwerepresentedtohim,butshedidnotknow
ifhemarkedthemwithit.Thatshehadnever
kissedhimsinceshehadarrivedattheageofknowl-
edge,anddoesnotknowwhethershehadkissedhim
beforeornot;butshehadseenhow,whenonewent
toadorehim,hepresentedsometimeshisfacetokiss,
sometimeshisposteriors,asitpleasedhim,andathis
discretion.Thatshehadasingularpleasureingo-
ingtotheSabbath,sothateverytimeshewassum-
monedtogothere,shewentasthoughitweretoa
weddingfeast;notsomuchforthelibertyandlicense
theyhadtheretohaveconnectionwitheachother
(whichoutofmodestyshesaidshehadneverdone
orseendone),butbecausethedevilhadsostronga
holdontheirheartsandwillsthatithardlyallowed
anyotherdesiretoenter.Besidesthatthewitches
believetheyaregoingtoaplacewheretherearea
hundredthousandwondersandnoveltiestosee,and
wheretheyhearsogreatadiversityofmelodious
instrumentsthattheyareravished,andbelievethem-
selvestobeinsometerrestrialparadise.Moreover
178

401. SSSSenne
—eeoooooooEoEEEEEEEEE
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
er ee oa ReReTt
thedevilpersuadesthemthatthefearofhell,which
issomuchapprehended,isapieceoffolly,andgives
themtounderstandthattheeternalpunishmentswill
hurtthemnomorethanacertainartificialfirewhich
hecausesthemcraftilytolight,andthenmakesthem
passthroughitandrepasswithouthurt.Andmore,
thattheyseetheresomanypriests,theirpastors,
curés,vicars,andconfessors,andotherpeopleof
qualityofallsorts,somanyheadsoffamilies,and
somanymistressesoftheprincipalhousesinthesaid
country,somanypeopleveiled,whomtheyconsid-
eredtobegrandees,becausetheyconcealedthem-
selvesandwishedtobeunknown,thattheybelicved
andtookitforaverygreathonourandgoodfortune
tobereceivedthere.
Maried’Aspilcouétte,agirlnineteenyearsold,who
livedatHandaye,saidthatshehadfrequentedthe
Sabbatheversincetheageofseven,andthatshe
wastakentherethefirsttimebyCatherinedeMo-
leres,whohadsincebeenexecutedtodeathforhav-
ingcausedaman’sdeathbysorcery.Shesaidthatit
wasnowtwoyearssinceshehadwithdrawn from
herrelationswithSatan.Thatthedevilappearedin
theformofagoat,havingatailandunderittheface
ofablackman,whichshewascompelledtokiss,and
thatthisposteriorfacehasnotthepowerofspeech,
buttheywereobligedtoadoreandkissit.After-
179

402. Ainsis=a
SSSA
OS XYISS.iSishtgeel
=/>
THE WITCHES’ SABBA'’
PLATE XVI

403. \
M(H
a
—LANCRE,1613.

404. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
wardsthesaidMoleresgaveherseventoadstokeep.
ThatthesaidMolerestransportedherthroughthe
airtotheSabbath,whereshesawpeopledancing,
withviolins,trumpets,andtabors,whichmadeavery
greatharmony. Thatinthesaidassembliesthere
wasanextremepleasureandenjoyment.Thatthey
madeloveinfulllibertybeforealltheworld.That
somewereemployedincuttingofftheheadsoftoads,
whileothersmadepoisonofthem;andthatthey
madethepoisonathomeaswellasattheSabbath.
Afterdescribingthedifferentsortsofpoisonspre-
paredontheseoccasions,DeLancreproceedstore-
portthetestimonyofotherwitnessestothedetailsof
theSabbath.JeannettedeBelloc,calledAtsoua,a
damseloftwenty-fouryearsofage,saidthatshehad
beenmadeawitchinherchildhoodbyawoman
namedOylarchahar,whotookherforthefirsttime
totheSabbath,andtherepresentedhertothedevil;
andafterherdeath,MaryMartin,ladyofthehouse
ofAdamechorena, tookherplace.Aboutthemonth
ofFebruary,1609,Jeannetteconfessedtoapriestwho
wasthenephewofMadameMartin,whowenttohis
auntandmerelyenjoinedhernottotakethegirlto
theSabbathanymore.Jeannettesaidthatatthesol-
emnfestivalsallkissedthedevil’sposteriorsexcept
thenotablewitches,whokissedhimintheface.Ac-
cordingtoheraccount,thechildren,attheageoftwo
180

405. ———=——>=—>=e=aEe=za=aq={==mqaqa{"q]{[VvFv[jV_aa=—_—_—_—_=—_=——-
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
a i es
orthreeyears,orassoonastheycouldspeak,were
madetorenounceJesusChrist,theVirginMary,their
baptism,&c.andfromthatmomenttheyweretaught
toworshipthedevil.ShedescribedtheSabbathas
resemblingafair,wellsuppliedwithallsortsofob-
jects,inwhichsomewalkedaboutintheirownform,
andothersweretransformed,sheknewnothow,into
dogs,cats,asses,horses,pigs,andotheranimals.The
littleboysandgirlskepttheherdsoftheSabbath,
consistingofaworldoftoadsnearastream,with
smallwhiterods,andwerenotallowedtoapproach
thegreatmassofthewitches;whileothers,ofmore
advancedage,whowerenotobjectsofsufficientre-
spect,werekeptapartinasortofapprenticeship,
duringwhichtheywereonlyallowedtolookonat
theproceedingsoftheothers.Ofthesetherewere
twosorts;somewereveiled,tomakethepoorer
classesbelievethattheywerepeopleofrankand
distinction,andthattheydidnotwishthemselves
tobeknowninsuchaplace;otherswereuncovered,
andopenlydanced,hadsexualintercourse,madethe
poisons,andperformedtheirotherdiabolicalfunc-
tions;andthesewerenotallowedtoapproachso
near“themaster”asthosewhowereveiled.The
holywaterusedattheSabbathwasthedevil’surine.
Shepointedouttwooftheaccusedwhomshehad
seenattheSabbathplayinguponthetaborandthe
181

406. STeee ——eeeEeEEEE—————
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
violin.Shespokeofthenumberswhowereseenar-
rivinganddepartingcontinually,thelattertodo
evil,theformertoreportwhattheyhaddone.They
wentoutatsea,evenasfarasNewfoundland, where
theirhusbandsandsonswenttofish,inorderto
raisestorms,andendangertheirships.Thisde-
ponentspokealsoofthefiresattheSabbath,into
whichthewitcheswerethrownwtihoutsustaining
anyhurt.ShehadseenthefrequentersoftheSab-
bathmakethemselvesappearasbigashouses,but
shehadneverseenthemtransformthemselvesinto
animals,althoughtherewereanimalsofdifferent
kindsrunningaboutattheSabbath.
Jeanetted’Abadie,aninhabitantofSiboro,ofthe
ageofsixteen,saidthatshewastakenforthefirst
timetotheSabbathbyawomannamedGratianne;
thatforthelastninemonthsshehadwatchedand
doncallshecouldtowithdrawherselffromthisevil
influence;thatduringthefirstthreeofthesemonths,
becauseshehadwatchedathomebynight,thedevil
carriedherawaytotheSabbathinopenday;and
duringtheothersix,untilthe16thofSeptember,
1609,shehadonlygonetothemtwice,becauseshe
hadwatched,andstillwatchesinthechurch;and
thatthelasttimeshewastherewasthe13thofSep-
tember,1609,whichshenarratedina“bizarreand
veryterriblemanner.” Itappearsthat,having
SSS
182

407. Iaeho
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
watchedinthechurchofSiboroduringthenightbe-
tweenSaturdayandSunday,atdaybreakshewent
tosleepathome,and,duringthetimeofthegrand
mass,thedevilcametoherandsnatchedfromher
necka“figofleatherwhichsheworethere,asan
infinityofotherpeopledid;”thishigo,orfig,she
describedas“aformofhand,withthefistclosed,
andthethumbpassedbetweenthetwofingers,which
theybelievetobe,andwearas,aremedyagainstall
enchantment andwitchcraft;and,becausethedevil
cannotbearthisfist,shesaidthathedidnotdareto
carryitaway,butleftitatthethresholdofthedoor
oftheroominwhichshewassleeping.”ThisJeanette
said,thatthefirsttimeshewenttotheSabbathshe
sawtherethedevilintheformofaman,blackand
hideous,withsixhornsonhishead,andsometimes
eight,andagreattailbehind,onefaceinfrontand
anotheratthebackofthehead,astheypaintthe
godJanus.Gratianne,onpresentingher,received
asherrewardahandfulofgold;andthenthechild-
victimwasmadetorenounceherCreator,theVirgin,
thebaptism,father,mother,relatives,heaven,earth,
andallthatwasintheworld,andthenshewasre-
quiredtokissthefiendontheposteriors.Therenun-
ciationshewasobligedtorepeateverytimeshewent
totheSabbath.Sheaddedthatthedeviloftenmade
herkisshisface,hisnavel,hismember,andhispos-
183

408. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
teriors.Shehadoftenseenthechildrenofwitches
baptizedattheSabbath.
Anotherceremonywasthatofbaptizingtoads.
Theseanimalsperformagreatpartintheseoldpop-
ularorgies.AtoneoftheSabbaths,aladydanced
withfourtoadsonherperson,oneoneachshoulder,
andoneoneachwrist,thelatterperchedlikehawks.
Jeanetted’Abadiewentonfurtherinherrevelations
inregardtostillmoreobjectionablepartsofthepro-
ceedings.Shesaidthat,withregardtotheirlibidi-
nousacts,shehadseentheassemblyintermixin-
cestuously,andcontrarytoallorderofnature,ac-
cusingevenherselfofhavingbeenrobbedofher
maidenheadbySatan,andofhavingbeenknownan
infinitenumberoftimesbyarelationofhers,andby
others,whoeverwouldaskher.Shealwaysfoughtto
avoidtheembracesofthedevil,becauseitcausedher
anextremepain,andsheaddedthatwhatcamefrom
himwascold,andneverproducedpregnancy.No-
bodyeverbecamepregnantattheSabbath.Away
fromtheSabbath,shenevercommittedafault,butin
theSabbathshetookamarvellouspleasureinthese
actsofsexualintercourse,whichshedisplayedby
dwellingonthedescriptionofthemwithaminute-
nessofdetail,andlanguageofsuchobscenity,as
wouldhavedrawnablushfromthemostdepraved
womanintheworld.Shedescribedalsothetables
rr rr AS “PERS SS SS
184

409. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
coveredinappearancewithprovisions,which,how-
ever,provedeitherunsubstantialorofadisgusting
nature.
Thiswitnessfurtherdeclaredthatshehadseenat
theSabbathanumberoflittledemonswithoutarms,
whowereemployed inkindlingagreatfire,into
whichtheythrewthewitches,whocameoutwithout
beingburnt;andshehadalsoseenthegrandmaster
oftheassemblythrowhimselfintoafire,andremain
thereuntilhewasburnttopowder,whichpowder
wasusedbythewitchestobewitchyoungchildren,
andcausethemtogowillinglytotheSabbath.She
hadseenpriestswhowerewell-known,andgavethe
namesofsomeofthem,performingtheserviceofthe
massattheSabbath,whilethedemonstooktheir
placesonthealtarintheformsofsaints.Sometimes
thedevilpiercedtheleftfootofasorcererunderthe
littletoe,anddrewblood,whichhesucked,andafter
thisthatindividualcouldneverbedrawntomake
aconfession;andshenamed,asanexample,apriest
namedFrancoisdeBideguaray,ofBordegaina,who,
infact,couldnotbemadetoconfess.Shenamed
manyotherpersonswhomshehadseenattheSab-
baths,andespeciallyonenamedAnduitze,whoseof-
ficeitwastosummon thewitchesandsorcerersto
themeeting.
DeLancresaysthatmanyothers,intheirdeposi-
185

410. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
tions,spokeoftheextremepleasuresandenjoyments
experiencedintheseSabbaths,whichmademenand
womenrepairtothemwiththegreatesteagerness.
“Thewomanindulgedbeforethefaceofherhus-
bandwithoutsuspicionorjealousy,heevenfre-
quentlyactedthepartofprocurer;thefatherde-
privedhisdaughterofhervirginitywithoutshame;
themotheractedthesameparttowardsherson;the
brothertowardshissister;fathersandmotherscar-
riedthitherandpresentedtheirchildren.”
ThedancesattheSabbathweremostlyindecent,
includingthewell-knownSarabande,andthewomen
dancedinthemsometimesinchemise,butmuchmore
frequentlyquitenaked.Theyconsistedespeciallyin
violentmovements; andthedeviloftenjoinedin
them,takingthehandsomestwomanorgirlforhis
partner.DeLancre’saccountofthesedancesisso
minuteandcuriousthatitmaybegiveninhisown
words.“Ifthesayingistruethatneverwomanor
girlreturnedfromtheballaschasteasshewent
there,howuncleanmustshereturnwhohasaban-
donedherselftotheunfortunatedesignofgoingto
theballofthedemonsandevilspirits,whohas
dancedinhandwiththem,whohaskissedthem
obscenely,whohasyieldedherselftothemasa
prey,hasadoredthem,andhasevencopulatedwith
them?Itistobe,ingoodearnest,inconstantand
186

411. —_———————ee—eE=[E=—_—_oyl™=—a@aqu_eanana=a_=———
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
fickle;itistobenotonlylewd,orevenashameless
whore,buttobestark-mad,unworthyofthefavours
withwhichGodloadsherinbringingherintothe
world,andcausinghertobebornaChristian.We
causedinseveralplacestheboysandgirlstodance
inthesamefashionastheydancedattheSabbath,as
muchtodeterthemfromsuchuncleanness,bycon-
vincingthemtowhatadegreethemostmodestof
thesemovementswasfilthy,vile,andunbecomingin
avirtuousgirl,asalsobecause,whenaccused,the
greaterpartofthewitches,chargedwithhaving
amongotherthingsdancedinhandwiththedevil,
‘andsometimesledthedance,denieditall,andsaid
thatthegirlsweredeceived,andthattheycouldnot
haveknownhowtoexpresstheformsofdancewhich
theysaidtheyhadseenattheSabbath.Theywere
boysandgirlsofafairage,whohadalreadybeenin
thewayofsalvationbeforeourcommission.Intruth
someofthemwerealreadyquiteoutofit,andhad
gonenomoretotheSabbathforsometime;others
werestillstrugglingtoescape,and,heldstillbyone
foot,sleptinthechurch,confessedandcommuni-
cated,inordertowithdrawthemselvesentirelyfrom
Satan’sclaws.Nowitissaidthattheydancealways
withtheirbacksturnedtothecentreofthedance,
whichisthecausethatthegirlsaresoaccustomedto
carrytheirhandsbehindtheminthisrounddance,
187

412. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thattheydrawintoitthewholebody,andgiveita
bendcurvedbackwards,havingtheirarmshalf
turned;sothatmostofthemhavethebellycommon-
lygreat,pushedforward,andswollen,andalittlein-
clininginfront.Iknownotwhetherthisbecausedby
thedanceorbytheordureand.wretchedprovisions
theyaremadetoeat.Butthefactis,theydancevery
seldomonebyone,thatisonemanalonewithone
womanorgirl,aswedoinourgalliards;sotheyhave
toldandassuredus,thattheyonlydancedtherethree
sortsofbranles,orbrawls,usuallyturningtheir
shoulderstooneanother,andthebackofeachlook-
ingtowardstheroundofthedance,andtheface
turnedoutwards.ThefirstistheBohemiandance,
forthewanderingBohemiansarealsohalfdevils;I
meanthoselong-hairedpeoplewithoutcountry,who
areneitherEgytians(gipsies),norofthekingdomof
Bohemia,butareborneverywhere,astheypursue
theirroute,andpasscountries,inthefields,andun-
derthetrees,andtheygoaboutdancingandplaying
conjuringtricks,asattheSabbath.Sotheyare
numerousinthecountryofLabourd,onaccountof
theeasypassagefromNavarreandSpain.
“Thesecondiswithjumping,asourworkingmen
practiseintownsandvillages,alongthestreetsand
fields;andthesetwoareinround.Thethirdisalso
withthebackturned,butallholdingtogetherin
188

413. —=—=——_—s—S—_—S—S————————————SS——S—S—
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
SUcers enh oy
length,and,withoutdisengaginghands,theyap-
proachsonearastotouch,andmeetbacktoback,
amanwithawoman;andatacertaincadencethey
pushandstriketogetherimmodestlytheirtwopos-
teriors.Anditwasalsotoldusthatthedevil,in
hisstrangehumours,didnotcausethemalltobe
placedinorder,withtheirbacksturnedtowardsthe
crownofthedance,asiscommonlysaidbyevery-
body;butonehavingthebackturned,andtheother
not,andsoontotheendofthedance....They
dancetothesoundofthetaborandflute,andsome-
timeswiththelonginstrumenttheycarryattheneck,
andthencestretchingtonearthegirdle,whichthey
beatwithalittlestick;sometimeswithaviolin(fid-
dle).Butthesearenottheonlyinstrumentsofthe
Sabbath,forwehavelearntfrommanyofthemthat
allsortsofinstrumentsareseenthere,withsuch
harmonythatthereisnoconcertintheworldtobe
comparedtoit.”
Nothingismoreremarkablethanthesortofpruri-
entcuriositywithwhichthesehonestcommissioners
interrogatedthewitnessesastothesexualpeculiari-
tiesandcapabilitiesofthedemon,andthesortof
satisfactionwithwhichDeLancrereducesallthisto
writing.Theyalltendtoshowtheidentityofthese
orgieswiththoseoftheancientworshipofPriapus,
whoisundoubtedlyfiguredintheSatanoftheSab-
189

414. eS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
bath.Theyoungwitch,Jeannetted’Abadie,toldhow
shehadseenattheSabbathmenandwomeninpro-
miscuousintercourse,andhowthedevilarranged
themincouples,inthemostunnaturalconjunctions—
thedaughterwiththefather,themotherwithherson,
thesisterwiththebrother,thedaughter-in-lawwith
thefather-in-law,thepenitentwithherconfessor,
withoutdistinctionofage,quality,orrelationship,so
thatsheconfessedtohavingbeenknownaninfinity
oftimesattheSabathbyacousin-germanofher
mother,andbyaninfinitenumberofothers.After
repeatingmuchthatshehadsaidbeforerelatingto
theimpudicityoftheSabbath,thisgirlsaidthatshe
hadbeendefloweredbythedevilattheageofthir-
teen—twelvewasthecommonageforthis—thatthey
neverbecamepregnant,eitherbyhimorbyanyof
thewizardsoftheSabbath;thatshehadneverfelt
anythingcomefromthedevilexceptthefirsttime,
whenitwasverycold,butthatwiththesorcerersit
wasaswithothermen.Thatthedevilchosethe
handsomestofthewomenandgirlsforhimself,and
oneheusuallymadehisqueenforthemeeting.That
theysufferedextremelywhenhehadintercourse
withthem,inconsequenceofhismemberbeingcov-
eredwithscaleslikethoseofafish.Thatwhenex-
tendeditwasayardlong,butthatitwasusually
twisted.Maried’Aspilcuette,agirlbetweennineteen
190

415. ———SSSS—SSEPLQQTS
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
andtwentyyearsofage,whoalsoconfesesdtohaving
hadfrequentconnectionwithSatan,describedhis
memberasabouthalfayardlong,andmoderately
large.Marguerite,agirlofSare,betweensixteen
andseventeen,describeditasresemblingthatofa
mule,andasbeingaslongandthickasone’sarm.
MoreonthissubjectthereaderwillfindinDe
Lancre’sowntext.Thedevil,wearefurthertold,
preferredmarriedwomentogirls,becausetherewas
moresinintheconnection,adulterybeingagreater
crimethansimplefornication.
Inordertogivestillmoretruthfulnesstohisac-
countoftheSabbath,DeLancrecausedallthefacts
gatheredfromtheconfessionsofhisvictimstobe
embodiedinapicturewhichillustratesthesecond
editionofhisbook,andwhichplacesthewholescene
beforeussovividlythatwehavehaditre-engraved
infacsimileasanillustrationtothepresentessay.’
Thedifferentgroupsare,aswillbeseen,indicatedby
capitalletters.AtAwehaveSataninhisgiltpulpit,
withfivehorns,theoneinthemiddlelighted,for
thepurposeofgivinglighttoallthecandlesand
firesattheSabbath.BisthequeenoftheSabbath,
seatedathisrighthand,whileanotherfavorite,
thoughinlessdegree,sitsontheotherside.C,a
witchpresentingachildwhichshehasseduced.D,
1Seeourplatexvi.
191

416. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thewitches,eachwithherdemon,seatedattable.
E,apartyoffourwitchesandsorcerers,whoare
onlyadmittedasspectators,andarenotallowedto
approachthegreatceremonies.F,“accordingto
theoldproverb,Apréslapance,vientladance,”the
witchesandtheirdemonshaverisenfromtable,and
arehereengagedinoneofthedescriptionsofdances
mentionedabove.G,theplayersoninstruments,
whofurnishthemusictowhichthewitchesdance.
H,atroopofwomenandgirls,whodancewiththeir
facesturnedoutwardsfromtheroundofthedance.
I,thecauldrononthefire,tomakeallsortsofpoisons
andnoxiouscompounds. K,duringtheseproceed-
ings,manywitchesareseenarrivingattheSabbath
onstaffsandbroomsticks,andothersongoats,bring-
ingwiththemchildrentooffertoSatan;othersare
departingfromtheSabbath,carriedthroughtheair
totheseaanddistantparts,wheretheywillraise
stormsandtempests.L,“thegreatlordsandladies
andotherrichandpowerfulpeople,whotreatonthe
grandaffairsoftheSabbath,wheretheyappear
veiled,andthewomenwithmasks,thattheymay
remainalwaysconcealedandunknown.” Lastly,at
M,weseetheyoungchildren,atsomedistancefrom
thebusypartoftheceremonies,takingchargeofthe
toads.
Inreviewingtheextraordinarysceneswhichare
192

417. =———eee—e—eeoooo
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
ip oees
developedinthesewitch-depositions,wearestruck
notonlywiththeirgeneralresemblanceamongthem-
selves,althoughtoldindifferentcountries,butalso
withthestrikingpointsofidentitybetweenthepro-
ceedingsoftheSabbathandthesecretassemblies
withwhichtheTemplarswerecharged.Wehavein
boththeinitiatorypresentation,thedenialofChrist,
andthehomagetothenewmaster,sealedbytheob-
scenekiss.Thisisjustwhatmightbeexpected.In
preservingsecretlyareligiousworshipaftertheopen
practiceofithadbeenproscribed,itwouldbenat-
ural,ifnotnecessary,torequireoftheinitiateda
strongdenialofthenewandintrusivefaith,with
actsaswellaswordswhichcompromisedhimen-
tirelyinwhathewasdoing.Themassandweight
oftheevidencecertainlygoestoprovethatsuch
secretritesdidprevailamongtheTemplars,thoughit
isnotequallyevidentthattheyprevailedthroughout
theorder;andthesimilarityoftherevelationsof
thewitch-confessions,inallcountrieswherethey
weretaken,seemstoshowthattherewasinthem
alsoafoundationintruth.Welookuponitasnot
admittingofdoubt,thatthePriapicorgiesandthe
otherperiodicalassembliesforworshipofthisde-
scription,whichwehavedescribedinanearlierpart
ofthisessay,werecontinuedlongafterthefallofthe
Roman powerandtheintroductionoftheChristian
EE a
193

418. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
religion.Therusticpopulation,mostlyservile,whose
moralsorprivatepracticeswerelittleheededbythe
otherclassesofsociety,might,inacountrysothinly
peopled,assemblebynightinretiredplaceswithout
anyfearofobservation.Theretheyperhapsin-
dulgedinPriapicrites,followedbytheoldPriapic
orgies,whichwouldbecomemoreandmoredebased
inform,butthroughtheeffectsofexcitingpotions,
asdescribedbyMichelet,wouldhavebecomewilder
thanever.Theybecame,asMiche!ctdescribesthem,
theSaturnaliaoftheserf.Thestateofmindpro-
ducedbytheseexcitementswouldleadthosewhopar-
tookinthemtobelievecasilyintheactualpresence
.ofthebeingstheyworshipped,who,accordingto
theChurchdoctrines,wereonlysomanydevils.
Hencearosethediabolicalagencyinthescene.Thus
weeasilyobtainallthematerialsandalltheincidents
ofthewitches’Sabbath.Wherethisolderworshipwas
preservedamongthemiddleormoreelevatedclasses
ofsociety,whohadothermeansofsecrecyattheir
command,itwouldtakealessvulgarform,and
wouldshowitselfintheformationofconcealedsects
andsocieties,suchasthoseofthedifferentformsof
Gnosticism,oftheStadingers,oftheTemplars,and
1SeeMichelet,LaSorcicre,liv.i,c.9,ontheuseandtheeffects
oftheSolanez,towhichheattributesmuchofthedelusionsof
theSabbath.
PSNS aelta a
194

419. —————————————SSaa>>IOXO*O*O*o"o———
TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
—$—$eee
ofotherlessimportantsecretclubs,ofamoreorless
immoralcharacter,whichcontinuednodoubttoexist
longafterwhatwecallthemiddleageshadpassed
away.Aswehavebeforeintimated,thesemedizval
practicesprevailedmostinGaulandtheSouth,
wheretheinfluenceofRomanmannersandsupersti-
tionswasgreatest.
Theworshipofthereproductiveorgansasrepre-
sentingthefertilizing,protecting,andsavingpowers
ofnature,apartfromthesesecretrites,prevailed
universally,aswehavetraceditfullyinthepre-
cedingpages,andweonlyrecurtothatpartofthe
subjecttostatethatperhapsthelasttracesofitnow
tobefoundinourislandsismetwithonthewestern
shoresofIreland.OffthecoastofMayo,thereisa
smallislandnamedInniskea,theinhabitantsof
whichareaveryprimitiveanduncultivatedrace,
andwhich,althoughittakesitsnamefromafemale
saint(itistheinsularsanctzGeidheoftheHibern-
ianhagiographers),doesnotcontainasingleCatholic
priest.Itsinhabitants,indeed,aswelearnfroman
interestingcommunicationtoNotesandQueriesby
SirJ.EmersonTennent,’aremereidolaters,andtheir
idol,nodoubttherepresentativeofPriapus,isalong
cylindricalstone,whichtheycallNeevougee.This
idol]iskeptwrappedinflannel,andisentrustedto
1NotesandQueries,for1852,vol.v,p.121.
195

420. TheWorshipoftheGenerativePowers
thecareofanoldwoman,whoactsasthepriestess.
Itisbroughtoutandworshippedatcertainperiods,
whenstormsdisturbthefishing,bywhichchieflythe
populationoftheislandobtainaliving,oratother
timesitisexposedforthepurposeofraisingstorms
whichmaycausewreckstobethrownonthecoast
oftheisland.IaminformedthattheNameNee-
vougeeismerelythepluralofawordsignifyinga
canoe,anditmayperhapshavesomereferenceto
thecallingoffishermen.
196

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