Indian Antiquary Vol 09

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 78

66
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
their estimation,-even to the extent of an adverse charge of Vaishnavism-but in this official list or catalogue there was no apparent sun-like orb, or even wheel, to denote the "universal deity." Whereas the Swastika avowedly constituted the sign for the Supârśwa, the 7th Jina, and the closely-associated half-moon stood forth as the chinha of his successor Chandraprabha, the 8th Jina."
Under the advanced interpretation of the design and purport of the Swastika, from an Indian point of view, now put forward-perhaps few archeologists will be disposed to dissent from the inference that, in this instance also, its figure, as representing one of the received attributes of the sun, was used, conventionally, to typify the solar orb itself."
In describing the hand-made whorls, found on the site of Troy, which were unaided by the mechanical appliances of the potter's wheel, and whose ornamentation clearly preceded the use of alphabetical letters-Dr. Schliemann, in commenting on the appearance of this identical Swastika symbol on so many of these clay objects, appears to have divined the leading idea associated with the foot or following limbs attached to the square or normal cross-in designating these devices as "representations of the wheel in motion effected by the incisions." This independent conclusion is fully confirmed by an examination of the subsequent numismatic evidence.
The earliest Lycian coins have a constant reverse device, nearly identical with the original Swastika, except so far as consists in the more
Wilson Rig Veda, vol. IV. p. 12. Text V. i. 6.
Jour. R. A. S. 1877, p. 161; Colebrooke's Essays, vol. II. p. 187; Asiatic Researches, vol. IX. p. 305; Indian Antiquary, vol. II. p. 134.
Of this optional interchange of signs and symbols there is further confirmatory evidence in the two examples of punched gold coins depicted in Sir Walter Elliot's Plate ix. vol. III., Madras Journal Lit. and Science, where the central sun of No. 35 is supplanted by or alternated with the Swastika in No. 34.
Troy, pp. 38, 101 and 849. See also his Mycena, Nos. 404, 406, 411, &c.
Sir C. Fellows, Plate i. fig. 4. Sir C. Fellows supposed these devices to represent grapplers, p. 15.
10 A remarkable leading example of the tracing of the rotatory three-feet is to be seen on one of the whorls from Troy in Dr. Schliemann's work above cited.
11 In one instance, pl. IX. 2, these curved lines are made to end in serpents' heads and in another in cocks' heads, IX. 7.
1 The site of Aspendus was on a hill near the river Eurymedon, about 8 miles from the sea, in the gulf of Adalia, close to the eastern boundary of Lycia. The coins bear letters of cognate origin with the alphabet of the
[MARCH, 1880.
distinct sequent curve given to the four limbs, and a more definite opening out of the centre into an open circle, which, in one instance, is imagined to have a thread or rope inserted in the ring. These four-limbed symbols are speedily reduced into similar objects having only three arms, the Aryan triquetra,10 which admitted of the extension of the length of the limbs, and if so intended, would fancifully aid the speed of the revolutions or clear the contracted diespace for improved artistic freedom of treatment.
A similar device of the Trinacria appears on the coins of Aspendus in Pamphylia," but in this instance the curved lines are transformed into the likeness of three human legs, manifestly in motion, with a tumbling or rotatory onward course, which recalls "the three steps of Vishnu." But the idea of speed and revolution is much more distinctly rendered in the mintages of Syracuse, where the ankles of the legs are aided by small wings, such as are represented as constant adjuncts of the statues of Mercury. In one instance this winged triquetru is placed above the horses of the chariot, who are at full speed' and in others it is associated with Pegasus. In some instances it replaces a quasi star, which clearly stands for the sun,10 and the astronomical tendencies of the consecutive mint series are shown in the admission of a design of a new moon whose upper limb is given in an eclipse-like form, with a faint outline circle, perhaps intended to indicate the obscured portion of the moon itself."7
(To be continued.)
13
latter. The name of Aspendus is written EETFEAIIVE. Leake, p. 28.
I have lately had occasion to point out the many curious identities of customs prevailing alike in Lycia and India. J. R. A. S. vol. XI. 1879 p. 10. The "3 steps of Vishnu" are variously interpreted as "the rising, meridian and setting Suns-in one instance, the Vishnupada is asserted to represent "the meridian sky" (Vishnu Purana iii. 19), perhaps the full round-sun, which takes the place of honour on the more archaic forms of "the feet ?" The term Tri-Vikrama, or three paces, seems to indicate something more than three steps, as the word Vikrama would imply "to stop on"-to step beyond-giving an idea of progress
or motion.
13 Combe, Hunter Collection, vol. VII. 15, 18.
16 The three steps of Vishnu," Rig-Veda, I. 22, 17, Wilson, vol. I. p. 58. Goldstucker's Literary Remains, vol. I. p. 289. Max Müller, Rig Veda, translation pp. 117, 118. Colebrooke's Essays.
15 Numismatic Chronicle, 1874, Mr. Head's article, Pl. VIII. 7, 8, 4, 5, 6.
10 Num. Chron. vol. XIV. Pl. ix. Nos. 11, 19-also Pl. vii.a, fig 4.
1 Num. Chron. vol. XIV. Pl. x. Nos. 1-2. See also the Etruscan rendering of the Moon in Fabretti, Pl. xviii.