From jrbaro@facstaff.wm.edu Sun Apr 18 14:26:51 1999
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To: classics@u.washington.edu
From: James Baron <jrbaro@facstaff.wm.edu>
Subject: RE: Roman lead coffin: Gammadia? Reference on various Gammadia.
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At 17:14 99/04/18 -0400, you wrote:
>>Dr. Iverson and listmembers:
>>
>>Do you imply that the crucifix was a symbol taken over from orphism.
>>
>>Randall Larsen
>>Unviversity of Hawaii at Manoa
>
>
>        It is widely believed that the Greek mystery religions, including
>the Orphic and Dionysiac religions, had some influence on Christian thought
>and practice, but I'm no expert in this area.  Perhaps Edgar Krentz still
>frequents this list and he would be willing to comment further.  As for the
>specific symbol of the crucifix, at this date (II-IV century) I'm sure
>influence was a two-way street, so I suppose it's just as, or even more,
>likely that the Orphics took it from the Christians.  Right now I'm too
>busy to check out the bibliography myself, but the Matrocingque article I
>mentioned in the previous post indicates that you'll find opinions
>concerning this in:
>
>-R. Eisler, _Orphisch-dionysische Mysteriengedanken in der christlichen
>Antike_ (Leipzig-Berlin, 1925), p. 338 ff.
>
>-J.M. Riviere, _Amuleti, talismani e pantacoli_ (Rome, 1984), p. 135-6.
>
>-J. Reil, _Die fruhchristlichen Darstellungen der Kreuzignung Christi_
>(Leipzig, 1904).
>
>-A. Boulanger, _Orphee. Rapports de l'Orphisme et du Christianisme_ (Paris,
>1925), p. 7.
>
>-W.K.C. Guthrie, _Orpheus and the Greek Religion_, (London, 1952), p. 295=
 ff.
>
>
>Paul A. Iversen, Lecturer
>The Ohio State University
>Dept. of Greek and Latin
>Center for Epigraphical and
>Palaeographical Studies
>
>
>
>

In northern Europe, one also encounters frequently some overlap between
Thor's Hammer and the Cross, but I don't know of any examples of the Thor's
hammer image before medieval times, except for some debateable bronze age
(down to 500 bc in that region) rock carvings.  By the 10th century,
however, some open-minded silversmiths were using the same moulds to
produce both Crucifixes and Thor's Hammers, depending on the preference of
the customer.

See H. R. Ellis-Davidson's works, and Br=F8nsted's and Oxenstiena's
translated books also -- I don't have exact references handy right now.

Nevertheless, the published descriptions of the burial do not strike me as
Germanic at all.


Jim Baron
William and Mary

Is it true that the Greek government shut down the tourist center at Delphi
	because there was no longer any prophet in it?
.