Hew Morrison Collection > Adhamh agus Eubh, no Craobh Sheanachais nan Gàël

CELTIC LANGUAGE. 273
Argos, exhibitcd the device of a triple-headed serpent.* His
brolher Menelaus, king of Sparta.was similarly distinguished
by a serpent upon his shicld. The Spartans, as well as the
Athenians, believed in their serpentine origin, and callcd
theniselves ophiogence, i.e. seed or ofFspring of serpents.
" In ArgoHs, moreover, was the townof Epidaurus, famous
for the temple of yEscuIapius, where that god was worshipped
under the symbol of a serpent. We read in Pausaniasf that
live serpents were kcpt herc, and fed regularly by scrvants,
who laid their food upon the floor, but dared not approach the
sacred reptiles. This must have been only through religioiis
awe ; for thc serpents of Epidaurus were said to be harmless-X
The statue of xEsculapius at this temple, represented him leaning
upon a staff, and resting one hand upon the head of a serpent.^
His sister, the goddess Hygea, was represcnted with a large
serpent twisted about her, and drinking out of a chalice in her
hand. Sometimes it was coiled up in her lap ; at others, held
in the hand. II
And again —
" When the priestess of Apollo delivered hcr oracles, she
stood, or sat, upon a tripod, This was a name commonly
given to any sort of vessel, seat, or table, supported upon
three feet. The trìpod of the Pythian priestess was dis-
tinguished by a base embleraatical of her god. It was a
triple-headed serpent of brass, whose body, folded in circles
growing wider and wider towards the ground, formed a coni-
cal column. The cone, it should be remenibered, was sacred
to the solar deity. The three heads were disposed triangu-
iarly, in order to sustain the three feet of the tripod, which
was of gold. Herodotus^ tells us, that it was consecrated to
Apollo by the Greeks, out of the spoils of the Persians after
* Homer, Iliad, A, 38. + Paus. lib. ii. 106.
X Pausan. lib. ii. 136. S Montf. i. 180.
II Ibid. ISl. f ix. 81.
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