Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 1.djvu/95

 74 Primitive Greece: Mycenian Art. of the silver-mines of Thasos until the eighth century b.c. The names of the Cabiri or Great-ones, whose mysteries were cele- brated at Samothrace to the last days of antiquity, testify to the share taken by Phoenician traders in introducing the religion of these deities. It was in the nature of things that as soon as these bold mariners had made out the whole extent of the western coast of Asia Minor, and step by step ventured across the Sporades and Cyclades, they should not stop there, but should have been irresist- ibly drawn towards Europe and her islands, which they descried in the distance, when the sombre outlines of their mountains stood out from the purple sunset. Thitherward they sailed and reached their goal. They landed here and there and everywhere ; at first solely in pursuit of the purple-fish ; by and by, however, they were induced to return and make longer stays for the sake of the large profits which they derived from the sale of their potteries, arms, jewellery, and implements ; for the trees that were felled for them in the forests for ship-building; for the dyes supplied by certain plants ; for the furs and fruits of the earth, as well as war prisoners sold into bondage. Nevertheless there are localities which they favoured in a special manner, where their settlements acquired an importance unknown on other spots ; where too contact between the two races evoked a decidedly greater pro- gress, and exercised a more abiding influence both on religious creeds and local industries. With rare exceptions all these points are found in those Hellenic districts where the growth of culture was at once earlier and more intense. The stranger's example was the leaven which quickened the manifold energies and native faculties of the Greek race. Towards Crete the Phoenicians swarmed in greater masses and at an earlier date than elsewhere. '* How their settlements became fortified places is shown by the Phoenician names of important towns, such as Itanus and Karat, or Caeratus, afterwards Cnosus.^ The whole island worshipped the Syrian goddess ; as the queen of heaven riding on the bull of the sun, she became Europa, who had first pointed the way to this island from the Sidonian meadows. The Moloch-idol was heated to receive his sacrifice in his fiery arms." ^ They also obtained a firm foothold ^ Karth signifies " town *' in Phoenician. 2 CuRTius, Greek History.