Page:Origin and Growth of Religion (Rhys).djvu/96

80 represents the horned god squatting on a seat between Apollo and Mercury, who have to stand: in the bend of his left arm, which rests on his knee, Cernunnos holds a bag, from which he pours forth a profusion of acorns or beech-mast, which he helps out with his right hand; they drop down between an ox and a stag, figured below in an attitude of attention; while a rat has been carved above the god's head on the tympanum of the pediment, a detail thought to be of significance, seeing that it is an animal dwelling underground.

Lastly, the block from Saintes has the unusual feature of displaying two groups carved back to back on opposite faces of the stone. In both cases the squatting god holds a torque in his right hand and in the other a purse or bag, which is supported on his knee. He appears to be Cernunnos, though the horns are no longer there to prove his identity, as the monument is imperfect. In the principal bas-relief, his associate sits on a seat near him, with a cornucopia resting on her left arm, while a little female divinity stands close to her. The bas-relief on the opposite face of the block shows the god squatting on a base ornamented with two bucrania: to the left, on a base with a single bucranium, stands a naked god, who supports himself on a club; and on the right, on a base devoid of ornament, stands a goddess in a long robe. It is to be noted that the squatting attitude of the god in these instances has been observed also in the case of a little bronze figure discovered at Autun, now in the