_France._--The employment of the Swastika in France did not cease with the
Bronze or Iron ages, but continued into the occupation of Gaul by the
Romans.
[Illustration: Fig. 220. STONE ALTAR WITH SWASTIKA ON PEDESTAL. France.
Museum of Toulouse. De Mortillet, "Musée Préhistorique," fig. 1267.]
Fig. 220 represents a stone altar erected in the south of France among the
Pyrenees about the time of the advent of the Romans. It has a Swastika
engraved on its pedestal. The upper arm has been carried beyond the body
of the sign, whether by intention is not apparent. Fig. 221 represents a
pottery bottle with another specimen of Swastika belonging to the same
(Gallo-Roman) epoch, but coming from the extreme north of Gaul, the
neighborhood of Rouen. It is to be remarked that the ends of this Swastika
give the outward curve or flourish similar to that noticed by Dr.
Schliemann on the spindle-whorl of Troy, and is yet employed in making the
Jain Swastika (fig. 33).
[Illustration: Fig. 221. POTTERY BOTTLE OF DARK GRAY WITH SWASTIKA AND
DECORATION IN WHITE BARBOTINE. Gallo-Roman Epoch. Museum of Rouen. De
Mortillet, "Musée Préhistorique," fig. 1246.]
M. Alexander Bertrand[218] speaks of the discovery at Velaux, in the
department of Bouches-du-Rhône, of the headless statue of a crouching or
squatting guard which has a row of Swastikas across his breast, while
beneath is a range of crosses, Greek or Latin. The newest examples of the
Swastika, belonging to this epoch have been found at Estinnes, Hainaut,
and at Anthée, Namur, Belgium, on pieces of Roman tile; also on a
tombstone in the Roman or Belgo-Roman cemetery of Juslenville near
Pepinster.[219] This is a Pagan tomb, as evidenced by the inscriptions
commenced "D. M." (_Diis Manibus_).[220]