Is a copy of figures given in Bryant's Ancient Mythology, plates xiii.,
xxviii., third edition, 1807. The first two illustrate the story of
Palemon and Getus, introducing the dolphin. That fish is symbolic of the
female, in consequence of the assonance in Greek between its name and
that of the womb, delphis and delphus. The tree symbolises the arbor
vitae, the life-giving sprout; and the ark is a symbol of the womb. The
third figure, where a man rests upon a rock and dolphin, and toys with
a mother and child, is equally suggestive. The male is repeatedly
characterised as a rock, hermes, menhir, tolmen, or upright stone, the
female by the dolphin, or fish. The result of the junction of these
elements appears in the child, whom both parents welcome. The fourth
figure represents two emblems of the male creator, a man and trident,
and two of the female, a dolphin and ship. The two last figures
represent a coin of Apamea, representing Noah and the ark, called
Cibotus. Bryant labours to prove that the group commemorates the story
told in the Bible respecting the flood, but there is strong doubt
whether the story was not of Babylonian origin. The city referred to
was in Phrygia, and the coin appears to have been struck by Philip of
Macedon. The inscription round the head is [--Greek inscription--]See
Ancient Faiths, second edition, Vol. ii.., pp. 128, and 885-892.
The Supreme Spirit in the act of creation became two-fold; the RIGHT
SIDE WAS MALE, THE LEFT WAS PRAKRITI, SHE IS OF ONE FORM WITH BRAMAH.
She is Maya, eternal and imperishable, such as the Spirit, such is the
inherent energy. (The Sacti) as the Faculty burning is inherent in pure.
(Bramah Vaivartta Puranu, Professor Wilson.)