The Swastika: The Earliest Known Symbol & its Migrations
Dispersion of the Swastika
Page 77
talons. The head is decorated
with a single plume which springs from a circular ornament placed over
the ear; an angular figure extends forward from the base of this plume,
and probably represents what is left of the headdress proper. In front
of this --- on the very edge of the crumbling shell --- is one-half of
the lozenge-shaped eye, the dot representing the pupil being almost obliterated.
The ankles and legs just below the knee and the wrists each have three
lines representing bracelets or anklets. It is uncertain whether the leg
is covered or naked; but 
between
the waistband and the leggings, over the abdomen, is represented on both
figures a highly decorated triangular garment, or, possibly coat of mail,
to which particular attention is called. (1) In the center, at the top, just under the waistband, are four circles
with dots in the center arranged in a square; outside of this, still at
the top, are two triangular pieces, and outside of them are two more circles
and dots; while the lower part of the triangle, with certain decorations
of incised lines, completes the garment. This decoration is the same on
both figures, and corresponds exactly with the Buddha figure. An ornament
is suspended on the breast which shows three more of the circles and dots.
The earring is still another. The right-hand figure, so far as it can
be seen, is a duplicate of the left, and in the drawing it has, where
destroyed, been indicated by dotted lines. It is remarkable that the peculiar
clothing or decoration of these two figures should be almost an exact
reproduction of the Buddha figure (pl.
10). Another interesting feature of the design is the highly conventionalized
wing which fills the space beneath the uplifted arm. This wing is unlike
the usual specimens of aboriginal art which have been found in such profusion
in that neighborhood. But it is again remarkable that this conventionalized
wing and the bracelets, anklets, and garters should correspond in all
their peculiarities of construction and design with the wings on the copper
and shell figures from the Etowah mound, Georgia (figs. 240, 241,
and 242). (2) Behind the left-hand figure is an ornament resembling the spreading tail
of an eagle which, with its feather arrangement and the detail of their
mechanism, correspond to a high degree with the eagle effigies in repoussé
copper (fig. 243) from the mound
in
ENDNOTES:
1. Cf. Ghandi, p. 882, of this paper. [Back]
2. Fifth Ann. Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, 1883-84, pp. 96-106, figs. 42, 43, 45. Back