Fig. 287.—Mykenian.
Fig. 288.—Cretan.
Fig.289.—Scotch.
From Myths of Crete and Prehellenic Europe (Mackenzie, D. A.).
The emblem of the double disc, “barnacle,” or “spectacle ornament” is found most frequently in Scotland where it is attributed to the Picts: sometimes the discs are undecorated, others are elaborated by a zigzag or zed, which apparently signified the Central and sustaining Power, Fire, or Force. Figs. 287 and 288 from Crete represent the discs transfixed by a broca or spike and the winged ange or angel with a wand—the magic rod or wand which invariably denoted Power—may be designated King Eros. In Scotland the central brocco, i.e., skewer, shoot, or stalk is found sprouting into what one might term broccoli, and in Fig. 291 the dotted eyes, wheels, or paps are elaborated into sevens which possibly may have symbolised the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Notable examples of this disc ornament occur at Doo Cave in Fife, and as the Scotch refer to a Dovecote as “Doocot,” it may be suggested that Doo Cave was a Dove Cave sacred to the deux, or duo, or Dieu. Other well-known specimens are found on a so-called “Brodie” stone and on the Inchbrayock stone in Forfarshire. Forfar, I have already suggested, was a land of St. Varvary: Overkirkhope, where the symbol also occurs, was presumably the hope or hill of Over, or uber, Church, and Ferriby,[553] in Lincolnshire, where the emblem is again found, was in all probability a by or abode of Ferri. The name Cupar may be connoted with Cupra—the Juno of Etruria—and Inchbrayock is radically Bray or Brock.
Figs. 290 to 292.—Scotch. From Archaic Sculpturings (Mann, L. M.).