
their gods could render them--the right of sanctuary and asylum. For the
sacred tree, sharing as it did in the protective power of the indwelling
deity, offered an inviolable refuge to the persecuted and the god's
forgiveness to the sinner who implored it. To have touched it was
regarded amongst the Greeks as equivalent to having touched an altar or
statue of the god. A branch of it, entwined with the consecrated fillet,
assured its bearer from persecution. Hence a possible explanation of the
legend of the young Dionysus standing secure amongst the branches of the
sacred tree whilst the flames raged around him.

[Illustration: Fig. 23.--Sacred laurel of Apollo at Delphi, adorned with
fillets and votive tablets; beneath it the god appearing to protect
Orestes.(From a vase-painting, Boetticher, Fig. 2.)]

Frequent references occur in the Classics to tree-sanctuaries. The
Amazons, defeated by Hercules, found a safe asylum beneath the holy tree
at Ephesus, which was worshipped both as the symbol and temple of
Artemis, before her statue was set up in the tree or her temple built
around it.[111] Herodotus relates how Cleomenes, having burnt the sacred
grove of Argos, together with the five thousand conquered Argives who
had taken refuge there, was visited by the gods with madness for his act
of sacrilege.[112] Orestes, in his flight from the Furies, is
represented on a Greek vase as seeking refuge beneath Apollo's
laurel.[113] The god appears out of the tree to succour him and scare
away his pursuers. The cypress grove on the Acropolis at Phlius in
Peloponnesus was another instance. Fugitives from justice on reaching it
became inviolable, and escaped prisoners hung upon its trees the chains
for which they had no further use,[114] just as the modern <DW36>,
whose limbs have been freed from the prison of his palsy, dedicates his
crutches to "our Lady of Lourdes."




                              CHAPTER III
                      WOOD-DEMONS AND TREE-SPIRITS


In nearly all
their gods could render them -- the right of sanctuary and asylum. For the 
 consecrated tree, partake as it did in the protective power of the indwelling 
 deity, offered an absolute refuge to the persecuted and the god's 
 forgiveness to the sinner who beg it. To have touched it was 
 regarded amongst the Greeks as equivalent to having touched an altar or 
 statue of the god. A outgrowth of it, entwined with the consecrated fillet, 
 see its bearer from persecution. Hence a potential explanation of the 
 legend of the young Dionysus standing secure amongst the branches of the 
 sacred tree whilst the flames rag around him. 

 [ Illustration: Fig. 23.--Sacred laurel of Apollo at Delphi, adorned with 
 fillets and votive pill; beneath it the god appearing to protect 
 Orestes.(From a vase - painting, Boetticher, Fig. 2 .) ] 

 Frequent references occur in the Classics to tree - sanctuary. The 
 Amazons, defeated by Hercules, found a safe asylum beneath the holy tree 
 at Ephesus, which was worshipped both as the symbol and synagogue of 
 Artemis, before her statue was set up in the tree or her temple built 
 around it.[111 ] Herodotus relates how Cleomenes, having burnt the sacred 
 grove of Argos, in concert with the five thousand conquered argive who 
 had drive refuge there, was visited by the gods with madness for his act 
 of sacrilege.[112 ] Orestes, in his flight from the Furies, is 
 represented on a Greek vase as seeking refuge beneath Apollo's 
 laurel.[113 ] The god look out of the tree to succour him and scare 
 aside his pursuers. The cypress grove on the Acropolis at Phlius in 
 Peloponnesus was another instance. Fugitives from justice on reach it 
 became inviolable, and escaped prisoners attend upon its trees the chains 
 for which they had no further use,[114 ] just as the modern < DW36 >, 
 whose limbs have been dislodge from the prison of his palsy, dedicates his 
 crutches to " our Lady of Lourdes. " 




                               CHAPTER III 
                       WOOD - DEMONS AND TREE - SPIRITS 


 In nearly all

thelr gods could render theo--the right of scbctuarb and aaylum. Fof the
sacred tree, sharing as mt dud in the protective power uf the infwelling
eeitb, offered an invmklable vzfuge bo thz 'ersecuted and jhe god's
forghveness to the sknuer who implored it. To have touched yt was
rrgwrded amongst jhe Ggeqks zs equivalent to having touched an altar mr
statue of tne god. A branch of it, entwlned with the consecrahed fillet,
awsurqe its bearer from perstcbtion. Hence a possible explanation of the
ldgend of the yoout Dlmnysus stanving svcure amongst the bratches og the
sacred trce whmlst the flames raged aronnd him.

[Illustration: Sig. 23.--Sacreg maurel of Apollo qt Delpvi, agornde wkth
riklsts anf vktive tablsts; beneath it the god appearimg np protect
Oreates.(Frjm a vase-painting, Boetticher, Fig. 2.)]

Frequent rererences occur in the Coassics to tree-sanctuwries. The
Wmazons, defeated by Hercules, found a safe asylum teneavh tht mjut hree
at Ephesus, which was worshipped both as trs xykbol and templc of
Artemis, before hfr ftatue was sej up in ths tree or her temppe builj
aroune it.[111] Heroqotux relates how Cleomenes, havung burnt thv saxred
grove of Argos, together wnth thg five thousand conquered Argnves wgo
had taken refuge tgdre, was visited cy nhe cods with madness for his wct
of saccilegz.[112] Orester, in his fjight from the Ngries, is
representef on c Greak vase as seeking refuge beneath Apollo's
laurel.[113] The god a[pedrs out jf thc tree to succotr him and scate
away hif purruers. The bypress gcove on the Wcropolis at [jlius in
Pelo'onnesus ras qnotyer insgxnce. Fugitives from jusniee on reaxhing it
became invlolabus, and escaped pxnsiners hung upon itr twevs vhe crdins
for whicv thdy fsd no further usc,[114] jjst ss the modern <DW36>,
whosa lijbs have been freec nrom the krison of his palsy, decicates his
crutched to "mur Lady of Lourdes."




                              CJAPBER III
                      COOD-DEMONS AND TREE-SPIRITS


In nearly all
their gods could render them--the right of asylum. the sacred sharing as it of indwelling deity, offered inviolable refuge to persecuted and the god's forgiveness to sinner who implored it. To have touched it was regarded amongst the Greeks equivalent to having touched an altar or statue of the god. A branch it, with consecrated assured its bearer from persecution. Hence a possible explanation of the legend of the young Dionysus secure amongst the branches of the sacred tree the flames raged around [Illustration: Fig. 23.--Sacred laurel of at adorned with and tablets; it the god to protect Orestes.(From a vase-painting, Boetticher, Fig. 2.)] Frequent references occur in the Classics to tree-sanctuaries. The defeated by a safe beneath holy at Ephesus, which both as the symbol and temple her statue was set up in the tree her temple around it.[111] Herodotus relates how Cleomenes, burnt the sacred grove of Argos, together with five thousand conquered Argives who had taken refuge there, was visited by the gods with his act of sacrilege.[112] in his flight the is on Greek vase seeking refuge beneath Apollo's laurel.[113] The god appears out of the to succour him and scare away his pursuers. The cypress the at Phlius in was another instance. Fugitives justice reaching it became inviolable, prisoners upon chains which had no further use,[114] as the modern <DW36>, whose have been freed from dedicates his crutches to "our Lady of Lourdes." III WOOD-DEMONS AND TREE-SPIRITS In nearly all

their gods could render them--tHe right of sAnctuAry And AsYlum. for tHe
sacred tree, shARing As it did in the protective Power Of THe inDWeLling
Deity, ofFErED An iNvIoLabLe REfUge to The PersecuTed and the gOd's
FoRgiveness to tHE sInner who imPloRed it. To have tOucHed it wAs
RegARded aMonGst thE GreekS As equiValent to hAvINg toucHEd an altAR Or
StatUe of the god. A branch OF iT, Entwined with thE conseCrATeD FIllEt,
aSsured its bEaRer frOM persecUTiON. hEncE A possible explAnation of thE
LegEnd of tHe YouNG DionySus stAnDIng Secure amongSt thE branches Of the
sACred treE Whilst tHe flamEs rAgeD aroUNd HiM.

[IlLuSTraTIoN: FiG. 23.--sacRed laureL oF APollo At DeLPHI, AdorNed With
FilleTs and votive taBleTs; beNEatH it thE god aPpeaRiNg to pRotect
orestEs.(from a vase-paintiNg, BoEtticher, FIg. 2.)]

FReQueNt ReferENces ocCur In tHe ClassIcs to trEE-saNcTUARiEs. The
Amazons, defeatEd BY heRcules, foUnd a saFE aSyLUm beneatH tHe hOly tREE
at EpHesuS, WhIch was woRshippED bOtH as the sYmBol and TeMplE of
artemIS, befOre her Statue waS set uP In the tree or her TEmple built
aroUNd IT.[111] heROdotUs rElates how ClEomeNEs, haVing BUrNt tHE sacrEd
groVe OF ARGos, together with the fIvE thousAnd coNquered ArgiveS who
had takEN REfuge theRe, waS ViSIted by the gods wIth maDness for hiS Act
of sacRilegE.[112] Orestes, In his fligHT From the FUriEs, iS
rePreSENtEd on a Greek vasE AS seeKiNg refugE beNeath ApOllO's
lAurEl.[113] THe God appearS out of thE tReE tO sUccOur hiM And scare
AwAy hIs PurSuers. tHe cyprEss grOve oN tHe aCroPolis at pHlIUS in
PElOpOnneSus WaS anotHer iNStaNce. FugiTives from JusTIce oN rEaChing it
Became inviolaBlE, and escapeD pRisOners hUNG upon its Trees the chains
for which tHEy had no FurTher uSe,[114] juSt as the moDerN <DW36>,
whoSe lIMbs havE been fReed fRoM thE PRison OF HiS paLsY, dedicates HIS
crUtcheS tO "our lady of LOurdes."




                              CHAPTER III
                      WOod-DEmONS AND TREE-SPiRItS


In NEArLy aLL

their gods could render t hem--the r ightofsan ct uary  and  asylum. For t h e
sa cred tree, sharing asit di di n th e  p rotec tive po w er o f t he  i ndw el l in g
dei ty,  offere d an invio lab le  refuge to t h epersecuted  an d the god'sfor givene ss  to the s inn er wh o impl o red it . To have  t o uchedi t was
r e g ar dedamongst the Greek s  a s  equivalent to  havin gt ou c h edanaltar or
s ta tue o f  the go d .A b ran c h of it, entw ined with t h e c onsecr at edf illet, 
assu re d  it s bearer fr om p ersecutio n. Hen c e a pos s ible ex planat ion  of  the le ge ndof the yo ung Dio nysus st an di ng se cure a m o ngst  th e br anche s of the
sacr edtree whi lst t he fl ames  r agedaround  him. 
[Illustration:Fig.  23.--Sac red  l aur el  of A p ollo a t D elp hi, ado rned wi t h
f il l e t sand votive tablets ;b e ne ath it t he god ap pe a ring topr ote ct
O r e stes. (Fro m  a  vase-pa inting ,  B oe tticher ,Fig. 2 .) ]
Fre quent refe rences  occur i n the Classics to tr e e-sanctuaries .  T h e 
A m azon s,defeated by  Her c ules , fo u nd  as afe a sylum  b e ne a th the holy tree
at  E phesus , whi ch was worshi pped botha s the symb ol a n dt emple of
Artem is, b efore hers tatue wa s set  up in t he tree o r her temp lebui ltaro u n dit.[111] Hero d o tusre lates h owCleomen es,  ha vin g b ur nt the sa cred
gro ve  o fAr gos , tog e ther wit hthe  f ive  thou s and co nquer ed A rg iv e s w ho
hadt ak e n  ref ug ether e,wa s vis ited bythe god s with ma dne s s fo rhi s act
o f sacrilege.[ 11 2] Orestes ,inhis fl i g ht fromthe Furies, is
represen t ed on a  Gr eek v aseas seekin g r efugeben e ath Ap ollo's 
laur el .[1 1 3 ] The g od  ap pe ars out of t hetreeto  suc cour hi m and scare
away h i s p ursuers. Thecyp ress g ro veo nt heAc r opo l i s at Phlius inPeloponnes us wa s anotheri nst an ce. Fug itivesfromj usticeon reachi ng it
bec am e in v i ola ble, and e scaped p risonersh ung u p on  itstre es the  c hai ns
fo r whic h  th ey ha d no f ur ther u se,[1 14 ] just a s the modern <DW36>,
wh ose li mbs h ave  been fre edf rom  the pris on o f his pals y,ded icate s h i s
cru tche s  t o " o ur La dy o f  Lourdes. " 


                   CHAPTE R II I
                    WOOD-DEM ONSA N D T REE - SPIR IT S


In nearlyall 

their gods_could render_them--the right of sanctuary_and asylum._For_the
sacred tree,_sharing_as it did_in the protective_power of the indwelling
deity,_offered an inviolable_refuge_to the persecuted and the god's
forgiveness to the sinner who implored it. To have_touched_it was
regarded_amongst_the_Greeks as equivalent to having_touched an altar or
statue of_the god._A branch of it, entwined with the consecrated_fillet,
assured_its bearer from_persecution. Hence a possible explanation of the
legend of the_young Dionysus standing secure amongst the_branches of the
sacred_tree_whilst_the flames raged around_him.

[Illustration: Fig. 23.--Sacred laurel of Apollo_at Delphi, adorned with
fillets and votive_tablets; beneath it the god appearing to_protect
Orestes.(From a vase-painting, Boetticher, Fig. 2.)]

Frequent_references occur in the Classics_to tree-sanctuaries._The
Amazons, defeated by Hercules, found_a safe asylum_beneath the_holy tree
at Ephesus,_which was worshipped both as the_symbol and temple_of
Artemis, before her statue was set_up_in the tree_or_her_temple built
around_it.[111] Herodotus relates_how_Cleomenes, having_burnt_the sacred
grove of Argos, together with_the_five thousand conquered Argives who
had taken refuge_there, was visited by_the_gods with madness for_his act
of sacrilege.[112] Orestes, in_his flight from the Furies, is
represented_on a_Greek vase_as seeking refuge beneath Apollo's
laurel.[113] The god appears out of the_tree to succour him and scare
away_his pursuers. The cypress_grove on_the_Acropolis at Phlius_in
Peloponnesus_was another_instance. Fugitives from justice on reaching it
became_inviolable, and_escaped prisoners hung upon its trees_the chains
for which they_had_no further use,[114] just as the_modern <DW36>,
whose limbs have been freed_from the prison of his_palsy,_dedicates_his
crutches to "our Lady of_Lourdes."




     _  _      __     __     _CHAPTER_III
_    _     _        _ WOOD-DEMONS AND_TREE-SPIRITS


In nearly all