Just now two of those curious little terra-cottas, in the form of a volcano, were brought to me, upon one of which three animals with antlers are engraved in a circle round the sun;[123] upon another there are four signs (which I have hitherto not met with) in the shape of large combs with long teeth, forming a cross round the sun.[124] I conjecture that these extremely remarkable hieroglyphics, which at first sight might be imagined to be actual letters, can by no means represent anything else than the sacrificial altar with the flames blazing upon it. I do not doubt moreover, that in the continuation of the excavations I shall find this comb-shaped sign together with other symbols, which will confirm my conjectures.
[Illustration: No. 75. A Whorl, with three animals (3 M.).]
I must also add that the good old Trojans may perhaps have brought with them from Bactria the name of Ida, which they gave to the mountain which I see before me to the south-east, covered with snow, upon which Jove and Hera held dalliance,[125] and from which Jove looked down upon Ilium and upon the battles in the Plain of Troy, for, according to Max Müller,[126] Ida was the wife of Dyaus (Zeus), and their son was Eros. The parents whom Sappho ascribes to Eros--Heaven and Earth--are identical with his Vedic parents. Heracles is called Ἰδαῖος, from his being identical with the Sun, and he has this name in common with Apollo and Jove.
To-morrow the Greek Easter festival commences, during which unfortunately there are six days on which no work is done. Thus I shall not be able to continue the excavations until the 1st of May.
Hindrances through Greek festivals--Thickness of the layers of _débris_ above the native rock--Date of the foundation of Troy--Impossibility of the _Bunarbashi_ theory--Homeric epithets suitable to Hissarlik--Etymology of Ἴλιος, signifying probably the “fortress of the Sun"--The _Aruna_ of the Egyptian records--Progress of the platform, and corresponding excavation on the south--The bulwark of Lysimachus--Ruins of great buildings--Marks of civilization increasing with the depth--Vases, and fragments of great urns--A remarkable terra-cotta--A whorl with the appearance of an inscription.