Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (35 page)

Egyptian goddess, sometimes claimed as mother of Osiris. Shrine at Karnak.

 
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Greek goddess, probably derived from a Phoenician fertility goddess whose domain embraced all nature: vegetable, animal, and human. Later she became the goddess of love in its noblest as well as in its most degraded form. She also became a marine deity. Homer describes her as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, but a more compelling story has her rising from the sea on Cyprus. Equated with the Roman Venus.

 
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Egyptian god, the sacred bull of Memphis, a form of Ptah-Osiris. Recognized by a blaze on the forehead, marks on the tongue and certain hairs on the back. Buried in Serapeum at Sakkara which was the main sanctuary. Many representations of him with sun disc on his head between horns.

 
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In looking at the results of
POLLEN ANALYSIS
, the proportion of tree pollen (arboreal pollen) can be compared with the amount of pollen from other plants (non-arboreal pollen) to provide a general impression of whether the landscape was wooded or not. This is known as the AP:NAP ratio.

 
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Latin name for the changing room in a Roman bath building. Some examples are equipped with wall niches for storing clothes and belongings.

 
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Greek and Roman god of uncertain derivation: possibly in origin a Hittite god or a Hellenic double of the Arab god Hobal. He was the god of light, a sun god (but not the sun itself, which was Helios), who delighted in high places. He made the fruits of the earth to ripen and in some areas the first fruits were dedicated to him. He was also the god of divination and prophecy. Traditions record that Apollo was the son of Leto, first wife of Zeus. His retinue includes the Muses and his chosen land was Delphi. Apollo is often depicted carrying a bow and arrows which he uses in hunting.

 
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