DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0294
§ 44- Mallia and Niru Khani : Insignia of Priest-King and
Propagandist Depot.
M. M. I a Culture marked by direct Eastern contact; Suggestions of
Anatolian relations ; First appearance of Cretan Palaces—Early example at
Mallia, East of Knossos ; Its M.M. Iz date; Analogies with Plan of
Sendjirli ; Insignia of Priest-King found in Mallia Palace ; Royal Apart-
ments and Loggia ; Find of Ceremonial Arms—Dagger, and Long Sword of
State; Ritual Axe with forepart ofLeopard; Oriental parallels for its Zoo-
morphic character; Sumerian prototypes; Mallia weapons illustrate dual
aspect of Priest-Kings; Evidences of their theocratic functions; Anatolian
and Syrian range of Minoan Cult of Mother and Child; Emotional element
in Minoan Religion ; Root Affinities with Christian ideas ; Motirning rites
over grave of Mortal God; Ideas of After-Life symbolized by chrysalises and
butterflies on ' Ring of Nestor'; ' Tomb of Double Axes' at Knossos, also
a Shrine; Suggestions of 'moral side to Minoan Religion ; Weighing of the
butterfly Sotil; Consistent decorum of Minoan Art; Was there a propagan-
dist element in the Religion ? Presumptions supplied by remains at Niru
Khani; Exceptional character of building; Huge ritual Double Axes ;
Stacks of Tripod Altars ; ' Sacral Knot' on wall; A warehouse for distribu-
tion of Cult objects ; Export for Overseas propaganda.
The establishment of a direct contact with the East about the close of M. M. la
the Early Minoan Age, of which we have thus documentary evidence, may be m"rked
said to usher in the Age of Palaces in the Island of Crete. Hitherto, as has ^X direct
been shown in preceding Sections, the main influence under which the insular contact,
culture had evolved itself had unquestionably come from the Nile Valley,
and, though this influence included many elements of remote Chaldaean
origin, they had arrived indirectly and in a somewhat disguised shape.
But the evidence before us also leads to the conclusion that th$
direct communications with the Easternmost Mediterranean coasts, now
opened out, were accompanied by intensive relations with the Southern
littoral of Asia Minor. This in itself was to a certain extent a renewal of
the old cultural attachment to the Mainland oh the East with which, as
shown above, the prehistory of the Island begins, in conformity with its
geological traditions.1 . . . ',
1 See above, pp. 4, 5. . ."■ . ' ";
Propagandist Depot.
M. M. I a Culture marked by direct Eastern contact; Suggestions of
Anatolian relations ; First appearance of Cretan Palaces—Early example at
Mallia, East of Knossos ; Its M.M. Iz date; Analogies with Plan of
Sendjirli ; Insignia of Priest-King found in Mallia Palace ; Royal Apart-
ments and Loggia ; Find of Ceremonial Arms—Dagger, and Long Sword of
State; Ritual Axe with forepart ofLeopard; Oriental parallels for its Zoo-
morphic character; Sumerian prototypes; Mallia weapons illustrate dual
aspect of Priest-Kings; Evidences of their theocratic functions; Anatolian
and Syrian range of Minoan Cult of Mother and Child; Emotional element
in Minoan Religion ; Root Affinities with Christian ideas ; Motirning rites
over grave of Mortal God; Ideas of After-Life symbolized by chrysalises and
butterflies on ' Ring of Nestor'; ' Tomb of Double Axes' at Knossos, also
a Shrine; Suggestions of 'moral side to Minoan Religion ; Weighing of the
butterfly Sotil; Consistent decorum of Minoan Art; Was there a propagan-
dist element in the Religion ? Presumptions supplied by remains at Niru
Khani; Exceptional character of building; Huge ritual Double Axes ;
Stacks of Tripod Altars ; ' Sacral Knot' on wall; A warehouse for distribu-
tion of Cult objects ; Export for Overseas propaganda.
The establishment of a direct contact with the East about the close of M. M. la
the Early Minoan Age, of which we have thus documentary evidence, may be m"rked
said to usher in the Age of Palaces in the Island of Crete. Hitherto, as has ^X direct
been shown in preceding Sections, the main influence under which the insular contact,
culture had evolved itself had unquestionably come from the Nile Valley,
and, though this influence included many elements of remote Chaldaean
origin, they had arrived indirectly and in a somewhat disguised shape.
But the evidence before us also leads to the conclusion that th$
direct communications with the Easternmost Mediterranean coasts, now
opened out, were accompanied by intensive relations with the Southern
littoral of Asia Minor. This in itself was to a certain extent a renewal of
the old cultural attachment to the Mainland oh the East with which, as
shown above, the prehistory of the Island begins, in conformity with its
geological traditions.1 . . . ',
1 See above, pp. 4, 5. . ."■ . ' ";