DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0235
76. Parallels supplied by Bull-reliefs in Elgin Collection from
the ' Atreus' Tomb at Mycenae.
Two con-
trasted
groups of
bull-
catching
scenes on
Vapheio
cups and
gems.
Originate
in Great
Palace
friezes.
Frag-
mentary
reliefs in
Elgin
Collec-
tion.
Materia
proves
to be
Knossian
gypsum.
Two contrasted groups of bull-catching scenes on Vapheio Cups and
gems ; Originate in Palace friezes ; Fragmentary reliefs in Elgin Collection—
material proves to be Knossian gypsum ; Found in front of ' Atreus' facade ;
Supposed lion, a bull; Bull's head resembles Knossian ; Olive-tree also intro-
duced—from similar bull-hunting scene ; Slab with stationary bull—answers
to Vapheio Cup B ; Elgin slabs from similar contrasted compositions; Prob-
ably executed at Mycenae, by Minoan artist; Friezes, not tympanum re-
liefs; Were they from side-walls of"' Atreus•' dromos? Possible existence of
fore-hall to tomb; Signs of restoration of dromos; Revised lintel-block,
perhaps of entrance to fore-hall.
The evidence of two contrasted groups of bull-catching scenes—in the
one case of a wild hunt, in the other of the more leisurely episodes of capture
by means of a decoy cow, so fully supplied by the Vapheio Cups and reflected
in a more abbreviated form on a whole series of intaglio types itself, as already
observed must be taken to point to pre-existing models in the larger Art.
Of such we may now actually recognize the remains in what has been pre-
served to us of the painted friezes from the porticoes on either side of the
Northern Entrance passage at Knossos, going back in all probability to the
early part of the Third Middle Minoan Period. There are, indeed, some
indications that low reliefs in painted stucco of this class already existed in
the preceding phase of the Great Palace.
A suggestive pendant to this Knossian group is to be recognized in two
fragmentary reliefs from the ' Atreus' Tomb at Mycenae brought home by
Lord Elgin and now in the British Museum. An interesting feature of
these, moreover, recently brought to notice brings them into a direct line of
connexion with Minoan Crete. Their material has been generally regarded as
limestone, but some abnormal appearances noted by Mr. E. J. Forsdyke, of
the Department of Antiquities, led to a chemical analysis of the stone which
proved in fact to be identical with the gypsum rock so largely used in the
structure of the Knossian Palace and which is so abundantly forthcoming in
the neighbouring hill of Gypsades.1 There, indeed, as already mentioned,
are visible the openings of large subterranean quarries. Although deposits
1 Some years previously Dr. H. R. Hall had already expressed the opinion that the material
was ' grey gypsum '.
the ' Atreus' Tomb at Mycenae.
Two con-
trasted
groups of
bull-
catching
scenes on
Vapheio
cups and
gems.
Originate
in Great
Palace
friezes.
Frag-
mentary
reliefs in
Elgin
Collec-
tion.
Materia
proves
to be
Knossian
gypsum.
Two contrasted groups of bull-catching scenes on Vapheio Cups and
gems ; Originate in Palace friezes ; Fragmentary reliefs in Elgin Collection—
material proves to be Knossian gypsum ; Found in front of ' Atreus' facade ;
Supposed lion, a bull; Bull's head resembles Knossian ; Olive-tree also intro-
duced—from similar bull-hunting scene ; Slab with stationary bull—answers
to Vapheio Cup B ; Elgin slabs from similar contrasted compositions; Prob-
ably executed at Mycenae, by Minoan artist; Friezes, not tympanum re-
liefs; Were they from side-walls of"' Atreus•' dromos? Possible existence of
fore-hall to tomb; Signs of restoration of dromos; Revised lintel-block,
perhaps of entrance to fore-hall.
The evidence of two contrasted groups of bull-catching scenes—in the
one case of a wild hunt, in the other of the more leisurely episodes of capture
by means of a decoy cow, so fully supplied by the Vapheio Cups and reflected
in a more abbreviated form on a whole series of intaglio types itself, as already
observed must be taken to point to pre-existing models in the larger Art.
Of such we may now actually recognize the remains in what has been pre-
served to us of the painted friezes from the porticoes on either side of the
Northern Entrance passage at Knossos, going back in all probability to the
early part of the Third Middle Minoan Period. There are, indeed, some
indications that low reliefs in painted stucco of this class already existed in
the preceding phase of the Great Palace.
A suggestive pendant to this Knossian group is to be recognized in two
fragmentary reliefs from the ' Atreus' Tomb at Mycenae brought home by
Lord Elgin and now in the British Museum. An interesting feature of
these, moreover, recently brought to notice brings them into a direct line of
connexion with Minoan Crete. Their material has been generally regarded as
limestone, but some abnormal appearances noted by Mr. E. J. Forsdyke, of
the Department of Antiquities, led to a chemical analysis of the stone which
proved in fact to be identical with the gypsum rock so largely used in the
structure of the Knossian Palace and which is so abundantly forthcoming in
the neighbouring hill of Gypsades.1 There, indeed, as already mentioned,
are visible the openings of large subterranean quarries. Although deposits
1 Some years previously Dr. H. R. Hall had already expressed the opinion that the material
was ' grey gypsum '.