Evans, Arthur J.: The Palace of Minos: a comparative account of the successive stages of the early Cretan civilization as illustred by the discoveries at Knossos (Band 3): The great transitional age in the northern and eastern sections of the Palace (London, 1930)

§ 82. Grand Staircase and Loggia as further restored; ' Shield
Fresco ' and its Derivatives—Military and Religious Import.

Further reconstitution of Grand Staircase—to fifth flight; Impressive
effect: a vision of the Past; 'Loggia ofthe Shield Fresco' ; Fresco fragments
thrown into nook below ; ' Shield Fresco' replaced in replica; Comparison
with Tiryns frieze—malachite green pigment in latter, of Egyptian derivation;
Tiryns shield frieze copied from Knossian fresco ; The great body-shields of
Staircase loggias represent actual shields as hung in hall below; Shield
decoration answers to military spirit that marks last Age of Palace; Indica-
tions of neiv Dynasty—introduction of Linear Script B; The ' Chariot
Tablets'; Remains of smaller Shield Fresco ; Influence of Shield Frescoes on
Ceramic design ; L.M. Ia polychrome Goblet; Shields and Spirals on 'Palace
Style' Amphora; Shields on L.M. I\> ' ary hallos'', Phylakopi; Imported
vessels with Shield designs at Gezer atid Late Minoan sword; Reflection of
Shield friezes on seal-types : 8-shaped shield as religious emblem; ' Baetylic '
function—comparison with ancilia; Shields as decorative adjuncts; Amuletic
beads in shield form; Minoan shield hi field of signet gems as religious
indication ; Associated with Minotaur ; Parade of Shields on Stairs suggestive
both of temporal power and of divine protection.

Something has already been related of the heroic measures—including Further
the harnessing to it of sixty men—to which it was necessary to have recourse btruction
in order to save the central core above of the Grand Staircase from imminent °f Grand

Staircase.

ruin.1 In order to roof over and preserve the middle loggia of the stairs—
so important from having been adorned by the 'Shield Fresco' described
below—and at the same time to supply a better support for the uppermost
elements of the Staircase itself, the back walls of the Western light-area of
the ' Hall of the Double Axes' were considerably raised. As the result of
the recent work of restoration, indeed, the Northern Section of this Court
shows not only the window opening on what was known as the ' Upper East-
West Corridor' but the lower part of one that, according to the original
scheme, must have lighted a similar Corridor above.2 (See view, Fig. 189,
p. 290, above.)

1 P. of M., i, p. 341. double axes—the facing blocks of the recon-

2 In order to harmonize with the fine isodo- structed part of the wall were each separately
mic masonry of the lower courses of the light- cast in cement, some powdered limestone
Court wall—those presenting the incised being added to the superficial layer.