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)

I 86. Further Relics derived from East Treasury : Sphinxes,

MlNOAN AND HlTTITE, AND LEAPING YOUTHS OF IVORY DEPOSIT.

Gold-plated bronze attachments—perhaps from Lions mane ; Miniature
Double Axes—bronze, gold-plated—from small shrine ; Plumed crest and part
of wing of Ivory Sphinx; Comparison with naturalistic ivory wing of small
bird; The Minoan Sphinx; Minoan Oedipus at grips with it on Thisbe
bead-seal; Name of Sphinx Hellenic, Art form Minoan; Wingless Sphinx
of M. M. II Signet; Hathoric curls—of Hittite derivation distinct from
Egyptian type; Steatite locks of Sphinx's head from drain-shaft deposit;
Oriental comparisons—Hathoric elements ; H. Triada Sphinx of Hittite type—
supplies key to restoration of Knossian head; Twisted locks; H Triada
figure compared with Chaldaean inkstands ; Minoan ink-written inscriptions ;
Immediate source of H. Triada Sphinx Hittite ; An imported object; Parallel
example recently found at Tylissos ; Minoan female figurine of steatite found
with Sphinx at Tylissos—peaked cap a novel feature ; ' The Deposit of Ivories' ;
Figures of acrobatic youths; The Leaping Youth—marvellous elan / Chrys-
elephantineArt; Curled'flying locks of bronze, gold-plated ; Part of larger arm;
Figures engaged in Sports of Bull-ring—these tinder divine patronage ; Faience
head of btill; A miniature Minoan Corrida—perhaps exhibited in Sancttiary.

Of enigmatic character were a series of bronze objects showing remains Goid-
of gold plating and provided with projecting pins for insertion into wood, of bronze
which abundant carbonized remains were attaching; to them.1 In one case attach-

•111 merits:

(Fig. 276, a, b) the bronze plate was coiled below and rose above in an undu- perhaps
lating triple crest with terminal coils. Joined together in a row these objects i[°™s
might suggest some conventional representation of the crest of a lion's mane. mane-

The other plates (Fig. 276, c, d) show a simple coil, and as, from their
association with the others and identical technique, it seems fairly certain that
they belonged together, we may here perhaps recognize an attempt to render
the curling side-locks of a lion's mane. Locks of this character, though with
a less accentuated curve, are in fact visible in the fragment of stucco relief of
a lion's neck and mane found in the vault beneath the South-East Staircase.2
It is probable, that, as in that case, the composite figure of a lion partly carved
in wood to which these plated bronze attachments seem to belong, stood in
a direct relation to the cult of the Minoan Goddess, who at Knossos appears

1 See, too, A. E., Knossos, Report, 1902, p. 71, and Figs. 35, 36.

2 RofM.,M,T>t.IiV. 333, Fig. 188 a.