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 4,2): Camp-stool Fresco, long-robed priests and beneficent genii [...] (London, 1935)

{ ic6a. Indigenous SphragistiC Tradition: Lion and Bull Type

OUTGROWTH OF DoG AND WlLD-GOAT.

Sphragistic tradition indigenous lo Crete; Early Nilotic and Egyptian
prototypes at times traceable; Primitive pictorial motives ; Potters' seals—
owner playing drauglds; Survival of type of seated rowers ; Trussed wild-
cats on pole—later version, trussed lion ; Hunting of Cretan Wild-goats—
hound leaping on wild-goat; Hound seizing stag's neck—Odysseus' brooch com-
pared; Lion leaping on quarry—outgrowth of the indigenous types; First
appearance of lion on primitive Cretan seals under Nilotic influences;
Lion types in M.M. II of Mainland inspiration ; Lions divine guardians ;
Lion seising deer on Shaft Grave dagger blade; Fully developed scheme of
lion leaping on quarry—Thisbi signet-ring; Oriental group contrasted
loitli Miuoan ; Oriental scheme influenced by cylinder types—lion's hind-legs
on ground; Lion and bull on jasper -weight from Tell-el-A mama ;
Exceptional Miuoan groups with hon's hind-legs on ground; Examples of
traditional scheme where lion leaps on victims bach—This scheme direct
outgrowth of that of dog and Cretan goat; Reaction of sphragistic motives on
greater A rt; Lion and bull on Minoan ivories—Enkomi mirror handles ;
Miuoan Colonial fabrics on Syrian and Ciliciau Coasts; 'Mino-Ciliciau'
ceramic motive of lion and bull; Minoan influences on Assyrian Art;
Lion and bull on Beirut scarab; Cypriot Greek, Ionian, and Phoenician
versions; Coin-types; Early painted reliefs of Akropolis, Athens; Later
Greek versions, revival of Miuoan type.

It is important to observe that—apart from the influence of larger Sphra-
models, such as wall-paintings, on the more advanced class of signet types
there was an inherited tradition, groins' back to quite primitive models, which md|g'=-

' & c> II nous to

was proper to the seals themselves. Crete.

This atavistic element is, in fact, well illustrated by the evolution above
traced of the Minoan ring-type from what was originally a pendant bead-
seal of a particular kind.

1 he unbroken indigenous pedigree of certain sphragistic motives is of
great utility in helping us to ascertain how far they are to be regarded as the
genuine outcome of a native Minoan school, or how far they may be clue to
extraneous influences.

I his must not, indeed, leave out of count the consideration that, at the

istic
tradition