DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9804#0053
28
THE ITALIAN EXCAVATIONS
the architectural point of view is as magnificent as that
of Knossos itself. In many respects indeed the two
Palaces are strikingly alike : the central court with the
living-rooms grouped round it, the long corridors and
spacious store-rooms, the west court and the theatral
area, the beautifully wrought walls of limestone and
gypsum, the total absence of fortifications—all these are
common to both.1 Pruestos appears to have been a
Palace pure and simple, and was naturally built on a
slightly smaller scale than Knossos, which was the capital
of an Empire and the centre of business and of govern-
ment.2 In its great State Entrance, however, or Propyla'a,
with its twelve steps still intact, 45 feet wide,
Phaistos has the advantage.5 So it has too in its striking
natural position, on the lowest of three hills that, rising
one above the other, like three great steps, command the
fertile plain of the Messara. It is in the remains that
were found in it that Pha;stos falls short of its sister site.
An interesting architectural point is raised by some stone
carvings, with a vertical triple-grooved design.4 So often
is this design found that Mr. Fyfe, when discussing its
occurrence on a miniature fresco at Knossos,5 calls it
the most distinctive architectural ornament of the age.
There is every probability that we may see in it the
prototype of the " Triglyphs" that alternate witli
Metopes on the entablature of the Doric Temple.0 Apart
from this, little was found of note, except some fine vases 7
and one graceful flower fresco.8 Pluestos, it may be re-
marked, like Knossos, was inhabited from Neolithic days.
1 Mon. Ant. xii. 1902, especially Plates III. and VI. and lig. [O,
p. 36; and xiv. 1905, especially Plates XXIX. and XXXI. and
fig. 44, p. 422. 2 J.B.A. x. 1902, p. 104.
3 Mon. Ant. xii. Plate IV., xiv. Plate XXX.; B.S.A. xi.
Plate VI. See below, p. 79.
* Mon. Ant. xii. 1902, Plate VII. No. 1, and fig. 13, p. 47.
6 J.B.A. x. 1902, Plate II. 6 Ibid pp. 126, 127.
» Mon. Ant. xiv. 1905, Plate XXVIII.
* Ibid. figs. 28a, 28b, pp. 381, 382.
THE ITALIAN EXCAVATIONS
the architectural point of view is as magnificent as that
of Knossos itself. In many respects indeed the two
Palaces are strikingly alike : the central court with the
living-rooms grouped round it, the long corridors and
spacious store-rooms, the west court and the theatral
area, the beautifully wrought walls of limestone and
gypsum, the total absence of fortifications—all these are
common to both.1 Pruestos appears to have been a
Palace pure and simple, and was naturally built on a
slightly smaller scale than Knossos, which was the capital
of an Empire and the centre of business and of govern-
ment.2 In its great State Entrance, however, or Propyla'a,
with its twelve steps still intact, 45 feet wide,
Phaistos has the advantage.5 So it has too in its striking
natural position, on the lowest of three hills that, rising
one above the other, like three great steps, command the
fertile plain of the Messara. It is in the remains that
were found in it that Pha;stos falls short of its sister site.
An interesting architectural point is raised by some stone
carvings, with a vertical triple-grooved design.4 So often
is this design found that Mr. Fyfe, when discussing its
occurrence on a miniature fresco at Knossos,5 calls it
the most distinctive architectural ornament of the age.
There is every probability that we may see in it the
prototype of the " Triglyphs" that alternate witli
Metopes on the entablature of the Doric Temple.0 Apart
from this, little was found of note, except some fine vases 7
and one graceful flower fresco.8 Pluestos, it may be re-
marked, like Knossos, was inhabited from Neolithic days.
1 Mon. Ant. xii. 1902, especially Plates III. and VI. and lig. [O,
p. 36; and xiv. 1905, especially Plates XXIX. and XXXI. and
fig. 44, p. 422. 2 J.B.A. x. 1902, p. 104.
3 Mon. Ant. xii. Plate IV., xiv. Plate XXX.; B.S.A. xi.
Plate VI. See below, p. 79.
* Mon. Ant. xii. 1902, Plate VII. No. 1, and fig. 13, p. 47.
6 J.B.A. x. 1902, Plate II. 6 Ibid pp. 126, 127.
» Mon. Ant. xiv. 1905, Plate XXVIII.
* Ibid. figs. 28a, 28b, pp. 381, 382.