DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0027
i6
A. J. Evans
larger leaf (which shows evidence of having been used more), being allowed to
swing free.
It is, however, possible that the right-hand leaf was larger than is represented
by the present limit-mark ; and that this was a double door, of two equal leaves,
meeting or slightly overlapping, in the ordinary manner.
The threshold line, crossing from jamb to jamb, is more clearly marked in the
case of the left-hand leaf than in the right. . ,
In No. 2 (North door of Hall of Double Axes), it is fairly clear that the
two leaves of a double door overlapped, but the left-hand leaf must have scraped
the centre of the floor-slab more than the right-hand leaf.
A bolt-socket in the floor also exists in this doorway, which from its position
seems to show that the bolt probably fastened the end of the right leaf, after the
left leaf had been closed. The lines on the threshold crossing from one reveal to
the other are really slight sinkings. The front one is probably a little in advance
of the actual front of the door when closed, and the other one may represent the
common line of both leaves, when closed.
No. 3, from the East door of the ' Hall of Colonnades,' is an example of a
large single door opening into the corridor which led to the (perhaps) more private
' Hall of Double Axes.' The floor-marks indicate the direction of the door-swing,
and the outer limit of the swing is very clearly defined, showing a clearance of
about il inches with the 'cheek' of the jamb. There is no definite hole cut in
the floor slab for the hingeing apparatus.
No. 4, also from the 'Hall of Colonnades ' (South door), has already been quoted.
It shows more clearly than any other example the mechanism of a single door.
The front face of the door, when closed, is clearly represented by a line—the
meeting of the back, and slightly higher front, of the threshold.
The position of this line is significant, as it shows that some of the doors, at
least in the Palace, did not fit hard up to the reveals of their door-jambs ; and that
wooden door-frames may have been used. These door-frames, if they existed, were
not necessarily ' housed' into the floor slabs, as in this case only one rectangular
opening is cut in the floor, and it is at the hingeing end; obviously, therefore,
chiefly for the hingeing apparatus.
In the case of a double door (see Nos. i, 2, 5, and 6), the two rectangular
openings in the floor are obviously for the hingeing apparatus of each leaf ; so that
the existence of wooden door-frames on which doors were hung is not proved
except by the scant evidence already given in discussing No. 4.
The whole question of door-fixings, however, is obscure, as there is evidence
to show that the Palace builders were familiar with metal pivot-hinges, sunk into
holes in the floor, ground out by the drill; and the large holes shown in the
illustrated examples (see especially right side of No. 2), almost suggest door-
frames.
Nos. 5 and 6 (East doors of Hall of Double Axes, and Western entrance
of Palace) call for no particular remark; except that the former has on the
right-hand side a clearly defined black line which shows the place of the woodwork
jamb above the gypsum base ; and the left half of No. 6—the great west door
giving access to the Palace through the ' Procession' corridor—has a bolt-socket in
the floor, 2§ x 1 \ inches.
A. J. Evans
larger leaf (which shows evidence of having been used more), being allowed to
swing free.
It is, however, possible that the right-hand leaf was larger than is represented
by the present limit-mark ; and that this was a double door, of two equal leaves,
meeting or slightly overlapping, in the ordinary manner.
The threshold line, crossing from jamb to jamb, is more clearly marked in the
case of the left-hand leaf than in the right. . ,
In No. 2 (North door of Hall of Double Axes), it is fairly clear that the
two leaves of a double door overlapped, but the left-hand leaf must have scraped
the centre of the floor-slab more than the right-hand leaf.
A bolt-socket in the floor also exists in this doorway, which from its position
seems to show that the bolt probably fastened the end of the right leaf, after the
left leaf had been closed. The lines on the threshold crossing from one reveal to
the other are really slight sinkings. The front one is probably a little in advance
of the actual front of the door when closed, and the other one may represent the
common line of both leaves, when closed.
No. 3, from the East door of the ' Hall of Colonnades,' is an example of a
large single door opening into the corridor which led to the (perhaps) more private
' Hall of Double Axes.' The floor-marks indicate the direction of the door-swing,
and the outer limit of the swing is very clearly defined, showing a clearance of
about il inches with the 'cheek' of the jamb. There is no definite hole cut in
the floor slab for the hingeing apparatus.
No. 4, also from the 'Hall of Colonnades ' (South door), has already been quoted.
It shows more clearly than any other example the mechanism of a single door.
The front face of the door, when closed, is clearly represented by a line—the
meeting of the back, and slightly higher front, of the threshold.
The position of this line is significant, as it shows that some of the doors, at
least in the Palace, did not fit hard up to the reveals of their door-jambs ; and that
wooden door-frames may have been used. These door-frames, if they existed, were
not necessarily ' housed' into the floor slabs, as in this case only one rectangular
opening is cut in the floor, and it is at the hingeing end; obviously, therefore,
chiefly for the hingeing apparatus.
In the case of a double door (see Nos. i, 2, 5, and 6), the two rectangular
openings in the floor are obviously for the hingeing apparatus of each leaf ; so that
the existence of wooden door-frames on which doors were hung is not proved
except by the scant evidence already given in discussing No. 4.
The whole question of door-fixings, however, is obscure, as there is evidence
to show that the Palace builders were familiar with metal pivot-hinges, sunk into
holes in the floor, ground out by the drill; and the large holes shown in the
illustrated examples (see especially right side of No. 2), almost suggest door-
frames.
Nos. 5 and 6 (East doors of Hall of Double Axes, and Western entrance
of Palace) call for no particular remark; except that the former has on the
right-hand side a clearly defined black line which shows the place of the woodwork
jamb above the gypsum base ; and the left half of No. 6—the great west door
giving access to the Palace through the ' Procession' corridor—has a bolt-socket in
the floor, 2§ x 1 \ inches.