DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0058
Knossos Excavations, 1903.
47
ally arranged in a rosette-pattern. These crystal petals,1 of which over a
score came to light, were slightly hollowed out above, and in some cases
they were partly enveloped with gold leaf. The under-side of one or two
of them was coated with closely adhering silver foil—recalling the backing
of many of the crystal inlays of the Gaming Board.'2 In one instance
there was further attached to this a casing of gold leaf which seems to
have been laid behind the silver foil to preserve it from oxidization, to
which immediate contact with wood or ivory might have rendered it liable.
A fine crystal disk IO'S centimetres (over 4 inches) in diameter and
slightly convex above was found, backed in the same way with silver
foil. It must have belonged to an exceptionally large design, or may even
have belonged to a mirror. Some of the crystal plaques were ribbed, a
feature also reproduced by the Gaming Board.
There was also found here a bronze looped handle (Fig. 24) 15
centimetres broad and another of less dimensions apparently belonging to
a smaller box. The bronze object (Fig. 24) with rivet-holes at its
smaller end is possibly part of a clamp.3
In the same deposit, partly broken, lay a finely wrought perforated
mallet of limestone. Had it perhaps been used for purposes of effraction
by the plunderers of the Repository? It cannot be doubted that the inlaid
and gilded chest itself had originally contained still more valuable objects
in precious metal.
This Eastern Repository was built of much more massive blocks than
the other, possibly because it contained gold treasure while the value of
the objects in the other cist was more preponderantly artistic. In this
Repository the walls are not mere slabs but consist of solid blocks of lime-
stone masonry about 42 centimetres thick. With the exception of the upper-
most course of the South wall which has two blocks, a single block
goes the whole length of a side in every case. This masonry is in
three courses, which rest all round on a lower course in a single piece with
the bottom of the cist. As will be seen from the plan and section (Fig. 23)
the interior capacity of this cist is slightly less than the other. It has an
inner width and breadth of 176 and P37 metres, and is 1-50 metre deep.
A remarkable feature is presented by the dowel-holes which are worked
both in the sides and floor. They seem to point to a wooden frame-work.
1 The crystal petals are 3 '4 centimetres in length and 2 "3 in breadth.
2 See Report, &c, 1901, p. 78. It is 277 centimetres in length.
47
ally arranged in a rosette-pattern. These crystal petals,1 of which over a
score came to light, were slightly hollowed out above, and in some cases
they were partly enveloped with gold leaf. The under-side of one or two
of them was coated with closely adhering silver foil—recalling the backing
of many of the crystal inlays of the Gaming Board.'2 In one instance
there was further attached to this a casing of gold leaf which seems to
have been laid behind the silver foil to preserve it from oxidization, to
which immediate contact with wood or ivory might have rendered it liable.
A fine crystal disk IO'S centimetres (over 4 inches) in diameter and
slightly convex above was found, backed in the same way with silver
foil. It must have belonged to an exceptionally large design, or may even
have belonged to a mirror. Some of the crystal plaques were ribbed, a
feature also reproduced by the Gaming Board.
There was also found here a bronze looped handle (Fig. 24) 15
centimetres broad and another of less dimensions apparently belonging to
a smaller box. The bronze object (Fig. 24) with rivet-holes at its
smaller end is possibly part of a clamp.3
In the same deposit, partly broken, lay a finely wrought perforated
mallet of limestone. Had it perhaps been used for purposes of effraction
by the plunderers of the Repository? It cannot be doubted that the inlaid
and gilded chest itself had originally contained still more valuable objects
in precious metal.
This Eastern Repository was built of much more massive blocks than
the other, possibly because it contained gold treasure while the value of
the objects in the other cist was more preponderantly artistic. In this
Repository the walls are not mere slabs but consist of solid blocks of lime-
stone masonry about 42 centimetres thick. With the exception of the upper-
most course of the South wall which has two blocks, a single block
goes the whole length of a side in every case. This masonry is in
three courses, which rest all round on a lower course in a single piece with
the bottom of the cist. As will be seen from the plan and section (Fig. 23)
the interior capacity of this cist is slightly less than the other. It has an
inner width and breadth of 176 and P37 metres, and is 1-50 metre deep.
A remarkable feature is presented by the dowel-holes which are worked
both in the sides and floor. They seem to point to a wooden frame-work.
1 The crystal petals are 3 '4 centimetres in length and 2 "3 in breadth.
2 See Report, &c, 1901, p. 78. It is 277 centimetres in length.