DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0065
54
A. J. Evans
to a period corresponding with the latter part of the first Period of the
Later Palace at Knossos.
The change in the official style as seen in the archives of the Latest
Palace Period at Knossos is a phenomenon which seems best to explain
itself on the hypothesis of a dynastic revolution. That there was no
change of race appears from various indications. The two systems of
script, though divergent, show a large common element, and the resem-
blances are such as to permit a comparison of sign-groups belonging to
the two systems. It thus appears that the language was essentially the
same and in one case at least what appears to be a personal name is
common to the two scripts.1 There is no ethnic break, and the culture
exhibited by the remains of the latest period of the Palace on the whole
represents the natural outgrowth of the penultimate period of its history
to which the contents of the Temple Repositories belong.
The clear evidence of the relatively early date of the deposit gives a
special value to the considerable series of clay seal impressions found
with the tablets. These clay sealings, of which over 160 were dis-
covered, had evidently been attached by strings or threads that ran
through them, and of which traces remained, to documents on perishable
materials,—perhaps parchment, or even papyrus,—relating to the
Sanctuary. Many of them bore subjects of direct or indirect religious
import.
The impressions show fifty different designs, besides about a dozen
in too imperfecta condition to be made out with certainty. The following
list will give a general idea of the subjects :—
1-6.—Decorative designs with spiral and curvilinear patterns. Five varieties.
7.—Tripartite design with pallium-like centre (see Fig. 28).
S-12.—Semi-decorative designs which seem in part to represent facades and doors
of buildings. A characteristic Minoan class. Four varieties.
13. —Quadruple pattern, apparently based on a group of four cockle-shells. «.-•■■•■*"]
14. —Compound subject of enigmatic meaning (see Fig. 29). (For the cap-like
object, cf. Zakro sealings).
15. —Uncertain subject with crescents on stands (Fig. 30).
16, 17.—Design apparently representing a canopy with four forked supports. Two
varieties.
18, 19.—Flowers of aster type. Two varieties.
] In a paper read to the British Academy on Nov. 25, KJ03, on 'the I'ictographic and Linear
Scripts of Crete and their Relations' I have already called attention to the value of the evidence
supplied by the inscriptions from the Temple Repository at Knossos, and to their identity in style
with those of llagia Triada (see Summary Report, Times, Nov. 26).
A. J. Evans
to a period corresponding with the latter part of the first Period of the
Later Palace at Knossos.
The change in the official style as seen in the archives of the Latest
Palace Period at Knossos is a phenomenon which seems best to explain
itself on the hypothesis of a dynastic revolution. That there was no
change of race appears from various indications. The two systems of
script, though divergent, show a large common element, and the resem-
blances are such as to permit a comparison of sign-groups belonging to
the two systems. It thus appears that the language was essentially the
same and in one case at least what appears to be a personal name is
common to the two scripts.1 There is no ethnic break, and the culture
exhibited by the remains of the latest period of the Palace on the whole
represents the natural outgrowth of the penultimate period of its history
to which the contents of the Temple Repositories belong.
The clear evidence of the relatively early date of the deposit gives a
special value to the considerable series of clay seal impressions found
with the tablets. These clay sealings, of which over 160 were dis-
covered, had evidently been attached by strings or threads that ran
through them, and of which traces remained, to documents on perishable
materials,—perhaps parchment, or even papyrus,—relating to the
Sanctuary. Many of them bore subjects of direct or indirect religious
import.
The impressions show fifty different designs, besides about a dozen
in too imperfecta condition to be made out with certainty. The following
list will give a general idea of the subjects :—
1-6.—Decorative designs with spiral and curvilinear patterns. Five varieties.
7.—Tripartite design with pallium-like centre (see Fig. 28).
S-12.—Semi-decorative designs which seem in part to represent facades and doors
of buildings. A characteristic Minoan class. Four varieties.
13. —Quadruple pattern, apparently based on a group of four cockle-shells. «.-•■■•■*"]
14. —Compound subject of enigmatic meaning (see Fig. 29). (For the cap-like
object, cf. Zakro sealings).
15. —Uncertain subject with crescents on stands (Fig. 30).
16, 17.—Design apparently representing a canopy with four forked supports. Two
varieties.
18, 19.—Flowers of aster type. Two varieties.
] In a paper read to the British Academy on Nov. 25, KJ03, on 'the I'ictographic and Linear
Scripts of Crete and their Relations' I have already called attention to the value of the evidence
supplied by the inscriptions from the Temple Repository at Knossos, and to their identity in style
with those of llagia Triada (see Summary Report, Times, Nov. 26).