DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0143
132
A. J. Evans
or even excelled the best preserved part of the Palace. Notwithstanding the
labour and expense involved, and other attendant difficulties, it had clearly
become necessary to excavate the whole area from above. A considerable
cutting was accordingly made in the side of the steep, the three faces of
which had eventually to be built up behind the ancient building with
solid masonry, somewhat battered, rising to a height in some places of
over eight metres. Along the upper level of this, moreover, a new course
had to be made for the diverted roadway, which was further protected by a
parapet on the side towards the stone escarpment.
The result of the complete excavation from above was to lay bare
the walls and chambers of the building, the plans and elevation of
which are shown in PI. I. and Fig. 91. It is unquestionably by far
the finest specimen of Min6an domestic architecture that has yet come
to light.
In certain fundamental features connected with its construction and
arrangement this house shows a decided parallelism with the Domestic
Quarter of the Palace and the South-East House described above.1 Here,
too, as in these other cases the main entrance seems to have been by
means of a staircase from an upper terrace level. Here, too, the lower part
of the building itself is constructed in a rectangular cutting in the natural
rock forming the side of the hill—in this case soft decayed limestone,
known as kouskouras, and conglomerate. Here, too, moreover, the com-
pact support thus given to the lower walls on three sides has had a
favourable influence on the preservation of the fabric. As the walls,
approach the side of the hill more and more of them is preserved and
those against the rock reach a height of y6o metres.
Here, as in the case of the Domestic Quarter, it has thus been
possible to gain an almost complete idea of the construction of an upper
storey.
The fact that access from the lower corridor (A 1) already described
to the rooms beyond it to the East was controlled from within the corridor
may itself be regarded as an indication that at any rate the main entrance
to the house was not from the river-flat to the East. Direct access from
the Palace was that which all a priori considerations would lead us to
suppose was the principal aim of its occupant, and that could be obtained
in the most expeditious manner by an entrance at an upper level on the
1 See especially p. 4.
A. J. Evans
or even excelled the best preserved part of the Palace. Notwithstanding the
labour and expense involved, and other attendant difficulties, it had clearly
become necessary to excavate the whole area from above. A considerable
cutting was accordingly made in the side of the steep, the three faces of
which had eventually to be built up behind the ancient building with
solid masonry, somewhat battered, rising to a height in some places of
over eight metres. Along the upper level of this, moreover, a new course
had to be made for the diverted roadway, which was further protected by a
parapet on the side towards the stone escarpment.
The result of the complete excavation from above was to lay bare
the walls and chambers of the building, the plans and elevation of
which are shown in PI. I. and Fig. 91. It is unquestionably by far
the finest specimen of Min6an domestic architecture that has yet come
to light.
In certain fundamental features connected with its construction and
arrangement this house shows a decided parallelism with the Domestic
Quarter of the Palace and the South-East House described above.1 Here,
too, as in these other cases the main entrance seems to have been by
means of a staircase from an upper terrace level. Here, too, the lower part
of the building itself is constructed in a rectangular cutting in the natural
rock forming the side of the hill—in this case soft decayed limestone,
known as kouskouras, and conglomerate. Here, too, moreover, the com-
pact support thus given to the lower walls on three sides has had a
favourable influence on the preservation of the fabric. As the walls,
approach the side of the hill more and more of them is preserved and
those against the rock reach a height of y6o metres.
Here, as in the case of the Domestic Quarter, it has thus been
possible to gain an almost complete idea of the construction of an upper
storey.
The fact that access from the lower corridor (A 1) already described
to the rooms beyond it to the East was controlled from within the corridor
may itself be regarded as an indication that at any rate the main entrance
to the house was not from the river-flat to the East. Direct access from
the Palace was that which all a priori considerations would lead us to
suppose was the principal aim of its occupant, and that could be obtained
in the most expeditious manner by an entrance at an upper level on the
1 See especially p. 4.