DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8755#0144
Knossos Excavations 1903.
133
West or hill side. The paved causeway already described as leading
towards the Northern Pillar Hall from the Theatral Area, if prolonged
beyond that point, might have reached the terrace above the lower
section of the present building. The best indication of the level of
this original upper entrance can be gained, however, by following upwards
the course of the staircase which had first been reached by means of the
tunnelling.
Of the ten steps of this flight, all are of limestone except the top-
most which is of gypsum. They are 85 centimetres wide,—about half the
width of those of the Quadruple Staircase in its lowest flight,—with a
depth of 35 centimetres and a tread of 15. The gypsum wall to the right1
is one of the finest pieces of masonry yet brought to light in Knossos and
is preserved to a height of nine courses.2 A remarkable feature of this
wall is the traces along its lower margin of a thin coating of red stucco
directly applied to the masonry. This red stucco was also found adhering
to the walls of the landing above.
This first flight of stairs leads to a landing of elongated form (yS
metres East to West by 1-55 metre North to South), its great comparative
length being explained by the fact that at this point the stairs branch into
two heads. For this reason too there are two landing-blocks, with
dowel-holes for wood construction, one on either side of the top of
the first flight, instead of a single block of the kind as is usual 1)'
the case.
An indication of the manner in which the landing and the flights of
.stairs descending and ascending from it were lighted is supplied by the
■wall which faces the heads of the stairs on the South side of the landing.
This wall shows a low interval in the middle, 238 metres wide, flanked by
anta-like wallings of limestone and gypsum rising to a greater height.3
Such an opening seems naturally designed for a window. The borders of
a window frame fixed in this opening would in fact correspond with the
outer lines of the landing-blocks on either side of the descending staircase.
That this was the case is further confirmed by the analogy of a similar
broad window on a staircase landing of the small Palace excavated by the
1 The wall to the left was of rougher construction, originally concealed by plaster.
2 There are two narrow courses at bottom and top (the topmost 20 centimetres high) and seven
between, ranging from 57 centimetres in height (the course next to bottom) to 40.
;! The edges of these are bevelled off and this interval between the stone piers and the wood-
work of the window frame must have been filled with plaster.
133
West or hill side. The paved causeway already described as leading
towards the Northern Pillar Hall from the Theatral Area, if prolonged
beyond that point, might have reached the terrace above the lower
section of the present building. The best indication of the level of
this original upper entrance can be gained, however, by following upwards
the course of the staircase which had first been reached by means of the
tunnelling.
Of the ten steps of this flight, all are of limestone except the top-
most which is of gypsum. They are 85 centimetres wide,—about half the
width of those of the Quadruple Staircase in its lowest flight,—with a
depth of 35 centimetres and a tread of 15. The gypsum wall to the right1
is one of the finest pieces of masonry yet brought to light in Knossos and
is preserved to a height of nine courses.2 A remarkable feature of this
wall is the traces along its lower margin of a thin coating of red stucco
directly applied to the masonry. This red stucco was also found adhering
to the walls of the landing above.
This first flight of stairs leads to a landing of elongated form (yS
metres East to West by 1-55 metre North to South), its great comparative
length being explained by the fact that at this point the stairs branch into
two heads. For this reason too there are two landing-blocks, with
dowel-holes for wood construction, one on either side of the top of
the first flight, instead of a single block of the kind as is usual 1)'
the case.
An indication of the manner in which the landing and the flights of
.stairs descending and ascending from it were lighted is supplied by the
■wall which faces the heads of the stairs on the South side of the landing.
This wall shows a low interval in the middle, 238 metres wide, flanked by
anta-like wallings of limestone and gypsum rising to a greater height.3
Such an opening seems naturally designed for a window. The borders of
a window frame fixed in this opening would in fact correspond with the
outer lines of the landing-blocks on either side of the descending staircase.
That this was the case is further confirmed by the analogy of a similar
broad window on a staircase landing of the small Palace excavated by the
1 The wall to the left was of rougher construction, originally concealed by plaster.
2 There are two narrow courses at bottom and top (the topmost 20 centimetres high) and seven
between, ranging from 57 centimetres in height (the course next to bottom) to 40.
;! The edges of these are bevelled off and this interval between the stone piers and the wood-
work of the window frame must have been filled with plaster.