DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.806#0030
16
SCRIPTA MINOA
Destruc-
tion of
antiquities
during
massacre
at Candia
The ex-
ploration
of Knosso:
facilitated
by the nen
regime in
Crete.
Prelimin-
ary indica-
tions.
The hill of
Kephala:
signs on
ancient
blocks.
on stone, and probably of a dedicatory nature, which in the strictest sense of the word
may be described as monumental.
The outbreak of the Insurrection in the summer of 1896 did not seriously interrupt
the course of these investigations. Revisiting Crete in 1898 I was able to pursue my
researches in the central and eastern parts of the island, then in Insurgent hands, and
received the kindest assistance and support from the French and Italian Commanders
in the districts then in their occupation. Unfortunately, however, in Candia and the
adjoining districts, which had been committed to British protection, and where a large
number of native Moslems were collected, the situation was very different. The policy
was different, too. The complaisant attitude towards the Hamidian authorities to
which it was considered necessary to resort was by no means felicitous in its results.
My own guide and attendant was thrown into a noisome dungeon, from which he
was with difficulty rescued. The inevitable massacre followed, directed, with every
telegraphic facility, from the Palace at Yildiz'; and during the burning of the Christian
Quarter a series of interesting relics from the site of Knossos,2 including an inscribed
fragment, to be described below, perished in the flames.
The advent of the new autonomous Government under Prince George of Greece,
to whose friendly support I was much indebted, gave me the opportunity for which
I had long been preparing of carrying out by the aid of the spade a more thorough
investigation of the remains of the early civilization of the island at the spot to which
all later tradition pointed as its head quarters. Knossos, the city of Minos, the legendary
site of the Palace wrought for him, with all the artistic wonders it contained, by his
craftsman Daedalos, of the Dancing-Place of Ariadne and of the Labyrinth itself,
naturally stood out as the first objective. The indications secured during a first visit to
this site had themselves been of such a nature as to leave no doubt of the supreme
importance of the undertaking. Fragments of painted stucco, ceramic and other relics,
a gold signet ring with a religious subject, a part of a steatite vessel with spirited reliefs
had rewarded my first researches on the spot. My attention had been especially turned
to the hill of Kephala, where remains of early walls and of a chamber with huge store
jars together with other relics had already been brought to light by a native antiquary,
Mr. Minos Kalochaerinos. Certain signs already noticed by Mr. W. J. Stillman3 on
some large blocks visible on the southern declivity of this hill might or might not be
properly described as ' masons' marks', but they had all the appearance of belonging
to a people acquainted with the art of writing. The probability that, over and above
the general artistic and architectural results, excavation here might throw a new light
on the Pre-Phoenician script of Crete was enhanced by more than one small find.
Two seal-stones had come under my notice, picked up on or near the site by neighbour-
1 The evidence on this point was conclusive. with his house and himself massacred.
s Among the objects destroyed were those excavated * Published by him in the Second Annual Report of the
on the Hill of Kephala by Mr. Minos Kalochaerinos. Executive Committee, Arch. Inst, of America, 1880-1,
His son was also burnt alive. Other antiquities were in pp. 47-9. Mr. Stillman's drawings were also reproduced
the possession of his brother, Mr. Lysimachos Kalo- in Perrot et Chipiez, Greet Primitive, pp. 460,462.
chaerinos, British Vice-Consul. These were also burnt
SCRIPTA MINOA
Destruc-
tion of
antiquities
during
massacre
at Candia
The ex-
ploration
of Knosso:
facilitated
by the nen
regime in
Crete.
Prelimin-
ary indica-
tions.
The hill of
Kephala:
signs on
ancient
blocks.
on stone, and probably of a dedicatory nature, which in the strictest sense of the word
may be described as monumental.
The outbreak of the Insurrection in the summer of 1896 did not seriously interrupt
the course of these investigations. Revisiting Crete in 1898 I was able to pursue my
researches in the central and eastern parts of the island, then in Insurgent hands, and
received the kindest assistance and support from the French and Italian Commanders
in the districts then in their occupation. Unfortunately, however, in Candia and the
adjoining districts, which had been committed to British protection, and where a large
number of native Moslems were collected, the situation was very different. The policy
was different, too. The complaisant attitude towards the Hamidian authorities to
which it was considered necessary to resort was by no means felicitous in its results.
My own guide and attendant was thrown into a noisome dungeon, from which he
was with difficulty rescued. The inevitable massacre followed, directed, with every
telegraphic facility, from the Palace at Yildiz'; and during the burning of the Christian
Quarter a series of interesting relics from the site of Knossos,2 including an inscribed
fragment, to be described below, perished in the flames.
The advent of the new autonomous Government under Prince George of Greece,
to whose friendly support I was much indebted, gave me the opportunity for which
I had long been preparing of carrying out by the aid of the spade a more thorough
investigation of the remains of the early civilization of the island at the spot to which
all later tradition pointed as its head quarters. Knossos, the city of Minos, the legendary
site of the Palace wrought for him, with all the artistic wonders it contained, by his
craftsman Daedalos, of the Dancing-Place of Ariadne and of the Labyrinth itself,
naturally stood out as the first objective. The indications secured during a first visit to
this site had themselves been of such a nature as to leave no doubt of the supreme
importance of the undertaking. Fragments of painted stucco, ceramic and other relics,
a gold signet ring with a religious subject, a part of a steatite vessel with spirited reliefs
had rewarded my first researches on the spot. My attention had been especially turned
to the hill of Kephala, where remains of early walls and of a chamber with huge store
jars together with other relics had already been brought to light by a native antiquary,
Mr. Minos Kalochaerinos. Certain signs already noticed by Mr. W. J. Stillman3 on
some large blocks visible on the southern declivity of this hill might or might not be
properly described as ' masons' marks', but they had all the appearance of belonging
to a people acquainted with the art of writing. The probability that, over and above
the general artistic and architectural results, excavation here might throw a new light
on the Pre-Phoenician script of Crete was enhanced by more than one small find.
Two seal-stones had come under my notice, picked up on or near the site by neighbour-
1 The evidence on this point was conclusive. with his house and himself massacred.
s Among the objects destroyed were those excavated * Published by him in the Second Annual Report of the
on the Hill of Kephala by Mr. Minos Kalochaerinos. Executive Committee, Arch. Inst, of America, 1880-1,
His son was also burnt alive. Other antiquities were in pp. 47-9. Mr. Stillman's drawings were also reproduced
the possession of his brother, Mr. Lysimachos Kalo- in Perrot et Chipiez, Greet Primitive, pp. 460,462.
chaerinos, British Vice-Consul. These were also burnt