Universitätsbibliothek HeidelbergUniversitätsbibliothek Heidelberg
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Evans, Arthur J.
Scripta minoa: the written documents of minoan Crete with special reference to the archives of Knossos (Band 1): The hieroglyphic and primitive linear classes — Oxford, 1909

DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.806#0168

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154

SCRIPTA MINOA

P. 25. Four-sided bead-seal of green steatite. Palaikaslro, E. Crete, 1894 (A. J. E.).

The group on a is the recurring formula, probably a title, seen on 18 c, 20 c, 23 b, and 30 d. The third sign on bis
f (No. 92) The collocation of the ' trowel' (No. 18) and the arrow-bead on this face is also recurrent. For the
' trowel' and eye conjoined on d cf. P. 7 "■ 27 d, and 33. It is possible that the signs to the left of C and rfare variations
of the rayed solar symbol (No. 107). The first sign on c seems to be indicative of mountains' or 'country (No. 114),

a this face and a

a sign or a fill-up ornament is

P. 26. Four-sided bead-seal of abnormal length, white steatite. From Crete. Central Museum, Athens. Sides
a and c are slightly larger than the other two. The X on faces a, c, d, and of which a trace seems to exist at the
beginning of A, is the usual initial mark on the hieroglyphic class of inscriptions. (See below, p. 251.) The large X
on face a probably marks the beginning of the inscription, so that a would read from left to right. Face b, as is
shown by the goat's head, reads from right to left. Face c also runs from left to right. It begins with an X sign
which almost runs into the figure below. The initial X on d also shows that it runs in the same direction. There
here seems to be no fixed rule.

This seal is specially distinguished by the repetitions of the tree sign (No. 97) and of the plough (No. 27). The
ship and trees seem to point to oversea traffic in timber. The recurrence of the mountains or regional sign (No. 114
placed on end) on face b, preceded and in the latter case also followed by two ploughs, is noteworthy. In the first
case the ploughs are preceded by a mallet (No. 24) and goat's head, so that the mountains sign may be a determinative
for the whole group. This conclusion is confirmed by the fact that on P. 29 d the mountains sign is again accom-
panied by the mallet and plough. It looks as if we have here a geographical formula.

The fourth sign on c is rather the breast sign (No. 4) than the' mountains'. (See F. D. p. 337, and Fig. 7.') (PI. II.)

' As there pointed out, an imperfect figure of this seal (er
as 1872 by Dumont, Inscriptions ccrium'/jurs tic la Crier, pp. 4T5, 416. I
the repeated plough sign was interpreted as pairs of wrestlers, the goa
was taken as an allusion to the naval sham-fights in the amphitheatre.

described as of ivory) was given as far back
vas there compared to gladiatorial tesserae ;
head compared to an apluslre, and the ship
 
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