Evans, Arthur: The ‘Tomb of the Double Axes’ and associated group, and the pillar rooms and ritual vessels of the ‘Little Palace’ at Knossos’ (London, 1914)

AND ASSOCIATED GROUP AT KNOSSOS

27

the tomb. An analogous practice is well authenticated in the case of vases of
dark steatite with reliefs, which were decorated with thin gold plate.

The most remarkable of the polychrome vessels are the high two-handled
goblets (fig. 37a,b and pi. IV). The handles on these recall the triple, coiled handles
oi the well-known alabaster vase from the Fourth Shaft Grave at Mycenae.
Coiling handles of this kind, however, were already known among the ceramic

Fig. 37, a. Fig. 37, b.

Polychrome goblets trom Tomb 5.

types of the finest polychrome class of the Second Middle Minoan Period,
though, so far as I am aware, only fragmentary evidence of this exists.

For the dating of this form of goblet a very important piece of evidence is
supplied by the contents of a chamber in the Little Palace or Royal Villa of
Hagia Triada, explored by Professor Halbherr. The latest remains of this
building still belong to the First Late Minoan Period, and in the chamber in
question there were found several vases of a type identical with those from the
Isopata Tomb.1 The height of one of those that it has been possible to restore

1 A complete specimen of one of these is exhibited in the Candia Museum.