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)

64

THE PILLAR ROOMS AND RITUAL VESSELS

LEVEL OF TIMBER IN NORTH WALL
OF NORTH-WEST ROOM

{ k -58

T

NOTE .

ALL THE DIMENSIONS 'ARE
TAKEN FROM THE NORTHERN
MOST COLUMN ON THE
EAST COPING

or basement chambers, the roof of which is supported by one or more square
stone pillars. No less than three examples of such ' Pillar Rooms' occurred in
this part of the building.

At the south-east angle
two narrow flights of stone
stairs led down to a quad-
rangular construction on a
lower level, but otherwise
forming a continuation of a
distinct eastern section of the
building. This section in-
cludes in succession the large
Megaron,thePeristyle,andthe
adjoining 11 all of the Stepped
Doorways (see plan, pi. VII).

The basement building-
was separated for over half
its width from the upper
terrace on which the rest of
this eastern section rests by
what seems to have been a
light area giving light to the
easternmost of the two com-
partments of which it was
composed. The inner or
western compartment con-
tained two square pillars—
that to the south, completely
preserved, consisting of two
limestone blocks on a square
base,1 which was the only part
remaining of the other pillar.
Between these pillars was let
into the ground a kind of
shallow stone cist or vat con-
sisting of a square basin with
a smaller sunken square in
the middle (see fig. 79).

1 'I he base was 80 cm. square, and 38 em. high ; the blocks 70 cm. square, and 92 cm. and 45 cm.
high respectively.

Fig. 78. Elevation showing balustrade and pillar.