DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0119
EARLY MINOAN II
93
where early Egyptian forms of stone vases were reproduced in a modified Copies of
form by the Cretan lapidaries, the Minoan copies were of somewhat later Dynasty
date than their prototypes. Where, however, the imitation is of a literal Stone
kind, it may be taken to afford a strong presumption of contemporaneity.
Examples of this latter class are supplied by a vase of grey and white
' marble' from Mochlos 1 (Fig. 60), and by another stone vessel of the
same kind found by Dr. Xanthudides in a primitive ossuary at Porti
in the Messara. district,- both of which are literal reproductions of a
characteristic Sixth Dynasty type. Three Egyptian examples are shown in
Fig. 61. That to the left is of diorite, a stone clearly imitated by the
Mochlos specimen, Fig. 60. The central vase is specially important since it
bears an inscription of the time of Pepy I (Mery-ra) 3 which approximately
fixes its date to 2486 b.c.
That a considerable advance towards the naturalistic rendering of Steatite^
animal forms was already achieved by the Minoan lapidaries is shown by Relief
a remarkable lid of green steatite from Tomb I at Mochlos, the contents of of D°8"
which seem to belong almost exclusively to the Second Early Minoan Age.4
This lid presents a handle in relief carved in the form of a couchant dog,
of jackal lineage (Fig. 62). As Mr. Seager remarks, ' in any Cretan
village one can see dozens of crop-eared dogs of the same peculiar long-
legged and emaciated type which served the Minoan artist as his model
for this handle some 4,000 years ago.'
How far engraved designs on seals had advanced by this date on
naturalistic lines it is difficult to say. Unfortunately, most of the evidence
regarding Early Minoan glyptic art is derived from the great Tholos
ossuaries, where it is impossible to distinguish objects of one Period
from those of another. It is therefore advisable provisionally to assign
the seals showing the highest artistic development to the succeeding E. M.
Ill Period.
1 Op. at., p. 80, M. 3, and PI. II.
2 In the Candia Museum.
3 The inscription, which bears the cartouche
of Mery-ra (Mry-Rc), refers to ' the first occa-
sion of the Sed-festival'. A Sed-festival oc-
curred in Pepy I's eighteenth year, which, if we
take the beginning of his reign as approxi-
mately 2504 b.c, would fix its date as 2486 b.c.
This festival is referred to in an inscription at
Hammamat (Petrie, History of Egypt to Six-
teenth Dynasty, p. 9,3 ; Lepsius, Detikmdler.
ii. 115, G.). The vase is from the Petrie
Collection, University College, London, and
is 14-3 cm. high. This photograph is due to
the kindness of Prof. Flinders Petrie.
4 Definite evidence of this is supplied by
the painted jug with dark on light decora-
tion consisting of hatched triangles (above,
Fig. 42). Seager, Mochlos, p. 20. 1 b, and p. 36,
Fig. 13, 1 b. The pedestalled dish, 1 a, has also.
E. M. I associations.
93
where early Egyptian forms of stone vases were reproduced in a modified Copies of
form by the Cretan lapidaries, the Minoan copies were of somewhat later Dynasty
date than their prototypes. Where, however, the imitation is of a literal Stone
kind, it may be taken to afford a strong presumption of contemporaneity.
Examples of this latter class are supplied by a vase of grey and white
' marble' from Mochlos 1 (Fig. 60), and by another stone vessel of the
same kind found by Dr. Xanthudides in a primitive ossuary at Porti
in the Messara. district,- both of which are literal reproductions of a
characteristic Sixth Dynasty type. Three Egyptian examples are shown in
Fig. 61. That to the left is of diorite, a stone clearly imitated by the
Mochlos specimen, Fig. 60. The central vase is specially important since it
bears an inscription of the time of Pepy I (Mery-ra) 3 which approximately
fixes its date to 2486 b.c.
That a considerable advance towards the naturalistic rendering of Steatite^
animal forms was already achieved by the Minoan lapidaries is shown by Relief
a remarkable lid of green steatite from Tomb I at Mochlos, the contents of of D°8"
which seem to belong almost exclusively to the Second Early Minoan Age.4
This lid presents a handle in relief carved in the form of a couchant dog,
of jackal lineage (Fig. 62). As Mr. Seager remarks, ' in any Cretan
village one can see dozens of crop-eared dogs of the same peculiar long-
legged and emaciated type which served the Minoan artist as his model
for this handle some 4,000 years ago.'
How far engraved designs on seals had advanced by this date on
naturalistic lines it is difficult to say. Unfortunately, most of the evidence
regarding Early Minoan glyptic art is derived from the great Tholos
ossuaries, where it is impossible to distinguish objects of one Period
from those of another. It is therefore advisable provisionally to assign
the seals showing the highest artistic development to the succeeding E. M.
Ill Period.
1 Op. at., p. 80, M. 3, and PI. II.
2 In the Candia Museum.
3 The inscription, which bears the cartouche
of Mery-ra (Mry-Rc), refers to ' the first occa-
sion of the Sed-festival'. A Sed-festival oc-
curred in Pepy I's eighteenth year, which, if we
take the beginning of his reign as approxi-
mately 2504 b.c, would fix its date as 2486 b.c.
This festival is referred to in an inscription at
Hammamat (Petrie, History of Egypt to Six-
teenth Dynasty, p. 9,3 ; Lepsius, Detikmdler.
ii. 115, G.). The vase is from the Petrie
Collection, University College, London, and
is 14-3 cm. high. This photograph is due to
the kindness of Prof. Flinders Petrie.
4 Definite evidence of this is supplied by
the painted jug with dark on light decora-
tion consisting of hatched triangles (above,
Fig. 42). Seager, Mochlos, p. 20. 1 b, and p. 36,
Fig. 13, 1 b. The pedestalled dish, 1 a, has also.
E. M. I associations.