DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0123
EARLY MINOAN II
97
Settlement of Troy. The characteristic bracelet, Fig. 66, is paralleled by
a silver example from an early Cycladic tomb in Siphnos, and the same
plait-work band recurs on a gold arm-ring from the so-called ' Treasure of
Priam' at Hissarlik.1
Where, however, the Minoan goldsmiths of this Period greatly excelled Golden
all other craftsmen of the Aegean shores was in their admirable repro- andT^
ductions of flowers and foliage. They seem to have specially delighted in such Foliage,
subjects. Among the finds from the Mochlos tombs—notably Nos, II and
XIX, the original contents of which showed a pure E. M. II element—■
occurred a whole series of objects of this class—gold pins terminating in
marguerites, lilies, or crocuses, roses of gold-foil, and many-petalled flowers
like the scabious—shamrock and other leaves, and pendant sprays of olive
(Figs. 67, 69).
These floral and foliate forms present a curious anticipation of the
moulded 'faience' objects of the same class, belonging to the close of
the Middle Minoan Age, from the ' Temple Repositories ' at Knossos. But
of even greater importance, as illustrating the continuity of Minoan tradition
in ' Mycenaean ' art, is the recurrence of similar stellate flowers and pointed
leaves among the gold ornaments brought to light by Schliemann in the Myce-
Shaft Graves. A still more direct perpetuation of this floral style in jewellery s^-'1
is seen, however, in the elegant gold-foil lilies from the Mycenaean ' tholos ' Vlvals-
tombs at Dimini and Volo 2 (Fig. 68).
Several of the gold bands or ' diadems ' from the Mochlos tombs Gold
also present obvious points of resemblance with those from the Shaft Graves wfth*5
at Mycenae. In this case, however, two of these gold bands exhibit E>'es>
a peculiar feature, suggestive of a special religious usage. This is the
appearance of two incised outlines of human eyes (Fig. 67, II. 5), clearly
indicating that they were intended to serve as a kind of bandage over
the eyes of the dead person. They are, in fact, embryo death-masks, and it Embryo
is worth while observing that similar eye-bandages of thin gold plate, supple- Masks,
mented by plates for the mouth, are a usual feature on ancient Bolivian Bolivian
_E~^ 11"'111 ^ 1 s
mummies.3 As Early Minoan funeral accessories they are of the greatest
outlines of a dog and bird pricked out on it, with M. M. I. It doubtless, however, contained
presents a close analogy with a gold band with some earlier relics. It belongs to the Third
similar animal forms from Mochlos (Seager, Period of the Second City.
op. at., p. 27, and Fig. 9, II, 4) 2 Kuruniotes, \E</>. 'Apx-, 1906, pp. 232, 233,
1 Troja und Ilion, i, p. 358, Fig. 296, c. The Figs. 8, 9.
date of the actual deposit of the Treasure— 3 Mr. E. Thurlow Leeds, F.S.A., of the
judging from certain dagger types (I/ios, p. 476, Ashmolean Museum, is my informant.
Figs. 801-3) and other indications—corresponds
I H
97
Settlement of Troy. The characteristic bracelet, Fig. 66, is paralleled by
a silver example from an early Cycladic tomb in Siphnos, and the same
plait-work band recurs on a gold arm-ring from the so-called ' Treasure of
Priam' at Hissarlik.1
Where, however, the Minoan goldsmiths of this Period greatly excelled Golden
all other craftsmen of the Aegean shores was in their admirable repro- andT^
ductions of flowers and foliage. They seem to have specially delighted in such Foliage,
subjects. Among the finds from the Mochlos tombs—notably Nos, II and
XIX, the original contents of which showed a pure E. M. II element—■
occurred a whole series of objects of this class—gold pins terminating in
marguerites, lilies, or crocuses, roses of gold-foil, and many-petalled flowers
like the scabious—shamrock and other leaves, and pendant sprays of olive
(Figs. 67, 69).
These floral and foliate forms present a curious anticipation of the
moulded 'faience' objects of the same class, belonging to the close of
the Middle Minoan Age, from the ' Temple Repositories ' at Knossos. But
of even greater importance, as illustrating the continuity of Minoan tradition
in ' Mycenaean ' art, is the recurrence of similar stellate flowers and pointed
leaves among the gold ornaments brought to light by Schliemann in the Myce-
Shaft Graves. A still more direct perpetuation of this floral style in jewellery s^-'1
is seen, however, in the elegant gold-foil lilies from the Mycenaean ' tholos ' Vlvals-
tombs at Dimini and Volo 2 (Fig. 68).
Several of the gold bands or ' diadems ' from the Mochlos tombs Gold
also present obvious points of resemblance with those from the Shaft Graves wfth*5
at Mycenae. In this case, however, two of these gold bands exhibit E>'es>
a peculiar feature, suggestive of a special religious usage. This is the
appearance of two incised outlines of human eyes (Fig. 67, II. 5), clearly
indicating that they were intended to serve as a kind of bandage over
the eyes of the dead person. They are, in fact, embryo death-masks, and it Embryo
is worth while observing that similar eye-bandages of thin gold plate, supple- Masks,
mented by plates for the mouth, are a usual feature on ancient Bolivian Bolivian
_E~^ 11"'111 ^ 1 s
mummies.3 As Early Minoan funeral accessories they are of the greatest
outlines of a dog and bird pricked out on it, with M. M. I. It doubtless, however, contained
presents a close analogy with a gold band with some earlier relics. It belongs to the Third
similar animal forms from Mochlos (Seager, Period of the Second City.
op. at., p. 27, and Fig. 9, II, 4) 2 Kuruniotes, \E</>. 'Apx-, 1906, pp. 232, 233,
1 Troja und Ilion, i, p. 358, Fig. 296, c. The Figs. 8, 9.
date of the actual deposit of the Treasure— 3 Mr. E. Thurlow Leeds, F.S.A., of the
judging from certain dagger types (I/ios, p. 476, Ashmolean Museum, is my informant.
Figs. 801-3) and other indications—corresponds
I H