DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0217
§ 8. M. M. I : (D) Metal-Work, Seals, and Foreign Relations.
Silver vessels and clay imitations ; ' Kantkaros ' type points to Trojan
source; Influence of Early Troadic silver trade; Clay imitations of bronze
amphoras; Bronze weapons and implements ; Hieroglyphic Script, Class A ;
Seals and sealings ; Hemicy'Under of Ivory with Betrothal Scene ; Babylonian
cylinder from Platanos ; Ishtar the Interceder and Syrian A dad; Chrono-
logical indications supplied by discovery; Imitation and adaptation of
Early Twelfth Dynasty Scarab types ; Appearance of Hippopotamus Goddess
—later source of beneficent Minoan Genii ; Decorative seal types of Egyptian
derivation ; Influence of Egyptian ceiling patterns ; Conclusions as to chrono-
logical limits of AIM. I.
Owing to the defective character of the sepulchral evidence, objects in
metal-work, especially in the precious metals, are as yet but sparsely forth-
coming-. Silver vessels already appear in the latter part of the E. M. Age Silver
Proto~
as well as in the contemporary Cycladic deposits. Although, however, types of
vessels in precious metals have not come to light in the Middle Minoan Ceramic
1 o t orm.
Palaces at Knossos and Phaestos, the reflection of such metallic originals is
seen in a whole series of ceramic forms belonging to M. M. I and II.
Happily, both an original silver vase and elegant imitative types in painted
clay were found in a ' House Tomb ' ossuary of this Period at Gournia Influence
(Fig. 139, a, b, c).1 The M. M. I b deposit beneath the West Court at or Proto-
Knossos 2 was specially rich in such imitative forms showing carinated out- tyPes-
lines and a lustrous metallic Maze. The thinness of the walls is also
characteristic and the egg-shell ware itself seems to have been due to the
desire to rival the fineness of metal-work.
The special interest of this silver ' kantharos ' type lies in the derivative
relation in which it stands to still earlier Trojan forms that themselves go
back to the simple two-handled horn (see Fig. 138). This connexion makes
it probable that the appearance of these types in Crete was itself a result of
1 Boyd Hawes, Gournia, PI. C, Figs, i and 3, and cf. 2. Cf. Seager, Excavations at Fasiiik),
1906, PI. XXXI, 2. 2 See above, p. 1S7, Fig. 13G-
Silver vessels and clay imitations ; ' Kantkaros ' type points to Trojan
source; Influence of Early Troadic silver trade; Clay imitations of bronze
amphoras; Bronze weapons and implements ; Hieroglyphic Script, Class A ;
Seals and sealings ; Hemicy'Under of Ivory with Betrothal Scene ; Babylonian
cylinder from Platanos ; Ishtar the Interceder and Syrian A dad; Chrono-
logical indications supplied by discovery; Imitation and adaptation of
Early Twelfth Dynasty Scarab types ; Appearance of Hippopotamus Goddess
—later source of beneficent Minoan Genii ; Decorative seal types of Egyptian
derivation ; Influence of Egyptian ceiling patterns ; Conclusions as to chrono-
logical limits of AIM. I.
Owing to the defective character of the sepulchral evidence, objects in
metal-work, especially in the precious metals, are as yet but sparsely forth-
coming-. Silver vessels already appear in the latter part of the E. M. Age Silver
Proto~
as well as in the contemporary Cycladic deposits. Although, however, types of
vessels in precious metals have not come to light in the Middle Minoan Ceramic
1 o t orm.
Palaces at Knossos and Phaestos, the reflection of such metallic originals is
seen in a whole series of ceramic forms belonging to M. M. I and II.
Happily, both an original silver vase and elegant imitative types in painted
clay were found in a ' House Tomb ' ossuary of this Period at Gournia Influence
(Fig. 139, a, b, c).1 The M. M. I b deposit beneath the West Court at or Proto-
Knossos 2 was specially rich in such imitative forms showing carinated out- tyPes-
lines and a lustrous metallic Maze. The thinness of the walls is also
characteristic and the egg-shell ware itself seems to have been due to the
desire to rival the fineness of metal-work.
The special interest of this silver ' kantharos ' type lies in the derivative
relation in which it stands to still earlier Trojan forms that themselves go
back to the simple two-handled horn (see Fig. 138). This connexion makes
it probable that the appearance of these types in Crete was itself a result of
1 Boyd Hawes, Gournia, PI. C, Figs, i and 3, and cf. 2. Cf. Seager, Excavations at Fasiiik),
1906, PI. XXXI, 2. 2 See above, p. 1S7, Fig. 13G-