DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0223
M. M. I : METAL-WORK, SEALS, FOREIGN RELATIONS 197
sponding in type with the Petsofa figures of early M. M. I date. Facing this
figure, on the convex side of the half-cylinder, is that apparently of his bride,
with long flowing tresses, flounced from the shoulders downwards, while below
is a dog and four beaked ewers of metallic aspect such as occur in groups
on some of the most primitive of the hieroglyphic ' prism ' seals. On the
flat side is an archer followed by a dog, shooting an arrow at an ibex in
a wooded country, indicated by a tree.
The girl's dress here is simpler than the usual Babylonian garb as worn
_ by the Goddess Ishtar, for in that
case the upper part is folded over
like that of the Greek chiton. It is,
however, of great interest as being
foreign to any known example of
Minoan female attire. Was it
perhaps a special bridal robe ?
The maiden herself is depicted
as grasping the man's hand as if
the pair were plighting their troth.
The dress shows a certain analogy
with the flounced garments such
as appear towards the close of the
Middle Minoan Aw but these
are merely skirts, extending from
the waist downwards. On the
other hand, there is no resem-
blance between this dress and the
gowns with bell-shaped skirts and
which leave the bosom bare, such
as are repeated in the case of the
figurines of Petsofa and other con-
temporary deposits. The flounces
in this case, falling from the shoulders, certainly suggest a Syrian influence.
The characteristic Minoan flounced skirt that makes its appearance later on
may itself have owed its evolution to the same suggestion.
That direct Oriental influence was now at work is made evident
by a new and remarkable discovery. In his recent excavation of a
smaller ossuary at Platanos near Gortyna, Dr. Xanthudides brought to
light a Babylonian haematite cylinder of fine workmanship. The design on
this cylinder, which through his courtesy I am able to reproduce in Fig. 146,
Betro-
thal
scene : a
hint of
Syrian
influence
on dress.
Fig. 145. Ivory Half Cylinder (Found
in the Vicinity of Knossos).
Babylo-
nian Cy-
linder
from
Platanos-
sponding in type with the Petsofa figures of early M. M. I date. Facing this
figure, on the convex side of the half-cylinder, is that apparently of his bride,
with long flowing tresses, flounced from the shoulders downwards, while below
is a dog and four beaked ewers of metallic aspect such as occur in groups
on some of the most primitive of the hieroglyphic ' prism ' seals. On the
flat side is an archer followed by a dog, shooting an arrow at an ibex in
a wooded country, indicated by a tree.
The girl's dress here is simpler than the usual Babylonian garb as worn
_ by the Goddess Ishtar, for in that
case the upper part is folded over
like that of the Greek chiton. It is,
however, of great interest as being
foreign to any known example of
Minoan female attire. Was it
perhaps a special bridal robe ?
The maiden herself is depicted
as grasping the man's hand as if
the pair were plighting their troth.
The dress shows a certain analogy
with the flounced garments such
as appear towards the close of the
Middle Minoan Aw but these
are merely skirts, extending from
the waist downwards. On the
other hand, there is no resem-
blance between this dress and the
gowns with bell-shaped skirts and
which leave the bosom bare, such
as are repeated in the case of the
figurines of Petsofa and other con-
temporary deposits. The flounces
in this case, falling from the shoulders, certainly suggest a Syrian influence.
The characteristic Minoan flounced skirt that makes its appearance later on
may itself have owed its evolution to the same suggestion.
That direct Oriental influence was now at work is made evident
by a new and remarkable discovery. In his recent excavation of a
smaller ossuary at Platanos near Gortyna, Dr. Xanthudides brought to
light a Babylonian haematite cylinder of fine workmanship. The design on
this cylinder, which through his courtesy I am able to reproduce in Fig. 146,
Betro-
thal
scene : a
hint of
Syrian
influence
on dress.
Fig. 145. Ivory Half Cylinder (Found
in the Vicinity of Knossos).
Babylo-
nian Cy-
linder
from
Platanos-