Evans, Arthur J.: The Palace of Minos: a comparative account of the successive stages of the early Cretan civilization as illustred by the discoveries at Knossos (Band 1): The Neolithic and Early and Middle Minoan Ages (London, 1921)

210

THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.

leaving room on the right for some vessel used for flushing the basin. As
an anticipation of scientific methods of sanitation, the system of which we
have here the record has been attained by few nations even at the
present day.

System of Evidence pointing to an elaborate system of drainage of roofs and upper
upper story Courts by means of descending ducts or pipes in connexion with the

story . ...

drainage, basement conduits has come to light in various parts of the building.1 At
the East angle of the later Throne Room system the remains of such
an exterior pipe of plaster were actually found communicating with a similar
plaster duct running above the Late Minoan pavement.2

Of special interest, however, in relation to the methods of discharging
surface waters from upper light areas and roof terraces were the remains
brought to light in the North-Eastern region bordering the Domestic
Quarter. We have here a complete system of drain-heads which, as will be
shown below,15 were by means of vertical ducts brought into connexion with
the light court of what seems to have been a great East Hall belonging; to
the close of the M. M. Ill Period.

Sanitation in Crete (Br. Medical fount., 1903,
P- 598)).

1 Thus in the Basement of the Jewel Fresco
a section of a large built drain was found
running N. beneath a wall which must have
belonged to the original interior drainage of
this part of the building. It was choked with
pottery M. M. I—III. Early drains have al-
ready been referred to, p. 225, as connected with
the roof line of a verandah along the original
facade of the Palace on the section later broken
through by the Antechamber of the Throne
Room. Here was a cement-lined cistern or
settling tank, about a cubic metre in capacity,
from which two overflow conduits led in slightly
divergent directions to an affluent of the great

North drain (see Fig. 152) running along the
front of the N.YV. Section of the Central Court.
The conduits were square in section, one of
terra-cotta (30 cm. deep x 12 broad), the other
of limestone (8 cm. deep x 16 broad). They
lay 80 cm. below the surface and contained
M. M. II b pottery, as also the cistern. The
affluent of the main N. drain referred to, which
was of built construction like it, stood in con-
nexion with a lateral closet showing a circular
aperture in its pavement.

2 The very friable remains of this super-
ficial duct were unfortunately destroyed by
careless visitors to the site.

3 See below, p. 379 seqq., Figs. 275, 276.