DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0333
M.M. II: EGYPTIAN MONUMENT AND RELATIONS 299
purpose as Pharos to the overlying mainland. In the sheltered deep waters
of its bays, the larger Venetian galleys, like those of the Saracens before
them and of the Turks after them, found the accommodation which the
shallow and confined harbour of Candia itself could not offer.1
So far as my own investigations go, however, the best existing remains Minoan .
of a Minoan port are to be seen at Hagia Pelagia about 12 miles West of Hagia
Candia, where is a peninsular site of dark schistose formation, the low cliffs Pelagia.
of which are capped with the remains of walls consisting of well-squared
blocks of the same material, enclosing house-foundations with sherds going
back to the earliest Minoan times. On either side of the promontory are
sandy coves.2 It is worth noting that the name of the Christian patroness
of this now untenanted port only thinly veils the form of I sis Pelagia,
inventress of the sail, whose Mediterranean cult survived the Age of
Constantine and the principal scene of whose worship was still to the last
the Isle of Pharos.3
The close of the present Period as is shown by the evidence from Cbrono-
Kahun overlapped the early part of the Thirteenth Dynasty, while its rjiues to
beginning, as we have seen, goes well back" into the Twelfth Dynasty. As M-M-IL
already observed there seems to be good warrant for placing the approxi-
mate limits of M. M. II between 1900 and 1700 b. c.
It is clear that this stage of Minoan culture was cut short by a cata- M.M.II
strophe, which from its widespread character may be thought to connect pg°jSty
itself with a greater current of history, lying- outside the insular limits. CLlt s]}°n
fe . ' . .by wide-
It has been shown that a series of contemporar)' deposits, representing spread
the last phase of M. M. II and resulting from a general overthrow of strophe
the earlier Palaces, is visible throughout a great part of the site both at
Knossos and Phaestos. The ceramic remains found in this stratum on the Parallel
two sites are, as we have seen, absolutely parallel. We recognize the same at^Knos-
aclvanced polvchromy. while the forms of the vessels and the types of the sos and
1 r • Phaestos.
ordinary ware present the same similarities. The knobbed type of pithos
occurs in the Early Magazines of both Palaces. A typical minor indication is
supplied by a common form of plain cup, often roughly made and with the walls
abode of rabbits, Cretan wild goats iagrimia) tombs mostly L. M. III^, but some earlier,
and peregrine falcons. Beyond aromatic scrub 'The site continued in occupation in-Greek
such as mastic, only wild fig-trees are to be times, and in a tank a little above the coast-
found. Roman pottery is also fairly abundant. guard station was found the funeral stela with
1 See too the remarks of- Admiral Spratt, a Cretan archer in relief described by Benndorf,
Travels in Crete, i, p. 35. Jahreshefte d. Oesferreichischeu Arch. Inst.
2 On undulating hills S.W. of the site are 1903, PI. I.
extensive remains of a cemetery with tholos 3 The Goddess was also known as IsisPharia.
purpose as Pharos to the overlying mainland. In the sheltered deep waters
of its bays, the larger Venetian galleys, like those of the Saracens before
them and of the Turks after them, found the accommodation which the
shallow and confined harbour of Candia itself could not offer.1
So far as my own investigations go, however, the best existing remains Minoan .
of a Minoan port are to be seen at Hagia Pelagia about 12 miles West of Hagia
Candia, where is a peninsular site of dark schistose formation, the low cliffs Pelagia.
of which are capped with the remains of walls consisting of well-squared
blocks of the same material, enclosing house-foundations with sherds going
back to the earliest Minoan times. On either side of the promontory are
sandy coves.2 It is worth noting that the name of the Christian patroness
of this now untenanted port only thinly veils the form of I sis Pelagia,
inventress of the sail, whose Mediterranean cult survived the Age of
Constantine and the principal scene of whose worship was still to the last
the Isle of Pharos.3
The close of the present Period as is shown by the evidence from Cbrono-
Kahun overlapped the early part of the Thirteenth Dynasty, while its rjiues to
beginning, as we have seen, goes well back" into the Twelfth Dynasty. As M-M-IL
already observed there seems to be good warrant for placing the approxi-
mate limits of M. M. II between 1900 and 1700 b. c.
It is clear that this stage of Minoan culture was cut short by a cata- M.M.II
strophe, which from its widespread character may be thought to connect pg°jSty
itself with a greater current of history, lying- outside the insular limits. CLlt s]}°n
fe . ' . .by wide-
It has been shown that a series of contemporar)' deposits, representing spread
the last phase of M. M. II and resulting from a general overthrow of strophe
the earlier Palaces, is visible throughout a great part of the site both at
Knossos and Phaestos. The ceramic remains found in this stratum on the Parallel
two sites are, as we have seen, absolutely parallel. We recognize the same at^Knos-
aclvanced polvchromy. while the forms of the vessels and the types of the sos and
1 r • Phaestos.
ordinary ware present the same similarities. The knobbed type of pithos
occurs in the Early Magazines of both Palaces. A typical minor indication is
supplied by a common form of plain cup, often roughly made and with the walls
abode of rabbits, Cretan wild goats iagrimia) tombs mostly L. M. III^, but some earlier,
and peregrine falcons. Beyond aromatic scrub 'The site continued in occupation in-Greek
such as mastic, only wild fig-trees are to be times, and in a tank a little above the coast-
found. Roman pottery is also fairly abundant. guard station was found the funeral stela with
1 See too the remarks of- Admiral Spratt, a Cretan archer in relief described by Benndorf,
Travels in Crete, i, p. 35. Jahreshefte d. Oesferreichischeu Arch. Inst.
2 On undulating hills S.W. of the site are 1903, PI. I.
extensive remains of a cemetery with tholos 3 The Goddess was also known as IsisPharia.