DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0474
434
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
Egyptian
Parallels.
Analo-
gous
flounced
Object of
Minoan
Cult.
Con-
nected
with
Double
Axe Cult.
Knotand we may further infer that one, or more probably a pair, of these
was fastened to the collar of her dress as some R ind of ceremonial baclp-e.1
o
On the magical virtues connected with knots in primitive belief, it is not
necessary here to enlarge. The nodus Herculeus affords a good classical
example. But the attachment of the Minoan knots to sacred trees and
pillars, of which illustrations have been given above, suggests a near parallel
to the association of an Egyptian Ankh or c Girdle-tie ' with the iet or tree-
pillar of I sis.1 A still nearer Egyptian parallel, however, is presented by
the dper, consisting of looped pendants worn behind the shoulders.2
The ivory knot from the South-East House may possibly have formed
part of the inlaid decoration of a chest deposited in the upper columnar
sanctuary, which we know from other evidence to have existed above
the pillar crypts. It seems, moreover, highly probable that in this and
other cases looped knots in some textile material were hung on either
side of the sacred column of this upper shrine, from the roof beam that
it supported—as depicted on the Mycenae signet, Fig. 310, b, above.
The relation of the Sacral Knots to the central Palace cult is
paralleled by a closely analogous object of which a remarkable illustration
also presented itself on the site. In a M.M. Ill stratum in the Court of
the Stone Spout was found a steatite intaglio, Fig. 312, a, in a rough
contemporary style, on which the Goddess is seen holding her Double Axe
on one arm and with the other a peculiar object with a double flounce below
and reticulated above, which it seems necessary to regard as some article
of ritual apparel. On a Zakro sealing,3 again, of contemporary date,
where two male figures occur in the typical bagged garment then in vogue,
that to the left is seen adoring the Double Axe, while the votary in front
of him carries a similar flounced object on his shoulder. So too, on an onyx
lentoid from the site of the Argive Heraion (Pig. 312, ^),4 belonging to the
early part of the Late Minoan Age, this object3 recurs on either side of
a bull's head, above which the Double Axe appears in a reversed position.
It is clear that in these cases we have to do with a lamer article than the
1 Professor Newberry kindly called my atten-
tion to this parallel. As the trunk of the tree had
concealed the coffin of Osiris, it had a special
funereal significance, and the tet and knot appear
together on the panels of wooden sarcophagi.
2 M. A. Murray, Ancient Egypt, 1921, Pt.
II, PP- 36, 37-
3 Hogarth, J.H.S., xxii, PI. VI, 6.
4 Furtwangler, Antike Gemmen, PI. II, 42
(cf. Schliemann, Mycenae, p. 362, Fig. 541).
A similar object appears by itself on another
gem from this site (W. Vollgraf, Bull, de
Corr. Hell, 1904, pp. 388, 389 and lug. 32) ;
it was there comjecturally regarded as a ' young
palm' and placed upside down.
5 A curious detail is perceptible in the
figure as it appears on this gem. The band
above the flounces, which borders the lower
part of the baggy part above, shows a decorative
chain-work often found in Minoan jewellery.
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
Egyptian
Parallels.
Analo-
gous
flounced
Object of
Minoan
Cult.
Con-
nected
with
Double
Axe Cult.
Knotand we may further infer that one, or more probably a pair, of these
was fastened to the collar of her dress as some R ind of ceremonial baclp-e.1
o
On the magical virtues connected with knots in primitive belief, it is not
necessary here to enlarge. The nodus Herculeus affords a good classical
example. But the attachment of the Minoan knots to sacred trees and
pillars, of which illustrations have been given above, suggests a near parallel
to the association of an Egyptian Ankh or c Girdle-tie ' with the iet or tree-
pillar of I sis.1 A still nearer Egyptian parallel, however, is presented by
the dper, consisting of looped pendants worn behind the shoulders.2
The ivory knot from the South-East House may possibly have formed
part of the inlaid decoration of a chest deposited in the upper columnar
sanctuary, which we know from other evidence to have existed above
the pillar crypts. It seems, moreover, highly probable that in this and
other cases looped knots in some textile material were hung on either
side of the sacred column of this upper shrine, from the roof beam that
it supported—as depicted on the Mycenae signet, Fig. 310, b, above.
The relation of the Sacral Knots to the central Palace cult is
paralleled by a closely analogous object of which a remarkable illustration
also presented itself on the site. In a M.M. Ill stratum in the Court of
the Stone Spout was found a steatite intaglio, Fig. 312, a, in a rough
contemporary style, on which the Goddess is seen holding her Double Axe
on one arm and with the other a peculiar object with a double flounce below
and reticulated above, which it seems necessary to regard as some article
of ritual apparel. On a Zakro sealing,3 again, of contemporary date,
where two male figures occur in the typical bagged garment then in vogue,
that to the left is seen adoring the Double Axe, while the votary in front
of him carries a similar flounced object on his shoulder. So too, on an onyx
lentoid from the site of the Argive Heraion (Pig. 312, ^),4 belonging to the
early part of the Late Minoan Age, this object3 recurs on either side of
a bull's head, above which the Double Axe appears in a reversed position.
It is clear that in these cases we have to do with a lamer article than the
1 Professor Newberry kindly called my atten-
tion to this parallel. As the trunk of the tree had
concealed the coffin of Osiris, it had a special
funereal significance, and the tet and knot appear
together on the panels of wooden sarcophagi.
2 M. A. Murray, Ancient Egypt, 1921, Pt.
II, PP- 36, 37-
3 Hogarth, J.H.S., xxii, PI. VI, 6.
4 Furtwangler, Antike Gemmen, PI. II, 42
(cf. Schliemann, Mycenae, p. 362, Fig. 541).
A similar object appears by itself on another
gem from this site (W. Vollgraf, Bull, de
Corr. Hell, 1904, pp. 388, 389 and lug. 32) ;
it was there comjecturally regarded as a ' young
palm' and placed upside down.
5 A curious detail is perceptible in the
figure as it appears on this gem. The band
above the flounces, which borders the lower
part of the baggy part above, shows a decorative
chain-work often found in Minoan jewellery.