DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0509
468
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
Faience
Relics in
Eastern
Reposi-
tory.
Western
Reposi-
tory.
Broken
stone
hammers.
massive masonry, that to the East was constructed of slabs dove-tailed
together in the style of the Northern Series (b) of the ' Kaselles' of the
Long Gallery and of the cists described above,1 which were subsequently
found immediately N. of these Repositories. It was composed of hard grey
limestone slabs, 16 centimetres thick, and was 1-52 metres deep, 1-9 long,
and 1-43 in breadth—the dimensions being slightly greater than those of
the other Repository.
Here, in the fatty deposit beneath the stratum containing the pottery,
came to light a marvellous series of relics in the native faience, a large
proportion of which, though mostly found in a fragmentary condition, it was
possible eventually to put together.
These elegant faience objects, with others representing the actual
fittings of the shrine, wTere almost exclusively contained in the Eastern
Repository. That to the West of it, both as regards construction and
contents, presents a striking contrast to it and was clearly designed for
a different purpose—the actual safeguarding of treasure in precious
metals.
This Western Repository was not constructed cist fashion like the
other, but was built of solid blocks of masonry, some 42 centimetres in
thickness (see Fig. 335). With the exception of the uppermost course of
the South wall which has two blocks, a single block goes the whole length
of a side in every case. This masonry is in three courses, which rest all
round on a lower course in a single piece with the bottom of the cist. As
will be seen from the Plans and Sections the interior capacity of this
cist is slightly less than the other. It has an inner width and breadth of
176 and 1*37 metres, and is 1-50 metres deep. A remarkable feature is
presented by the dowel-holes which are worked both in the sides and floor.
Such dowel-holes in the masonry point in other cases to a wooden frame-
work, but it seems possible that there was here also a metal casing.
That the breaking into the vault or of chests contained in it was a work
of serious difficulty is shown by a dramatic touch supplied by two objects left
by those who had rifled it. Two stone hammers were in fact found within
in a fractured and much battered condition. A view of half of one of these,
finely executed in red and black breccia, is given in Fig. 336. It will be seen
that, in addition to the main breakage, the edges of the butts at both ends
have been completely chipped away by hard usage. The stone hammers
are of a type of which perfect specimens of more or less contemporary date
have been found at Hagia Triada and elsewhere. It will be seen that, in
1 See p. 454.
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
Faience
Relics in
Eastern
Reposi-
tory.
Western
Reposi-
tory.
Broken
stone
hammers.
massive masonry, that to the East was constructed of slabs dove-tailed
together in the style of the Northern Series (b) of the ' Kaselles' of the
Long Gallery and of the cists described above,1 which were subsequently
found immediately N. of these Repositories. It was composed of hard grey
limestone slabs, 16 centimetres thick, and was 1-52 metres deep, 1-9 long,
and 1-43 in breadth—the dimensions being slightly greater than those of
the other Repository.
Here, in the fatty deposit beneath the stratum containing the pottery,
came to light a marvellous series of relics in the native faience, a large
proportion of which, though mostly found in a fragmentary condition, it was
possible eventually to put together.
These elegant faience objects, with others representing the actual
fittings of the shrine, wTere almost exclusively contained in the Eastern
Repository. That to the West of it, both as regards construction and
contents, presents a striking contrast to it and was clearly designed for
a different purpose—the actual safeguarding of treasure in precious
metals.
This Western Repository was not constructed cist fashion like the
other, but was built of solid blocks of masonry, some 42 centimetres in
thickness (see Fig. 335). With the exception of the uppermost course of
the South wall which has two blocks, a single block goes the whole length
of a side in every case. This masonry is in three courses, which rest all
round on a lower course in a single piece with the bottom of the cist. As
will be seen from the Plans and Sections the interior capacity of this
cist is slightly less than the other. It has an inner width and breadth of
176 and 1*37 metres, and is 1-50 metres deep. A remarkable feature is
presented by the dowel-holes which are worked both in the sides and floor.
Such dowel-holes in the masonry point in other cases to a wooden frame-
work, but it seems possible that there was here also a metal casing.
That the breaking into the vault or of chests contained in it was a work
of serious difficulty is shown by a dramatic touch supplied by two objects left
by those who had rifled it. Two stone hammers were in fact found within
in a fractured and much battered condition. A view of half of one of these,
finely executed in red and black breccia, is given in Fig. 336. It will be seen
that, in addition to the main breakage, the edges of the butts at both ends
have been completely chipped away by hard usage. The stone hammers
are of a type of which perfect specimens of more or less contemporary date
have been found at Hagia Triada and elsewhere. It will be seen that, in
1 See p. 454.