DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0597
554
THE PALACE OP MINOS, ETC.
stone bowls with shell inlays were, as we have seen, imitated in a class of
vessels the dark surface of which is dotted with white, while another common
form is copied from a typical Middle Kingdom alabastron as set on its stand.
The relief style that now begins on steatite vessels also had its influence.
Natural- In the case of certain large clay basins, in the fabric of which the method
Mould- °f quick rotation did not enter, we have seen that beautiful marine reliefs
Clay0" were executed quite on a par with those of the contemporary faience and
Vessels. implying a similar artistic training on the potter's part. The applied ears of
barley on a smaller class of vases also afford evidence of considerable skill
in naturalistic moulding.
Palatial A truly palatial element is at the same time visible in the stately store-
jars, jars or ' Medallion pithoito be described below, that were found in the Royal
Magazines, and which mark the latest phase of the present Period. The
great revolution in vase forms that characterizes this epoch, accompanied
Influence by a general tendency to raise and elongate the vessels, was productive
Natural- moreover of many fine profiles which often recall those of choice oriental
Wall- jars. Finally, towards the close of this Period the influence of the natural-
paintings istic style then prevalent in the frescoes on the Palace walls began to reflect
Ceramic itself in the monochrome designs of the vase-painters, and helped to com-
Uesigns. pensate for the almost total disappearance of the earlier polychromy.
Owing to a fortunate conjunction of circumstances, the Palace of
Knossos proved to be extraordinarily rich in deposits of the pottery of this
Period. Apart from the more fragmentary remains, though themselves
of considerable importance, found in the N.W. Lustral Area and its borders,
M.M. in and the masses of M. M. Ill sherds from the ' Kouloura ' or walled rubbish pit
Potter7
Deposit beneath the later West Court pavement, a whole series of stores of M. M. Ill
of Palace, vessels in a practically perfect condition were found, buried not only by catas-
trophic causes but by a deliberate process of filling in throughout the Palace
site. From the point of view of the present work a summary account of the
principal deposits is here given in connexion with the magazines and reposi-
tories in which they occurred.
S.W. Basement.
Pottery Some remains of vases of this Period were found, as already described,1
S.w. among the early elements of the ' Kaselles' of the West Magazines, includ-
ing the group shown in Fig. 328 above. In a basement South of the Maga-
zines near the S.W. angle of the Palace there came to light a set of complete
vessels of a ' kitchen ' type, some of which are shown in Fig. 403.2 They
1 See p. 457. found over 2 metres below the upper floor level
2 Knossos, Report, 1901, p. 10. They were in a stratum of carbonized wood.
Base-
ment.
THE PALACE OP MINOS, ETC.
stone bowls with shell inlays were, as we have seen, imitated in a class of
vessels the dark surface of which is dotted with white, while another common
form is copied from a typical Middle Kingdom alabastron as set on its stand.
The relief style that now begins on steatite vessels also had its influence.
Natural- In the case of certain large clay basins, in the fabric of which the method
Mould- °f quick rotation did not enter, we have seen that beautiful marine reliefs
Clay0" were executed quite on a par with those of the contemporary faience and
Vessels. implying a similar artistic training on the potter's part. The applied ears of
barley on a smaller class of vases also afford evidence of considerable skill
in naturalistic moulding.
Palatial A truly palatial element is at the same time visible in the stately store-
jars, jars or ' Medallion pithoito be described below, that were found in the Royal
Magazines, and which mark the latest phase of the present Period. The
great revolution in vase forms that characterizes this epoch, accompanied
Influence by a general tendency to raise and elongate the vessels, was productive
Natural- moreover of many fine profiles which often recall those of choice oriental
Wall- jars. Finally, towards the close of this Period the influence of the natural-
paintings istic style then prevalent in the frescoes on the Palace walls began to reflect
Ceramic itself in the monochrome designs of the vase-painters, and helped to com-
Uesigns. pensate for the almost total disappearance of the earlier polychromy.
Owing to a fortunate conjunction of circumstances, the Palace of
Knossos proved to be extraordinarily rich in deposits of the pottery of this
Period. Apart from the more fragmentary remains, though themselves
of considerable importance, found in the N.W. Lustral Area and its borders,
M.M. in and the masses of M. M. Ill sherds from the ' Kouloura ' or walled rubbish pit
Potter7
Deposit beneath the later West Court pavement, a whole series of stores of M. M. Ill
of Palace, vessels in a practically perfect condition were found, buried not only by catas-
trophic causes but by a deliberate process of filling in throughout the Palace
site. From the point of view of the present work a summary account of the
principal deposits is here given in connexion with the magazines and reposi-
tories in which they occurred.
S.W. Basement.
Pottery Some remains of vases of this Period were found, as already described,1
S.w. among the early elements of the ' Kaselles' of the West Magazines, includ-
ing the group shown in Fig. 328 above. In a basement South of the Maga-
zines near the S.W. angle of the Palace there came to light a set of complete
vessels of a ' kitchen ' type, some of which are shown in Fig. 403.2 They
1 See p. 457. found over 2 metres below the upper floor level
2 Knossos, Report, 1901, p. 10. They were in a stratum of carbonized wood.
Base-
ment.