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)

M.M. Ill: SURVIVALS OF CERAMIC POLYCHROMY 593

here polychromy indeed, but with a different colour scale, as adapted to
a new method of laying on the glaze slip.

The ripple ornament on these vessels is curiously reminiscent in form
of a Neolithic class, but it was probably immediately derived from the vertical
and slanting barbotine ridge ornament of the preceding Age. In a somewhat
decadent form it survives, as we have seen, into the Late Minoan Age, and

the new form of polychromy
that it represents essentially
corresponds with that of a
well-marked L. M. I class,
which, in addition to the brown
on buff and traces of the im-
perfectly fixed white, is en-
livened by a brilliant orange
red, recalling, though under a
variant aspect, the bright
scarlet hues of the older
Middle Minoan tradition.

Elements of true poly-
chromy survived in a modified
form to the latest phase of the
present Period, as we shall see
from certain vases found in
the Temple Repositories.
We are almost bound to
suppose, therefore, that poly-
chrome vessels of the earlier
class described above existed
in M.M. 111(7. It seems prob-
able indeed that certain frap-
ments of cups and bowls found
in the lower deposit of the
'Kouloura' or Walled Rub-
bish-Pit of the West Court belonged to this category. On these appear
finely foliated designs and friezes of disks in a style reminiscent of some
of the vessels found in the Loom-Weight Area and belonging to the close
of M. M. II. But, while the old red colour medium was still employed in the
decoration, the ground shows a pale brownish, almost matt lilac, in place of
the lustrous black glaze of the earlier class. A mug with a similar style of
1 q q

Tortoise-
shell
Rippled
Orna-
ment.

Survivals
of true
Poly-
chromy.

Fig. 435. Tortoise-shell Rippled Ware : M. M. Ill
Cup and M. M. II Fragment below.