DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0669
M. M. Ill: LINEAR SCRIPT A AND ITS SACRAL USAGE 623
limestone vessels of a peculiar type. These vessels, which have a pointed ^scribed
spade-like outline with a shallow basin within (see below, Fig. 461) and are stone
about 10 centimetres by 8 in dimensions, have the appearance of ladles l^es
the handles of which have become atrophied by their use for votive Sanc-
. . „ . , • 1 ' 1 in r tuaries of
purposes, day ladles, some with comparatively short handles, are 01 Knossos.
frequent occurrence in the Neolithic deposits of Knossos and they appear
amongst other vessels of ritual usage besides the primitive clay ' horns
of consecration ' in the Early Minoan votive deposit of Mochlos.1
Recent supplementary excavations in the Loom-Weight Area at Knossos2 Votive
revealed, beneath a plaster floor of M. M. I a date, a stratum, probably of the qaTle'
last Early Minoan Period, in which together with remains of cups and other frrom
r i 1 111' Knossos.
pottery of that date3 was found the remarkable clay vessel, Fig. 460.
Although brought out in a friable condition and somewhat distorted, its spade-
like shape is clearly preserved and it unquestionably supplies the immediate
prototype of the stone 'ladies' associated with the High Places of Knossos,
and which, as will be shown, belong to M. M. III. That this clay vessel
had also a religious destination may be inferred. We are tempted to recall
the sacramental spoons used in the Oriental Catholic rites.
In 1909, as noticed above, I undertook the excavation of the structure
on the summit ridge 4 at the spot which later tradition held to be the Holy
Sepulchre of the Cretan Zeus. It proved in fact to be a ' Casa Santa ' of
the Minoan Goddess. Here, in the red stratum, amongst votive objects
of the M. M. Ill Period, was brought out a fragmentary specimen of
a similar limestone vessel much injured by fire, upon which were decipher-
able two linear characters 5 and traces of a third (Fig. 461).
But a much fuller inscription occurred on a votive stone ladle of similar
form and material that was brought to light, in this case, too, amidst
M. M. Ill pottery, in a lower sanctuary of the same cult, situated on a foot-
hill at Trullos near Arkhanes, an important Minoan centre with a small
Palace of its own,6 and a natural starting-place for pilgrimages to the Peak
1 See Seager, Mochlos, p. 82, and above
P- 57> Fig. 16, a, b.
- Executed for me by Dr. Mackenzie in Sep-
tember 1920. Dr. Mackenzie regards the early-
deposit that contained the 1 ladle ' as consisting
of filling material.
3 The cups had two bands round the rim and
answeredtotheE.M. Ill version of the Knossian
type reproduced above on p. 73, Fig. 40. (The
cup in the top row and the first of the second.)
4 See above, p. 154 seqq.
5 The first character, which is of constant
recurrence, is certainly derived from the double-
axe sign (Table, Fig. 476, below, No. 29). The
second is found on the H. Triada tablets of
Class A, and also on Knossian tablets of Class B.
(Table, No. 28, variant.) The third seems to.
be No. 67 of the Table.
G The orthostatic limestone facade of this
building underlies the house-fronts of a main
limestone vessels of a peculiar type. These vessels, which have a pointed ^scribed
spade-like outline with a shallow basin within (see below, Fig. 461) and are stone
about 10 centimetres by 8 in dimensions, have the appearance of ladles l^es
the handles of which have become atrophied by their use for votive Sanc-
. . „ . , • 1 ' 1 in r tuaries of
purposes, day ladles, some with comparatively short handles, are 01 Knossos.
frequent occurrence in the Neolithic deposits of Knossos and they appear
amongst other vessels of ritual usage besides the primitive clay ' horns
of consecration ' in the Early Minoan votive deposit of Mochlos.1
Recent supplementary excavations in the Loom-Weight Area at Knossos2 Votive
revealed, beneath a plaster floor of M. M. I a date, a stratum, probably of the qaTle'
last Early Minoan Period, in which together with remains of cups and other frrom
r i 1 111' Knossos.
pottery of that date3 was found the remarkable clay vessel, Fig. 460.
Although brought out in a friable condition and somewhat distorted, its spade-
like shape is clearly preserved and it unquestionably supplies the immediate
prototype of the stone 'ladies' associated with the High Places of Knossos,
and which, as will be shown, belong to M. M. III. That this clay vessel
had also a religious destination may be inferred. We are tempted to recall
the sacramental spoons used in the Oriental Catholic rites.
In 1909, as noticed above, I undertook the excavation of the structure
on the summit ridge 4 at the spot which later tradition held to be the Holy
Sepulchre of the Cretan Zeus. It proved in fact to be a ' Casa Santa ' of
the Minoan Goddess. Here, in the red stratum, amongst votive objects
of the M. M. Ill Period, was brought out a fragmentary specimen of
a similar limestone vessel much injured by fire, upon which were decipher-
able two linear characters 5 and traces of a third (Fig. 461).
But a much fuller inscription occurred on a votive stone ladle of similar
form and material that was brought to light, in this case, too, amidst
M. M. Ill pottery, in a lower sanctuary of the same cult, situated on a foot-
hill at Trullos near Arkhanes, an important Minoan centre with a small
Palace of its own,6 and a natural starting-place for pilgrimages to the Peak
1 See Seager, Mochlos, p. 82, and above
P- 57> Fig. 16, a, b.
- Executed for me by Dr. Mackenzie in Sep-
tember 1920. Dr. Mackenzie regards the early-
deposit that contained the 1 ladle ' as consisting
of filling material.
3 The cups had two bands round the rim and
answeredtotheE.M. Ill version of the Knossian
type reproduced above on p. 73, Fig. 40. (The
cup in the top row and the first of the second.)
4 See above, p. 154 seqq.
5 The first character, which is of constant
recurrence, is certainly derived from the double-
axe sign (Table, Fig. 476, below, No. 29). The
second is found on the H. Triada tablets of
Class A, and also on Knossian tablets of Class B.
(Table, No. 28, variant.) The third seems to.
be No. 67 of the Table.
G The orthostatic limestone facade of this
building underlies the house-fronts of a main