DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0677
M. M. Ill : LINEAR SCRIPT A AND ITS SACRAL USAGE 631
later times was a sanctuary of the indigenous God under the name of Zeus
Arbios.1 The steatite libation tables found in the Temple Repository and
elsewhere in the Palace Sanctuary of Knossos were of the same class.
It is also a remarkable coincidence that a fragment of a steatite cup,2 Also on
found at Palaikastro itself in the course of the excavations by the British cup.Ute
School, presents an incised inscription of four characters (Fig. 469), three of
which correspond with those of the ^ ^ ^ ^ |, except that the last sign is
shown in a reverse position. The first sign of this, which here replaces the
Fig. 469. Sign-group on Steatite Cup, Palaikastro.
is derived below (Fig. 477 d) from the double-axe symbol. That the cup
belonged to a votive class seems highly probable.
In all these cases we seem to have to do with dedicatory inscriptions, These
BYYOI Dedica-
A A j I and the last tory
mentioned formula which so largely repeats it may not contain an actual nected0""
reference to the Minoan divinity with whom the cult was associated. with Cult
A comparison of the relics found alike in the Cave Sanctuary or on the Goddess,
crags of Juktas, and it may be added in the Palace of Knossos itself, points
in fact to a fundamental identity of worship. In the Cave, indeed, the
votive clay figurines of the peak-shrine are largely replaced by bronze, and
1 Steph. Byz., s. v. at Palaikastro. The inscription has been pub-
2 The fragment seems to have belonged to lished in connexion with the Trullos vessel by
a specimen of a class of single-handled steatite Dr. S. Xanthudides in 'E</>. 'A/jx-j 1909, p. 192,
cups with a spout opposite the handle, common Fig. 6.
later times was a sanctuary of the indigenous God under the name of Zeus
Arbios.1 The steatite libation tables found in the Temple Repository and
elsewhere in the Palace Sanctuary of Knossos were of the same class.
It is also a remarkable coincidence that a fragment of a steatite cup,2 Also on
found at Palaikastro itself in the course of the excavations by the British cup.Ute
School, presents an incised inscription of four characters (Fig. 469), three of
which correspond with those of the ^ ^ ^ ^ |, except that the last sign is
shown in a reverse position. The first sign of this, which here replaces the
Fig. 469. Sign-group on Steatite Cup, Palaikastro.
is derived below (Fig. 477 d) from the double-axe symbol. That the cup
belonged to a votive class seems highly probable.
In all these cases we seem to have to do with dedicatory inscriptions, These
BYYOI Dedica-
A A j I and the last tory
mentioned formula which so largely repeats it may not contain an actual nected0""
reference to the Minoan divinity with whom the cult was associated. with Cult
A comparison of the relics found alike in the Cave Sanctuary or on the Goddess,
crags of Juktas, and it may be added in the Palace of Knossos itself, points
in fact to a fundamental identity of worship. In the Cave, indeed, the
votive clay figurines of the peak-shrine are largely replaced by bronze, and
1 Steph. Byz., s. v. at Palaikastro. The inscription has been pub-
2 The fragment seems to have belonged to lished in connexion with the Trullos vessel by
a specimen of a class of single-handled steatite Dr. S. Xanthudides in 'E</>. 'A/jx-j 1909, p. 192,
cups with a spout opposite the handle, common Fig. 6.