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)

§ 3i. M. M. Ill : (P). Seal Types and their Relations with

Greater Art.

Change in Signet types—no longer present inscriptions; Survivals of
hieroglyphic prism seals ; Lentoid and amygdaloid dead-seals ; Signet rings as
those of I Vth Shaft Grave—impressions of such ; Gems of Sphungaras Urns-—
Talismauic Class ; ' MilkStones'; Architectural, pillared and gabled, class—
Rustic Shrines ; Intaglios on ' Flattened Cylinders '; Plated Steatite example
and parallel supplied by rhyton fragment ; Fisherman and 1 Skaros ' fish ;
Repository Hoard of Clay Seal-impressions—unique chronological value;
Contemporary Hoards of Zakro and Hagia Triada ; Specimens of Costume
and armour on Sealings of these Hoards ; Male types with flowing apron—
illustrated by votive figurine; The 'Ritual Cuirass'; Other contemporary
finds of Sealings at Knossos ; Use of Sieves in Excavation ; Religious types
from Repository; Horned sheep—a nurse of infant God; Architectonic
setting ; Triple gradation beneath Bull-hunting scenes—taken from supports of
friezes; Triply graduated supports of Palace Reliefs; Illustrations from
Steatite rhytons; Columns between agonistic groups—pugilist and column on
Sealing; Column equivalent of Grand Stand or Theatre; Fragment of
Knossian rhyton; The fallen champion of Boxing Ring ; Gladiatorial Scene
on Sealing; Wounded champion supported on one arm • Scene of Combatants
on Mycenae Signet adapted from agonistic episodes; Ultimate influence of
Minoau Theairal episodes on Epic imagery ; Episodes of Bull ring on signets
taken over from frescoes and reliefs ; Excerpts from Cattle Pieces ; Various
types of Repository Sealings; Instantaneous impressions of Nature; Proto-
type of Scylla—Sea monster on Mycenae rhyton ; Comparisons with Zakro
seal-types ; Middle Minoan and Early Egyptian Elements.

Together with the coming in of the new system of writing there makes Change
itself apparent a revolutionary change in the fashions of signets. With the xypes.'
cessation of the hieroglyphic form of script the custom of engraving single
hieroglyphs or groups of signs on seals was also given up. The pictorial
character of the earlier signs, enhanced as it wras by decorative flourishes, in
itself afforded quite elegant signet types. But the new linear class had not
such aesthetic qualities. Seal-stones with linear inscriptions are practically
unknown at this Period, though a single example, a green steatite bead of