DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.808#0022
20
ARTHUR EVANS
llfKt
Wmh
rendering of hilly ground. On one very significant example the plant lies
prone beside a chalice, while, above it, appears the rayed disk representing
the sun « (Fig. 21).
In the case of the one-handled jugs seen on this amuletic class of gems
the exaggeration of the beak and frequent attenuation of the neck no doubt
attest the influence of gourd types in the country districts. But the proto-
type of the finest class of jugs, illustrating their metallic origin, is seen in a
solitary position on a face of a three-
sided cornelian bead-seal belonging to a
slightly earlier date (M.M. III.), and this
in turn shows a certain parallelism, so far
as its neck and body goes, with that held
in the hands of the votary on the Thisbe
specimen (Fig. 19, above).
What we have here to deal with then
are more elaborate illustrations of rain-
compelling rites, to which we may trace
an allusion in the simpler amuletic types
of slightly earlier date. These amulets,
in fact, belong, as already noted, to the
transitional M.M. III.—L.M. I. phase,
and probably also to the early part of L.M. I. If we may take the gold intaglio
as belonging approximately to the same age as the clay seal-impression from
Knossos, we approach a date coeval with the later Palace there.
An apposite parallel to these designs, moreover, is afforded by another
more or less contemporary group of intaglio types in which the same handled
jugs and ewers are seen in the hands of the beneficent Minoan Genii, them-
selves undoubtedly in their original form taken over from the Hippopotamus
Goddess Taurt,50 especially in her impersonation as Reret. A principal
function of these Genii is the bringing down of rain by the ceremonial
pouring of water or other liquid contents of such vessels on altar blocks and
heaps of stones, or into cauldrons resting on columns.51 On a gem from the
Vapheio Tomb (Fig. 22) stand two of these kindly daemons of the leonine type,
facing each other symmetrically—in accordance with the heraldic schemes
then coming into vogue—on either side of a pedestaled basin. Bach of these
holds up a ewer, while behind are three shoots of what seems to be a nursling
palm-tree, its sacred character marked by the ' Horns of Consecration' that
are set in front of it. The basin here is too shallow to admit the supposition
Fig. 21.—Amuletic Bead-seal show-
ing Two-handled Chalice Plant
and Sun. (t)
49 On a pink cornelian amygdaloid bead
from H. Andonis near Goulas, obtained
by me in 1894 (see Cretan Pictographs,
pp. 8, 9).
50 This derivation was originally sug-
gested by Winter {Arch. Anzeiger, 1890, p.
108). It is now supported by the early
appearance of Taurt on the imitative
steatite scarab found in the smaller tholos
at Platanos belonging to the early part of
the Middle Minoan Period (see P. of M.,
i. p. 200, and Fig. 148). For the con-
nexion with Reret I must refer to my
observations in the forthcoming second
volume of * The Palace of Minos,' where
the whole question of the Minoan Genii
will receive special treatment.
51 Some representations of these scenes
are given in my Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult,
p. 19.
ARTHUR EVANS
llfKt
Wmh
rendering of hilly ground. On one very significant example the plant lies
prone beside a chalice, while, above it, appears the rayed disk representing
the sun « (Fig. 21).
In the case of the one-handled jugs seen on this amuletic class of gems
the exaggeration of the beak and frequent attenuation of the neck no doubt
attest the influence of gourd types in the country districts. But the proto-
type of the finest class of jugs, illustrating their metallic origin, is seen in a
solitary position on a face of a three-
sided cornelian bead-seal belonging to a
slightly earlier date (M.M. III.), and this
in turn shows a certain parallelism, so far
as its neck and body goes, with that held
in the hands of the votary on the Thisbe
specimen (Fig. 19, above).
What we have here to deal with then
are more elaborate illustrations of rain-
compelling rites, to which we may trace
an allusion in the simpler amuletic types
of slightly earlier date. These amulets,
in fact, belong, as already noted, to the
transitional M.M. III.—L.M. I. phase,
and probably also to the early part of L.M. I. If we may take the gold intaglio
as belonging approximately to the same age as the clay seal-impression from
Knossos, we approach a date coeval with the later Palace there.
An apposite parallel to these designs, moreover, is afforded by another
more or less contemporary group of intaglio types in which the same handled
jugs and ewers are seen in the hands of the beneficent Minoan Genii, them-
selves undoubtedly in their original form taken over from the Hippopotamus
Goddess Taurt,50 especially in her impersonation as Reret. A principal
function of these Genii is the bringing down of rain by the ceremonial
pouring of water or other liquid contents of such vessels on altar blocks and
heaps of stones, or into cauldrons resting on columns.51 On a gem from the
Vapheio Tomb (Fig. 22) stand two of these kindly daemons of the leonine type,
facing each other symmetrically—in accordance with the heraldic schemes
then coming into vogue—on either side of a pedestaled basin. Bach of these
holds up a ewer, while behind are three shoots of what seems to be a nursling
palm-tree, its sacred character marked by the ' Horns of Consecration' that
are set in front of it. The basin here is too shallow to admit the supposition
Fig. 21.—Amuletic Bead-seal show-
ing Two-handled Chalice Plant
and Sun. (t)
49 On a pink cornelian amygdaloid bead
from H. Andonis near Goulas, obtained
by me in 1894 (see Cretan Pictographs,
pp. 8, 9).
50 This derivation was originally sug-
gested by Winter {Arch. Anzeiger, 1890, p.
108). It is now supported by the early
appearance of Taurt on the imitative
steatite scarab found in the smaller tholos
at Platanos belonging to the early part of
the Middle Minoan Period (see P. of M.,
i. p. 200, and Fig. 148). For the con-
nexion with Reret I must refer to my
observations in the forthcoming second
volume of * The Palace of Minos,' where
the whole question of the Minoan Genii
will receive special treatment.
51 Some representations of these scenes
are given in my Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult,
p. 19.