DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.808#0029
'THE RING OF NESTOR,' ETC.
27
gold bead, with a row of vertical strokes below it, resembling thus the border
of No. 30. The double line itself recurs on all this group of bead-seals (Nos. 6-
10), the minute correspondence in the execution of which point to the hand
of the same engraver.
IV. Elongated Oval Bead-seals of Abnormal Length (Nos. 11-13).
The gold intaglios of this class must be regarded as unique both in their
form and their dimensions. Whereas the preceding, somewhat flat amygdaloid
beads are regularly 22 mm. in length, the specimens of this group are in each
case as nearly as possible 37 mm., or almost double the length of the others.
Their face is exceptionally bossed and their backs display the triple ' bevelling '
of the preceding class in a much stronger degree (see Fig. 2). Their breadth
ranges from 17 mm. in the case of No. 13, and 18 mm. in No. 11, to 22 mm.
in No. 12. Small apertures in the plating of Nos. 11 and 12 show that there
was a hollow space in their interior.
All the intaglios of this group are of a heroic character and present
scenes either of an epic or an actually historic character.
Fig. 31.—Young Prince attacking Sphinx. From Impression.
No. 11, PL III. 1, Fig. 31. Weight 13-27 gm. Youthful Prince attacking Sphinx.
To the left of the field is a very finely executed figure, in whom we cannot
fail to recognise a young prince, holding a dagger or short sword in his right
hand (as seen in the intaglio, Fig. 32). This he has drawn from a sheath
slung round his shoulder behind him, and runs forward, his left hand out-
stretched, to encounter the Sphinx. On her side the monster, whose fore-feet
show redoubtable claws, raises herself on her haunches and awaits the
onslaught, her head turned towards the aggressor.
The youthful hero is bareheaded, with long locks falling down behind.
Above his forehead, however, he seems to wear some kind of circlet from which
pendants of oval form fall about the side and back of his head. The upper part
of his body is clad in a close-fitting, short-sleeved corslet, evidently of some hairy
material, and this, after being confined at the waist by a narrow belt, seems to
27
gold bead, with a row of vertical strokes below it, resembling thus the border
of No. 30. The double line itself recurs on all this group of bead-seals (Nos. 6-
10), the minute correspondence in the execution of which point to the hand
of the same engraver.
IV. Elongated Oval Bead-seals of Abnormal Length (Nos. 11-13).
The gold intaglios of this class must be regarded as unique both in their
form and their dimensions. Whereas the preceding, somewhat flat amygdaloid
beads are regularly 22 mm. in length, the specimens of this group are in each
case as nearly as possible 37 mm., or almost double the length of the others.
Their face is exceptionally bossed and their backs display the triple ' bevelling '
of the preceding class in a much stronger degree (see Fig. 2). Their breadth
ranges from 17 mm. in the case of No. 13, and 18 mm. in No. 11, to 22 mm.
in No. 12. Small apertures in the plating of Nos. 11 and 12 show that there
was a hollow space in their interior.
All the intaglios of this group are of a heroic character and present
scenes either of an epic or an actually historic character.
Fig. 31.—Young Prince attacking Sphinx. From Impression.
No. 11, PL III. 1, Fig. 31. Weight 13-27 gm. Youthful Prince attacking Sphinx.
To the left of the field is a very finely executed figure, in whom we cannot
fail to recognise a young prince, holding a dagger or short sword in his right
hand (as seen in the intaglio, Fig. 32). This he has drawn from a sheath
slung round his shoulder behind him, and runs forward, his left hand out-
stretched, to encounter the Sphinx. On her side the monster, whose fore-feet
show redoubtable claws, raises herself on her haunches and awaits the
onslaught, her head turned towards the aggressor.
The youthful hero is bareheaded, with long locks falling down behind.
Above his forehead, however, he seems to wear some kind of circlet from which
pendants of oval form fall about the side and back of his head. The upper part
of his body is clad in a close-fitting, short-sleeved corslet, evidently of some hairy
material, and this, after being confined at the waist by a narrow belt, seems to