DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0063
CONNEXIONS: LIBYAN AND EGYPTIAN FACTORS 39
within a stone circle, supplying the origin of such finished monuments as the
circular tomb of Kubbah (Cyrenaica), of the Medrasen and the ' Tombeau
de la Chretienne',—mausolea which, while African in origin, are wholly
classical in execution. But the prototype represents in fact the traditional Derived
form of the Libyan 'beehive' huts so well known to the Romans as the hive huts:
mapalia} It is interesting to find St. Jerome referring to these African maPalm-
huts as resembling furni or ' ovens ',2 the name (cpovpves) by which the
smaller ' beehive ' tombs are still known to the Cretan peasants.
The primitive Iholos ossuaries of Mesara, of which Fig. 17, d 1-3, Mesara
from Kumasa is a good example,3 show idiosyncrasies of their own and affiliated
the walled enclosure before the doorway presents a nearer approach to the toLlbvan-
pit entrance of half-sunken troglodytic dwellings in which we must seek the
prototype of both series. There can be little doubt, however, of their
affiliation to the much more widely distributed group on the farther shores
of the Libyan Sea. In Crete we see them prevalent in a distinct geographical
area4 which, in historic times at least, lay in direct connexion with the ports
that were the chief goals of maritime intercourse with Cyrene and Egypt.
Gortyna, which lay within its limits, was indeed the seat of the Governors of
the joint province of Crete and Cyrene, Matala near Cape Lithinos being
its naval arsenal, while the health resort that clustered round the celebrated
shrine of Asklepios at Lebena on the coast to the South-East of this was
a colonial plantation of a Cyrenaic sanctuary6 and a place of pilgrimage for
Libyan visitors.
When it is borne in mind that the beehive tombs of Mesara must Early
have presupposed some circular type of dwellings, such as the African house
mapalia, their exotic character on Cretan soil becomes the more apparent. ** *"'r
Wigwam-like structures, indeed, with wooden posts seem to have existed in
Minoan Crete in a religious connexion,6 supplying a parallel to the ' House of
Vesta'.. It is also to be observed that the shepherds of Mt. Ida make for
1 See, especially E. Babelon, Art.' Mapalia', 5 Paus. ii. 26; Philostratus, Vit. Apollonii,
in Daremberg et Saglio, Diet, des Antiquite's. ix, n. The name of Balagrae (BaXdypcu), the
2 In Prol. Amos, ' Agrestes quidem casas et parent foundation in Cyrene, is connected by
furnorum similes quas Afri appellant mapalia'. Bates, op. at., p. 185, with the Semitic Ba'al-
3 The site was visited by me in July, 1923, keren recalling the Saturnus Balcarensis of
and the above plans and sections were made Punic monuments. But the 'Iai-pos of Leben
by Mr. Piet de Jong. suggests Eshmun.
4 See Diagrammatic Map, opp. p. 71; 6 P.ofM., \, p. 674, Fig. 493. For a cir-
marked by red circles. I have since (1925) cular hut-urn containing a figure of theGoddess,
observed one at Krasi, near the North coast see below, p. 129, Fig. 63.
of Central Crete.
square.
within a stone circle, supplying the origin of such finished monuments as the
circular tomb of Kubbah (Cyrenaica), of the Medrasen and the ' Tombeau
de la Chretienne',—mausolea which, while African in origin, are wholly
classical in execution. But the prototype represents in fact the traditional Derived
form of the Libyan 'beehive' huts so well known to the Romans as the hive huts:
mapalia} It is interesting to find St. Jerome referring to these African maPalm-
huts as resembling furni or ' ovens ',2 the name (cpovpves) by which the
smaller ' beehive ' tombs are still known to the Cretan peasants.
The primitive Iholos ossuaries of Mesara, of which Fig. 17, d 1-3, Mesara
from Kumasa is a good example,3 show idiosyncrasies of their own and affiliated
the walled enclosure before the doorway presents a nearer approach to the toLlbvan-
pit entrance of half-sunken troglodytic dwellings in which we must seek the
prototype of both series. There can be little doubt, however, of their
affiliation to the much more widely distributed group on the farther shores
of the Libyan Sea. In Crete we see them prevalent in a distinct geographical
area4 which, in historic times at least, lay in direct connexion with the ports
that were the chief goals of maritime intercourse with Cyrene and Egypt.
Gortyna, which lay within its limits, was indeed the seat of the Governors of
the joint province of Crete and Cyrene, Matala near Cape Lithinos being
its naval arsenal, while the health resort that clustered round the celebrated
shrine of Asklepios at Lebena on the coast to the South-East of this was
a colonial plantation of a Cyrenaic sanctuary6 and a place of pilgrimage for
Libyan visitors.
When it is borne in mind that the beehive tombs of Mesara must Early
have presupposed some circular type of dwellings, such as the African house
mapalia, their exotic character on Cretan soil becomes the more apparent. ** *"'r
Wigwam-like structures, indeed, with wooden posts seem to have existed in
Minoan Crete in a religious connexion,6 supplying a parallel to the ' House of
Vesta'.. It is also to be observed that the shepherds of Mt. Ida make for
1 See, especially E. Babelon, Art.' Mapalia', 5 Paus. ii. 26; Philostratus, Vit. Apollonii,
in Daremberg et Saglio, Diet, des Antiquite's. ix, n. The name of Balagrae (BaXdypcu), the
2 In Prol. Amos, ' Agrestes quidem casas et parent foundation in Cyrene, is connected by
furnorum similes quas Afri appellant mapalia'. Bates, op. at., p. 185, with the Semitic Ba'al-
3 The site was visited by me in July, 1923, keren recalling the Saturnus Balcarensis of
and the above plans and sections were made Punic monuments. But the 'Iai-pos of Leben
by Mr. Piet de Jong. suggests Eshmun.
4 See Diagrammatic Map, opp. p. 71; 6 P.ofM., \, p. 674, Fig. 493. For a cir-
marked by red circles. I have since (1925) cular hut-urn containing a figure of theGoddess,
observed one at Krasi, near the North coast see below, p. 129, Fig. 63.
of Central Crete.
square.