DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0080
56
IMPULSE FROM THE SOUTH : EARLY NILOTIC
Fresh
examples
of proto-
dynastic
stone
vases
from
Knossos.
Carin
ated
bowls.
Liparite
vessels.
The evidences of this persistent influence show that the new political
conditions did not affect the intercourse between the Nile Valley and Crete.
Mena's conquest of the Delta seems, indeed, to have been ' legitimized' by his
marriage with the Saite Princess Hetep, who brought with her a number of
native attendants, so that, as we see from her tomb at Abydos,' the domestics
and harem of the King belonged to Neith-worshipping Libyans V
Vases of hard materials, maintaining the tradition of the pre-dynastic
fabrics, continued to be imported, and a bowl from the site of Knossos of
hornblende porphyry ascribed to the Second Dynasty has been already
illustrated.2 Copies of proto-dynastic shapes also begin to occur executed in
variegated native rocks. But we are once more confronted with the remark-
able phenomenon that hitherto the only find-spot of these in Crete has been
the site of Knossos.
This evidence of Egyptian contact attains a maximum in the great days
of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties, an epoch of much ship-building activity
on the part of the Pharaohs.3 Several more fragments have come to light
of fine carinated bowls of translucent diorite. These, as already shown, are
hardly distinguishable in form from those from the tomb of King Sneferu
(Snofru), c. 2840-2820 B.C.,4 or the Temple of King Sahure (c. 2673-2661).
But a special interest attaches to the fragment of a similar bowl in 'liparite ',
the obsidian of the Aeolian Islands, already illustrated,5 from the fact that
although executed with the finish and sharply defined carination of these
royal Egyptian models there is every reason for supposing that it was actually
made on the site of Knossos. This variety of volcanic glass is unknown in
Egypt, but a large lump of it in its natural state, 43 centimetres high, was
brought to light beneath a M. M. II floor in the N.W. Quarter of the
Palace, and, difficult to attack as is this material, there is evidence that
a series of exquisite works were wrought out of it by the Minoan craftsmen
at a later date, including the beautiful Dolium shell found at Hagia Triada.6
A proof of the vogue of these carinated bowls at Knossos during the age
1 Newberry, P. S. B. A., 1906, p. 69, n. 8.
The ' Narmer' of the numerous tombstones
there found is, as Newberry has shown (9th
Address to Section H, Brit. Ass., 1923, p. 22,
n. 21), identical with Mena.
2 P. ofM., i, p. 67, Fig. 32.
s See Borchardt, Grabdenkmal des Konigs
Sahure (Leipzig, 1913), and Assmann's Com-
mentary.
4 See P. of 31., i, pp. 85, 86, and Figs.
54, 55.
5 P. 86, Fig. 55 (restored section of bowl),
p. 178, Fig. 127, e.
6 Part of an ewer with spiraliform reliefs of
early M. M. Ill date was found in the N. Lustral
area. P. of M., i, p. 412. A pear-shaped
' rhyton' from Tylissos affords on the other
hand a magnificent example of a Minoan work
in the black obsidian of Melos.
IMPULSE FROM THE SOUTH : EARLY NILOTIC
Fresh
examples
of proto-
dynastic
stone
vases
from
Knossos.
Carin
ated
bowls.
Liparite
vessels.
The evidences of this persistent influence show that the new political
conditions did not affect the intercourse between the Nile Valley and Crete.
Mena's conquest of the Delta seems, indeed, to have been ' legitimized' by his
marriage with the Saite Princess Hetep, who brought with her a number of
native attendants, so that, as we see from her tomb at Abydos,' the domestics
and harem of the King belonged to Neith-worshipping Libyans V
Vases of hard materials, maintaining the tradition of the pre-dynastic
fabrics, continued to be imported, and a bowl from the site of Knossos of
hornblende porphyry ascribed to the Second Dynasty has been already
illustrated.2 Copies of proto-dynastic shapes also begin to occur executed in
variegated native rocks. But we are once more confronted with the remark-
able phenomenon that hitherto the only find-spot of these in Crete has been
the site of Knossos.
This evidence of Egyptian contact attains a maximum in the great days
of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties, an epoch of much ship-building activity
on the part of the Pharaohs.3 Several more fragments have come to light
of fine carinated bowls of translucent diorite. These, as already shown, are
hardly distinguishable in form from those from the tomb of King Sneferu
(Snofru), c. 2840-2820 B.C.,4 or the Temple of King Sahure (c. 2673-2661).
But a special interest attaches to the fragment of a similar bowl in 'liparite ',
the obsidian of the Aeolian Islands, already illustrated,5 from the fact that
although executed with the finish and sharply defined carination of these
royal Egyptian models there is every reason for supposing that it was actually
made on the site of Knossos. This variety of volcanic glass is unknown in
Egypt, but a large lump of it in its natural state, 43 centimetres high, was
brought to light beneath a M. M. II floor in the N.W. Quarter of the
Palace, and, difficult to attack as is this material, there is evidence that
a series of exquisite works were wrought out of it by the Minoan craftsmen
at a later date, including the beautiful Dolium shell found at Hagia Triada.6
A proof of the vogue of these carinated bowls at Knossos during the age
1 Newberry, P. S. B. A., 1906, p. 69, n. 8.
The ' Narmer' of the numerous tombstones
there found is, as Newberry has shown (9th
Address to Section H, Brit. Ass., 1923, p. 22,
n. 21), identical with Mena.
2 P. ofM., i, p. 67, Fig. 32.
s See Borchardt, Grabdenkmal des Konigs
Sahure (Leipzig, 1913), and Assmann's Com-
mentary.
4 See P. of 31., i, pp. 85, 86, and Figs.
54, 55.
5 P. 86, Fig. 55 (restored section of bowl),
p. 178, Fig. 127, e.
6 Part of an ewer with spiraliform reliefs of
early M. M. Ill date was found in the N. Lustral
area. P. of M., i, p. 412. A pear-shaped
' rhyton' from Tylissos affords on the other
hand a magnificent example of a Minoan work
in the black obsidian of Melos.