DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.809#0145
120
CARAVANSERAI' BY ROAD-HEAD
Waste
duct from
bath.
Painted
decora-
tion of
bath
compart-
ment.
the yard and forming a junction, near the presumed course of the Minoan
roadway, with the drain or conduit that conveyed the superfluous water from
the neighbouring Spring-Chamber. (See Plan, Fig. 57.)
But this does not complete the record of this elaborate water system.
In order to empty out the bath basin, conveniently, it may be supposed, for
cleaning purposes, a round hole was bored in the slab that occupies its N.E.
corner, leading to a drain below. This may have been originally stopped by
a removable wooden plug, but in the closing Late Minoan Period, when the
bath was converted into a mere tank, the vent-hole was permanently blocked
by the insertion into the gypsum slab of a close-fitting limestone disk.
From what has been said above it will be seen that no less than six
ducts of various kinds contributed to the water system of this single chamber.
It would be hard to find a better example of the Minoan delight in hydraulic
devices.
The elegant fabric of the bath itself and the surrounding stone benches
was maintained by the rest of the structure. There is evidence, moreover,
that the style of painted decoration wras closely similar to that of the adjoin-
ing Pavilion. The face of the block nearest to the line of the steps on the
East wall, which is common to the Pavilion, shows a shallow cutting back
of 15 mm. for the reception of painted plaster, answering to one in line with
it on the Pavilion side, and the whole wall beyond, as in the other case, has
been faced up with this slight recess. This block, moreover, bears on it the
same white stucco, and, at its S. end, traces of part of a painted pillar like those
that support the Partridge Frieze. Whether in this case the same subject
was repeated above there is no evidence to decide, but the bathing com-
partment clearly formed part of the same scheme of decoration.
This foot-washing compartment was really a kind of narrow hall,
5-75 metres long and only 2-10 m. wide, open at both ends so as to give
free access to the bath both from the road front and from what seems to
have been a more private paved Court to the South. Its roof, like that of
the adjoining Pavilion, probably supported a room above, fitting on to the
upper floor system of the part of the building that stood on the terrace
level, and which would have opened on the finely cemented roof-flat of the
single story above the basements. (See Restored View, Fig. 55.)
Room of Clay Bath-tubs, and Indications of Hot-water Supply.
Chamber Immediately West of this the line of facade takes a slight inward bend,
bath-C ay and a doorway from the yard on this section gives access to a somewhat
tubs. irregularly disposed room, about 5 metres wide, the back part of which has
CARAVANSERAI' BY ROAD-HEAD
Waste
duct from
bath.
Painted
decora-
tion of
bath
compart-
ment.
the yard and forming a junction, near the presumed course of the Minoan
roadway, with the drain or conduit that conveyed the superfluous water from
the neighbouring Spring-Chamber. (See Plan, Fig. 57.)
But this does not complete the record of this elaborate water system.
In order to empty out the bath basin, conveniently, it may be supposed, for
cleaning purposes, a round hole was bored in the slab that occupies its N.E.
corner, leading to a drain below. This may have been originally stopped by
a removable wooden plug, but in the closing Late Minoan Period, when the
bath was converted into a mere tank, the vent-hole was permanently blocked
by the insertion into the gypsum slab of a close-fitting limestone disk.
From what has been said above it will be seen that no less than six
ducts of various kinds contributed to the water system of this single chamber.
It would be hard to find a better example of the Minoan delight in hydraulic
devices.
The elegant fabric of the bath itself and the surrounding stone benches
was maintained by the rest of the structure. There is evidence, moreover,
that the style of painted decoration wras closely similar to that of the adjoin-
ing Pavilion. The face of the block nearest to the line of the steps on the
East wall, which is common to the Pavilion, shows a shallow cutting back
of 15 mm. for the reception of painted plaster, answering to one in line with
it on the Pavilion side, and the whole wall beyond, as in the other case, has
been faced up with this slight recess. This block, moreover, bears on it the
same white stucco, and, at its S. end, traces of part of a painted pillar like those
that support the Partridge Frieze. Whether in this case the same subject
was repeated above there is no evidence to decide, but the bathing com-
partment clearly formed part of the same scheme of decoration.
This foot-washing compartment was really a kind of narrow hall,
5-75 metres long and only 2-10 m. wide, open at both ends so as to give
free access to the bath both from the road front and from what seems to
have been a more private paved Court to the South. Its roof, like that of
the adjoining Pavilion, probably supported a room above, fitting on to the
upper floor system of the part of the building that stood on the terrace
level, and which would have opened on the finely cemented roof-flat of the
single story above the basements. (See Restored View, Fig. 55.)
Room of Clay Bath-tubs, and Indications of Hot-water Supply.
Chamber Immediately West of this the line of facade takes a slight inward bend,
bath-C ay and a doorway from the yard on this section gives access to a somewhat
tubs. irregularly disposed room, about 5 metres wide, the back part of which has