DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.810#0143
'LITTLE PALACE': SUITE OF RECEPTION ROOMS 517
Stately Suite of Reception Rooms.
The approach led to what was evidently an entrance hall with a gypsum Entrance
,. . ... , , . . system.
pavement surrounding a central rectangle ot iron-stone slabs, arranged in
the ' mosaiko ' manner, and doubtless originally covered with painted plaster.
From this entrance hall stepped doorways led to another hall of larger
dimensions about 10-75 metres South to North by 8-30 metres wide—and
of more imposing design, the central feature of which was a square peristyle
with eight columns, the stylobate of which surrounded a similar 'mosaiko'
pavement. This ' Hall of the Peristyle' led in turn to the Megaron proper, Peristyle
divided into two sections by door-piers of the usual kind, each with a similar Mega-
' mosaiko' panel. Each of these sections opened on the East side through ron'
triple doorways into a paved corridor. The outer border of this consisted of
a stylobate with two double groups of columns between square piers. Whether
this colonnade originally bordered a court on the same level or stood, as
now, on a terrace edge is uncertain, since, immediately beyond, this part of
site had been made use of by later builders in the Hellenistic Age to construct
what may have been a Heroon, on a lower level.1
The two sections of the Megaron were thus lighted from two sides like Magnifi-
cent suite
the East end of the ' Hall of the Double Axes '. Its length was 13-45 metres,2 0f halls.
or, including the ' Hall of the Peristyle', 24-34 metres—about 78 feet—
forming a truly palatial reception room. Taken in connexion with the
' Hall of the Stepped Doorways' through which it was approached, we have
here, in fact, a magnificent suite, unrivalled by any other Minoan building,
not excepting the Great Palace itself. Its innermost section opened on the
left on a smaller room which, from the stone sink visible at its farther end,
had clearly served as a lavatory. A conduit ran from the sink to a larger
drain outside the wall.
The first section of the ' Hall of the Peristyle' opened to the West on Lobby
a lobby, lit by means of a single-columned balustrade, and small light-well, staircase.
and giving access to the main staircase, of which two flights of twelve steps
each and some remains of a third were preserved, though they had sunken
below their original level. West, again, the lobby led through a little
passage room into a small square Court, affording light to the surrounding
1 A small limestone relief representing a Roman paved causeway stepping up North,
riding youth, clad in a chlamys and greeted by - The covered part of this Megaron em-
a female figure, in a good Hellenistic style was braces an area of about 103 square metres
found here, and votive terra-cottas of eques- as compared with 147 in the case of the 'Hall
trian and other figures also came to light. A of the Double Axes '.
little to the East of this is what appears to be
Stately Suite of Reception Rooms.
The approach led to what was evidently an entrance hall with a gypsum Entrance
,. . ... , , . . system.
pavement surrounding a central rectangle ot iron-stone slabs, arranged in
the ' mosaiko ' manner, and doubtless originally covered with painted plaster.
From this entrance hall stepped doorways led to another hall of larger
dimensions about 10-75 metres South to North by 8-30 metres wide—and
of more imposing design, the central feature of which was a square peristyle
with eight columns, the stylobate of which surrounded a similar 'mosaiko'
pavement. This ' Hall of the Peristyle' led in turn to the Megaron proper, Peristyle
divided into two sections by door-piers of the usual kind, each with a similar Mega-
' mosaiko' panel. Each of these sections opened on the East side through ron'
triple doorways into a paved corridor. The outer border of this consisted of
a stylobate with two double groups of columns between square piers. Whether
this colonnade originally bordered a court on the same level or stood, as
now, on a terrace edge is uncertain, since, immediately beyond, this part of
site had been made use of by later builders in the Hellenistic Age to construct
what may have been a Heroon, on a lower level.1
The two sections of the Megaron were thus lighted from two sides like Magnifi-
cent suite
the East end of the ' Hall of the Double Axes '. Its length was 13-45 metres,2 0f halls.
or, including the ' Hall of the Peristyle', 24-34 metres—about 78 feet—
forming a truly palatial reception room. Taken in connexion with the
' Hall of the Stepped Doorways' through which it was approached, we have
here, in fact, a magnificent suite, unrivalled by any other Minoan building,
not excepting the Great Palace itself. Its innermost section opened on the
left on a smaller room which, from the stone sink visible at its farther end,
had clearly served as a lavatory. A conduit ran from the sink to a larger
drain outside the wall.
The first section of the ' Hall of the Peristyle' opened to the West on Lobby
a lobby, lit by means of a single-columned balustrade, and small light-well, staircase.
and giving access to the main staircase, of which two flights of twelve steps
each and some remains of a third were preserved, though they had sunken
below their original level. West, again, the lobby led through a little
passage room into a small square Court, affording light to the surrounding
1 A small limestone relief representing a Roman paved causeway stepping up North,
riding youth, clad in a chlamys and greeted by - The covered part of this Megaron em-
a female figure, in a good Hellenistic style was braces an area of about 103 square metres
found here, and votive terra-cottas of eques- as compared with 147 in the case of the 'Hall
trian and other figures also came to light. A of the Double Axes '.
little to the East of this is what appears to be