DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.810#0316
EARLIER AND LATER PROPYLAEUM
689
1
Group of Late Pithoi in N.E. Angle of Propylaeum.
including' those above the pillars of the early crypts of the Western Section
and the great gypsum base of the West Porch.
Taking the mean diameter of this base as 92 cm., the height of the columns
according to the usual Minoan system would have been about 4-60 metres.
The Eastern column-base, which has a good deal suffered, is of lime-
stone. It is set
too high, and
slightly out of
position, and is
made up on one
side with patch-
work frag-
ments, but, like
the other, it
had originally
a square base, and it must be practically coeval with it. Its later setting was
doubtless due to the reoccupation of parts of this area, of which there is con-
siderableevidence. There are traces of a later tarazza floor, about 20centimetres
above the M. M. 111 b pavement, and remains of L. M. Ill pitlioi were ranged
on this against the earlier walls on both sides of the Propylaeum (Fig. 433).T
The disproportionately narrow intervals between the bases and the side-
walls as compared with their espacement as regards each other is explained
by the clear evidence that the original plan of the Propylaeum was broader
(see Plan, Fig. 434, and compare Fig. 435, b, d, below). Its lateral walls have,
in fact, been preserved, with the inner faces in each case about two and a half
metres farther from the respective column-bases than in the later arrangement.
The column-bases themselves may be taken to have remained practically in
situ, and represent as already observed an early M. M. Ill type.
A very interesting illustration of the vicissitudes of the Palace is Earlier
afforded by the contrast between the structure of the outer walls of the struck
earlier and later Propylaeum. The original side-walls are thicker and tures-
formed almost entirely of blocks of stone, some of them showing signs
of having been used in the earlier constructions, but generally fairly entire.
They were derived from the M. M. I Palace fabric after the considerable
destruction at the close of M. M. II. But the side-walls of the Propylaeum
1 Remains of eleven were found along the N.
section of the E. wall and five in the S.W. angle
formed by the spur of walling on the West side,
some on a roughly built base. The removal of
the corresponding Eastern spur was probably
due to this agency. Some of the pithoi are very
late(L. M. 111^), but one or two may be of L. M.
II b fabric taken from the Palace Magazines.
II.
Z z
689
1
Group of Late Pithoi in N.E. Angle of Propylaeum.
including' those above the pillars of the early crypts of the Western Section
and the great gypsum base of the West Porch.
Taking the mean diameter of this base as 92 cm., the height of the columns
according to the usual Minoan system would have been about 4-60 metres.
The Eastern column-base, which has a good deal suffered, is of lime-
stone. It is set
too high, and
slightly out of
position, and is
made up on one
side with patch-
work frag-
ments, but, like
the other, it
had originally
a square base, and it must be practically coeval with it. Its later setting was
doubtless due to the reoccupation of parts of this area, of which there is con-
siderableevidence. There are traces of a later tarazza floor, about 20centimetres
above the M. M. 111 b pavement, and remains of L. M. Ill pitlioi were ranged
on this against the earlier walls on both sides of the Propylaeum (Fig. 433).T
The disproportionately narrow intervals between the bases and the side-
walls as compared with their espacement as regards each other is explained
by the clear evidence that the original plan of the Propylaeum was broader
(see Plan, Fig. 434, and compare Fig. 435, b, d, below). Its lateral walls have,
in fact, been preserved, with the inner faces in each case about two and a half
metres farther from the respective column-bases than in the later arrangement.
The column-bases themselves may be taken to have remained practically in
situ, and represent as already observed an early M. M. Ill type.
A very interesting illustration of the vicissitudes of the Palace is Earlier
afforded by the contrast between the structure of the outer walls of the struck
earlier and later Propylaeum. The original side-walls are thicker and tures-
formed almost entirely of blocks of stone, some of them showing signs
of having been used in the earlier constructions, but generally fairly entire.
They were derived from the M. M. I Palace fabric after the considerable
destruction at the close of M. M. II. But the side-walls of the Propylaeum
1 Remains of eleven were found along the N.
section of the E. wall and five in the S.W. angle
formed by the spur of walling on the West side,
some on a roughly built base. The removal of
the corresponding Eastern spur was probably
due to this agency. Some of the pithoi are very
late(L. M. 111^), but one or two may be of L. M.
II b fabric taken from the Palace Magazines.
II.
Z z