DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.810#0348
720 THE 'PROCESSION FRESCO': DOUBLE ROWS
The'Pro-
cession
Fresco' :
double
rows.
Wide
extension
of pro-
cessional
scheme in
Palace.
There, separated by short intervals, were three connected groups
of designs—-here referred to as A, B, C—their lower parts and the greyish
black band on which they stood adhering to the left wall, but some of the
upper parts lying on their faces on the Corridor pavement. Although, on
grounds already stated, it is fairly certain that two rows of figures had
originally existed, one above the other, only remains of the lower row had
been preserved. On the right wall, which had been destroyed, little more
was found than parts of the narrow black band below, adhering to its base.
Group A, with the robe of the female figure in front completed, occu-
pied a space of 2-10 metres, and consisted of seven figures. Group B, of
twelve figures, was almost continuous with it, and was about 5 metres in
length. Group C, with three figures, followed closely on the latter, and ex-
tended 2-50 metres. The whole wall-space covered, including the small
breaks between the groups, may be estimated at 1 [ metres, and as there
were twenty-two figures, this gives an average space of half a metre for
each, though the individual espacement of the figures varied, some standing
free, some considerably overlapping one another.
Taking the entire length of the Corridor from the East portal of the
West Porch to the point where it abuts on the landing of the Staircase
leading up from the South Entrance of the Palace as 56 metres, it appears
that the number of figures on either side of this ceremonial passage-way—
assuming that there were double rows—must have amounted to 224, or 448
in all, and 88 or more have been already estimated for the interior decoration
of the two compartments of the Propylaeum Hall.1 In this way we reach
the total number of 536 life-sized figures, without reckoning the almost
certain extension of the series to the Upper Propylaeum system. It
seems likely that similar processional scenes filled the back wall of the
porticoes on either side of its central flight of steps, as well as the lobby into
which it opened.
That the Upper Porch of the Propylaeum and its dependencies showed
the same ' processional ' scheme of decoration as the lower part of the
system is indeed a conclusion dictated by every consideration of architectural
unity. Of the wide extension of this scheme of decoration in the building,
we have ample evidence. Fragments of frescoes belonging to these proces-
sional scenes were found on the waste heaps near the North-West Portico,
which were evidently collected from a wide area of the Western wing of the
Palace, and an isolated part of one occurred near the Grand Staircase of
the Domestic Quarter—drifted, perhaps, down the slope from the West side
1 See above, p. 708.
I
The'Pro-
cession
Fresco' :
double
rows.
Wide
extension
of pro-
cessional
scheme in
Palace.
There, separated by short intervals, were three connected groups
of designs—-here referred to as A, B, C—their lower parts and the greyish
black band on which they stood adhering to the left wall, but some of the
upper parts lying on their faces on the Corridor pavement. Although, on
grounds already stated, it is fairly certain that two rows of figures had
originally existed, one above the other, only remains of the lower row had
been preserved. On the right wall, which had been destroyed, little more
was found than parts of the narrow black band below, adhering to its base.
Group A, with the robe of the female figure in front completed, occu-
pied a space of 2-10 metres, and consisted of seven figures. Group B, of
twelve figures, was almost continuous with it, and was about 5 metres in
length. Group C, with three figures, followed closely on the latter, and ex-
tended 2-50 metres. The whole wall-space covered, including the small
breaks between the groups, may be estimated at 1 [ metres, and as there
were twenty-two figures, this gives an average space of half a metre for
each, though the individual espacement of the figures varied, some standing
free, some considerably overlapping one another.
Taking the entire length of the Corridor from the East portal of the
West Porch to the point where it abuts on the landing of the Staircase
leading up from the South Entrance of the Palace as 56 metres, it appears
that the number of figures on either side of this ceremonial passage-way—
assuming that there were double rows—must have amounted to 224, or 448
in all, and 88 or more have been already estimated for the interior decoration
of the two compartments of the Propylaeum Hall.1 In this way we reach
the total number of 536 life-sized figures, without reckoning the almost
certain extension of the series to the Upper Propylaeum system. It
seems likely that similar processional scenes filled the back wall of the
porticoes on either side of its central flight of steps, as well as the lobby into
which it opened.
That the Upper Porch of the Propylaeum and its dependencies showed
the same ' processional ' scheme of decoration as the lower part of the
system is indeed a conclusion dictated by every consideration of architectural
unity. Of the wide extension of this scheme of decoration in the building,
we have ample evidence. Fragments of frescoes belonging to these proces-
sional scenes were found on the waste heaps near the North-West Portico,
which were evidently collected from a wide area of the Western wing of the
Palace, and an isolated part of one occurred near the Grand Staircase of
the Domestic Quarter—drifted, perhaps, down the slope from the West side
1 See above, p. 708.
I