DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.810#0408
WAZ-LILY DECORATION AS BASIN
779
FlG. 507. Section of Rim of Bronzk Basin from ''Pala-
tial Hoard ', showing Plumed ((-'./^-lilies.
on Earth of the Minoan Mother Goddess—himself her adopted son—a
Priest-King after the order of Minos. In other words we here recognize
Minos himself in one of his mortal incarnations.
As regards the regalia of the painted relief, a most interesting comparison
has already been supplied by one of the basins belonging to the hoard
of bronze vessels brought to light in what seems to have been a supplemen-
tary Treasury of the Palace, just outside its North-West angle.1 A section
of the rim of this showing similar zuaz-\i\\es with beaded terminations
below and flowing plumes above, here supplying decorative continuity,
is oriven in Fi<j. 507. The
bowl
itself forms part
of a magnificent service
which bears the official
stamp of having been used
by the actual wearer of
the lily-crown.2
Unfortunately the
face itself of the figure has
not been preserved. It had
been originally restored by Monsieur Gillieron, pere, somewhat on the lines
of the portrait head of strongly ' protc-Armenoid' type belonging to the earlier
dynast, on the M. M. II sealing already reproduced.3 In the version, how-
ever, adopted in the revised restoration shown in the Frontispiece the facial
type has been somewhat modified. Erom the small border of the forehead
preserved it looks as if the face, like the designs forming the background of
the relief, had been executed on the flat. This may be regarded as a symp-
tom of the comparative difficulty experienced by the Minoan artists in
moulding the human features as compared with their mastery over the more
muscular parts of the human body. The ear, however, of which the upper
part remains, is rendered in relief.
The youthful figure is shown with the head, thigh, and legs in profile,
but with the upper part of the body in a facing position (see Fig. 508 and the
section, Fig. 509). This attitude is very characteristic both of Minoan and
of Egyptian art, and a good example is given below in the fellow relief of the
' Young Prince' on the Hagia Triada cup.4 There are traces in the present
1 See above, p. 637 seqq. and p. 643, Fig. covers of this book.
419 a. 3 P. of J)/., i, p. 8, Fig. 2, a, and p. 272,
2 The crown itself and the tvazAUy border Fig. 201, a.
of the bronze basin have been brought into an * See below, p. 791, Fig. 516.
unitary relation in the design adopted for the
Similar
luaz-
lily
decora-
tion of
bronze
basin
from
N.W.
Treasury.
Face as
restored.
Attitude
of body.
779
FlG. 507. Section of Rim of Bronzk Basin from ''Pala-
tial Hoard ', showing Plumed ((-'./^-lilies.
on Earth of the Minoan Mother Goddess—himself her adopted son—a
Priest-King after the order of Minos. In other words we here recognize
Minos himself in one of his mortal incarnations.
As regards the regalia of the painted relief, a most interesting comparison
has already been supplied by one of the basins belonging to the hoard
of bronze vessels brought to light in what seems to have been a supplemen-
tary Treasury of the Palace, just outside its North-West angle.1 A section
of the rim of this showing similar zuaz-\i\\es with beaded terminations
below and flowing plumes above, here supplying decorative continuity,
is oriven in Fi<j. 507. The
bowl
itself forms part
of a magnificent service
which bears the official
stamp of having been used
by the actual wearer of
the lily-crown.2
Unfortunately the
face itself of the figure has
not been preserved. It had
been originally restored by Monsieur Gillieron, pere, somewhat on the lines
of the portrait head of strongly ' protc-Armenoid' type belonging to the earlier
dynast, on the M. M. II sealing already reproduced.3 In the version, how-
ever, adopted in the revised restoration shown in the Frontispiece the facial
type has been somewhat modified. Erom the small border of the forehead
preserved it looks as if the face, like the designs forming the background of
the relief, had been executed on the flat. This may be regarded as a symp-
tom of the comparative difficulty experienced by the Minoan artists in
moulding the human features as compared with their mastery over the more
muscular parts of the human body. The ear, however, of which the upper
part remains, is rendered in relief.
The youthful figure is shown with the head, thigh, and legs in profile,
but with the upper part of the body in a facing position (see Fig. 508 and the
section, Fig. 509). This attitude is very characteristic both of Minoan and
of Egyptian art, and a good example is given below in the fellow relief of the
' Young Prince' on the Hagia Triada cup.4 There are traces in the present
1 See above, p. 637 seqq. and p. 643, Fig. covers of this book.
419 a. 3 P. of J)/., i, p. 8, Fig. 2, a, and p. 272,
2 The crown itself and the tvazAUy border Fig. 201, a.
of the bronze basin have been brought into an * See below, p. 791, Fig. 516.
unitary relation in the design adopted for the
Similar
luaz-
lily
decora-
tion of
bronze
basin
from
N.W.
Treasury.
Face as
restored.
Attitude
of body.