DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.810#0421
792
SWORD AND LUSTRAL SPRINKLER
Similar
attitude.
The facing position of the upper part of the body, both in the case of
the Young Chieftain on the cup and of the Priest-King of the painted relief,
was very useful in each case in bringing into relief the official decorations. The
neck-ring and more elaborate collar worn by both personages may have
played the part of the ' torques' among the ancient Gauls as marking the
rank or performance of the wearer. The collar of the Young Chieftain, like
his armlets, seems to have been hung or set with bossed ornaments. The
zuaz-\i\y collar of the other personage may well have stood for the highest
of Minoan ' orders'. The lily, as already pointed out, was pre-eminently
the sacred flower.
The
Officer
Officer holding out Sword and Lustral Sprinkler—Emblems of
Temporal and Spiritual Dominion.
In strong contrast to the haughty and distinguished mien of the youth-
ful Chieftain who thus appears is that of the officer who stands at attention
opposite to him in a military attitude, with his heels together and his head
very slightly bowed, and who seems to be receiving his commands. His
jewellery is limited to a neck-ring and a single bracelet, and his hair is
closely cropped, without curls or falling locks, but with a curious top-knot.
His attitude is that of a subordinate. He holds in his right hand a sword
l of the rapier class, and in his left a short staff terminating above his head
sprinkler j„ a flowing wisp. This curiously resembles the aspergillum or holy-water
gillum). sprinkler used by the Roman pontifices}
Have we here, as a complement to the sword presented—the token of
secular power—an emblem significant of spiritual dominion ?
An interesting discovery made a little South-East of the Palace greatly
supports this conclusion.
Holds
sword
Discovery of Gem showing Minoan Goddess with Sword and Sprinkler
in Bronze Hoard, S.E. of Palace.
Dis- With the hoard of bronze vessels, which also included a painted ewer of
Eem17 k M, I a style, brought to light near the middle section of the Stepped Portico
1 It is somewhat remarkable that this com-
parison has not, so far as I am aware, been
suggested by any archaeologist who has dis-
cussed this subject. Dr. Paribeni, indeed
(Re?idiconti dei Lincei, xii (1903), p. 324),
compares the horse-hair wisps, set in wooden
handles, used in Italy to drive off flies from
horses, and which, it may be added, are gene-
rally in use to protect the person against flies
in Egypt and other Eastern countries. Mr.
H. R. Hall {Aegean Archaeology, p. 63) identi-
fies the object with 'a longfalx-like halberd',
but a halberd of this flowing outline is an
impossible weapon.
SWORD AND LUSTRAL SPRINKLER
Similar
attitude.
The facing position of the upper part of the body, both in the case of
the Young Chieftain on the cup and of the Priest-King of the painted relief,
was very useful in each case in bringing into relief the official decorations. The
neck-ring and more elaborate collar worn by both personages may have
played the part of the ' torques' among the ancient Gauls as marking the
rank or performance of the wearer. The collar of the Young Chieftain, like
his armlets, seems to have been hung or set with bossed ornaments. The
zuaz-\i\y collar of the other personage may well have stood for the highest
of Minoan ' orders'. The lily, as already pointed out, was pre-eminently
the sacred flower.
The
Officer
Officer holding out Sword and Lustral Sprinkler—Emblems of
Temporal and Spiritual Dominion.
In strong contrast to the haughty and distinguished mien of the youth-
ful Chieftain who thus appears is that of the officer who stands at attention
opposite to him in a military attitude, with his heels together and his head
very slightly bowed, and who seems to be receiving his commands. His
jewellery is limited to a neck-ring and a single bracelet, and his hair is
closely cropped, without curls or falling locks, but with a curious top-knot.
His attitude is that of a subordinate. He holds in his right hand a sword
l of the rapier class, and in his left a short staff terminating above his head
sprinkler j„ a flowing wisp. This curiously resembles the aspergillum or holy-water
gillum). sprinkler used by the Roman pontifices}
Have we here, as a complement to the sword presented—the token of
secular power—an emblem significant of spiritual dominion ?
An interesting discovery made a little South-East of the Palace greatly
supports this conclusion.
Holds
sword
Discovery of Gem showing Minoan Goddess with Sword and Sprinkler
in Bronze Hoard, S.E. of Palace.
Dis- With the hoard of bronze vessels, which also included a painted ewer of
Eem17 k M, I a style, brought to light near the middle section of the Stepped Portico
1 It is somewhat remarkable that this com-
parison has not, so far as I am aware, been
suggested by any archaeologist who has dis-
cussed this subject. Dr. Paribeni, indeed
(Re?idiconti dei Lincei, xii (1903), p. 324),
compares the horse-hair wisps, set in wooden
handles, used in Italy to drive off flies from
horses, and which, it may be added, are gene-
rally in use to protect the person against flies
in Egypt and other Eastern countries. Mr.
H. R. Hall {Aegean Archaeology, p. 63) identi-
fies the object with 'a longfalx-like halberd',
but a halberd of this flowing outline is an
impossible weapon.