DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7476#0080
64
'GRAVE CIRCLE' AND ORTHOSTATIC FENCE
ment above the ' Circle of Graves', which itself in some sort perpetuated the
tradition of the great bee-hive vaults in which the graves had originally
lain. The final arrangement of the stelae, according to Belger's restoration,
is shown in Fig. 44, the storied side of the stelae looking towards the
setting sun.
Transference of Remains to Grave Circle within Citadel Walls.
The paved circular area now formed served as a place of funereal cult
in honour of the great departed. The stone fence that surrounded it, con-
Fig. 46. Orthostatic Stone Fence round the Paved Area above 'Circle of Graves',
showing Dowel Holes for Wooden Struts. (From Karo, Ath. Mitth., 1915.)
sisting of double rows of limestone orthostats with a filling: within and slabs
above, having an entrance on the North, has a special constructive interest.
The orthostats, as is shown for the first time in Dr. Karo's restored view
reproduced in Fig. 4G,1 were provided with mortice holes for cross-pieces of
wood like the orthostatic West wall of the Palace at Knossos, though in this
case the sockets, instead of being dove-tailed as there, are square-cut. Here,
too, in a slightly inferior shape, we recognize a very early Cretan condition.
It is to be noted that the facade slabs of the ' Atreus' Tomb and the orthostats
of the frieze which, as is shown elsewhere, probably adorned the walls of the
dromos in the original arrangement, show dowel holes of the earlier dove-tail
form seen in the West Palace wall at Knossos, and these structural features
of the great Mycenae monument at the same time date from the Third
Middle Minoan Period.
It is clear that the enlargement of the City wall of Mycenae had
1 Schliemann's ' pattern of the slabs enclos- regarded as a pure invention of the draughts-
ing the Agora' {Mycenae, p. 117) can only be man.
'GRAVE CIRCLE' AND ORTHOSTATIC FENCE
ment above the ' Circle of Graves', which itself in some sort perpetuated the
tradition of the great bee-hive vaults in which the graves had originally
lain. The final arrangement of the stelae, according to Belger's restoration,
is shown in Fig. 44, the storied side of the stelae looking towards the
setting sun.
Transference of Remains to Grave Circle within Citadel Walls.
The paved circular area now formed served as a place of funereal cult
in honour of the great departed. The stone fence that surrounded it, con-
Fig. 46. Orthostatic Stone Fence round the Paved Area above 'Circle of Graves',
showing Dowel Holes for Wooden Struts. (From Karo, Ath. Mitth., 1915.)
sisting of double rows of limestone orthostats with a filling: within and slabs
above, having an entrance on the North, has a special constructive interest.
The orthostats, as is shown for the first time in Dr. Karo's restored view
reproduced in Fig. 4G,1 were provided with mortice holes for cross-pieces of
wood like the orthostatic West wall of the Palace at Knossos, though in this
case the sockets, instead of being dove-tailed as there, are square-cut. Here,
too, in a slightly inferior shape, we recognize a very early Cretan condition.
It is to be noted that the facade slabs of the ' Atreus' Tomb and the orthostats
of the frieze which, as is shown elsewhere, probably adorned the walls of the
dromos in the original arrangement, show dowel holes of the earlier dove-tail
form seen in the West Palace wall at Knossos, and these structural features
of the great Mycenae monument at the same time date from the Third
Middle Minoan Period.
It is clear that the enlargement of the City wall of Mycenae had
1 Schliemann's ' pattern of the slabs enclos- regarded as a pure invention of the draughts-
ing the Agora' {Mycenae, p. 117) can only be man.