DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0053
26
FONTS FOR RITUAL SPRINKLING
Numer-
ous stone
lamps on
later
basement
floor.
Fig. 13.
Large Basin or '
Gypsum.
Font ' of Purple
The close resemblance of the material to that of the fine ' lotus lamp ' found
beside the alabaster basin of the central basement chamber suggests that it
originally belonged to the same area.
The recurrence of these font-like basins in this basement region border-
ing the North-West angle of the Central Court is itself a suggestive circum-
stance. Though the old ' Lustral Basin' and 'Initiatory Area' connected
with the North-West Portico
had ceased to function, and the
entrance itself was narrowed, a
certain number of votaries may
have still used the ramp passage
on this side on their way to the
Central Palace Sanctuary and
would have entered the Court
at a point where these base-
ments with the font-like recep-
tacles were handy. The same
may be said—especially with
regard to the Eastern base-
ment—in the case of those
entering the Court by the North Entrance Passage.
That there was at most a ' dim religious light' in these basement rooms
appears from the occurrence on the floor-level answering to the great
Restoration of a series of stone lamps. Of these the finest was the
' lotus' lamp, of purple gypsum, the upper part of which with its quatrefoil
flutings, lotus buds, and flowers and foliated rim was found beside the
alabaster font of the central crypt (Fig. 14, a 1, a 2). Two others of steatite
were found in the adjoining space North (see Plan, Fig. 9). One, Fig. 14, b,
also showed a quatrefoil pedestal. The other, with, only a low base, was
surrounded with sea-snails in relief, a recurring type.1 Though this bordered
on the ascending Entrance Passage, it is probable that for obvious reasons it,
like the basement West of it, only received a partial light, perhaps through
the doorway, from the Central Court.
From the fine character of several of the stone lamps found in these
basement chambers, as well as their recurrence, it is evident that there was
something more than a casual and intermittent need for their illumination,
such as would have been the case had they been mere store-rooms. It seems
1 The reliefs in this case being a good deal worn, another specimen of this class (from the
Royal Tomb at Isopata) is given in Fig. 14, c.
FONTS FOR RITUAL SPRINKLING
Numer-
ous stone
lamps on
later
basement
floor.
Fig. 13.
Large Basin or '
Gypsum.
Font ' of Purple
The close resemblance of the material to that of the fine ' lotus lamp ' found
beside the alabaster basin of the central basement chamber suggests that it
originally belonged to the same area.
The recurrence of these font-like basins in this basement region border-
ing the North-West angle of the Central Court is itself a suggestive circum-
stance. Though the old ' Lustral Basin' and 'Initiatory Area' connected
with the North-West Portico
had ceased to function, and the
entrance itself was narrowed, a
certain number of votaries may
have still used the ramp passage
on this side on their way to the
Central Palace Sanctuary and
would have entered the Court
at a point where these base-
ments with the font-like recep-
tacles were handy. The same
may be said—especially with
regard to the Eastern base-
ment—in the case of those
entering the Court by the North Entrance Passage.
That there was at most a ' dim religious light' in these basement rooms
appears from the occurrence on the floor-level answering to the great
Restoration of a series of stone lamps. Of these the finest was the
' lotus' lamp, of purple gypsum, the upper part of which with its quatrefoil
flutings, lotus buds, and flowers and foliated rim was found beside the
alabaster font of the central crypt (Fig. 14, a 1, a 2). Two others of steatite
were found in the adjoining space North (see Plan, Fig. 9). One, Fig. 14, b,
also showed a quatrefoil pedestal. The other, with, only a low base, was
surrounded with sea-snails in relief, a recurring type.1 Though this bordered
on the ascending Entrance Passage, it is probable that for obvious reasons it,
like the basement West of it, only received a partial light, perhaps through
the doorway, from the Central Court.
From the fine character of several of the stone lamps found in these
basement chambers, as well as their recurrence, it is evident that there was
something more than a casual and intermittent need for their illumination,
such as would have been the case had they been mere store-rooms. It seems
1 The reliefs in this case being a good deal worn, another specimen of this class (from the
Royal Tomb at Isopata) is given in Fig. 14, c.