DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0060
THE MINIATURE FRESCOES 31
below,1 is evidently copied from an Egyptian class of which fine examples have Parallel
been found belonging to the early part of the Eighteenth Dynasty.2 It is tomb of
to be observed that a near parallel, though of somewhat simpler type, occurs Senmut
in the tomb of Senmut,3 the wall-paintings on which supply us with some of
the earliest illustrations of the tributaries from Keftiu.4 As separate features
both the spirals and rosettes of similar forms occur on the cups of Vapheio
type that they bear as offerings. These fit in again with the widespread
designs on friezes of spirals and rosettes much in vogue in the ' Domestic
Quarter' and in all probability belonging, as pointed out below,5 to a re- Mature
decoration of that quarter of the building about the close of the earlier phase decora-
of the First Late Minoan Period. tivestyle.
This conclusion would make the execution of the painted ceiling
distinctly later in date—as may well have been the case—than that of the
Miniature Frescoes on the walls, fragments of which had fallen on the floor
of the same chamber. It is at any rate clear that at the epoch when it was
designed the influence of Egypt under the New Kingdom was beginning to
make itself felt. As has been already shown, the floor-level on which these
remains came to light presented deposits covering a considerable length of
time and ranging, indeed, from the close of M. M. Ill to that of L. M. II.
The Miniature Frescoes and their Relative Date.
As a class, the Miniature Frescoes themselves fall into several groups. The
A group found in a different connexion, in which small designs are incorporated ture'a~
in the larger subject of a ' Holy Robe', will be described at the end of this Frescoes
0 J . triple
Section.6 Another group, of which some specimens occurred in the structure group.
referred to above, though it has the greatest claim to represent a historic
tradition, is unfortunately the most scantily preserved. It consists of throngs
of light-armed warriors for the most part hurling javelins upwards, clearly
at the defenders of some stronghold or fenced City, of the architectural
features of which we have only a few indications. The subject, however, is
of the greatest interest both in its relation to the ' Town Mosaic ' of an earlier
age and to the more or less contemporary silver ' rhyton' from the Fourth
Shaft Grave at Mycenae dealt with below in this relation.
In contrast to this the other scenes, of which more is preserved, illustrate
festal celebrations in honour of the Minoan Goddess. One of these, indeed,
shows her miniature columnar shrine between grand stands crowded with
1 See below, pp. 371-4, and Fig. 247. * See P. o/M., ii, Pt. II, p. 737, Fig. 470,
2 E.g. Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians (1878 &c.
ed.), ii, PI. VIII, 31 (facing p. 363). 5 See below, p. 281, &c.
s G. Jequier, Decoration egyptienne, PI. XXI. s See p. 40 seqq.
below,1 is evidently copied from an Egyptian class of which fine examples have Parallel
been found belonging to the early part of the Eighteenth Dynasty.2 It is tomb of
to be observed that a near parallel, though of somewhat simpler type, occurs Senmut
in the tomb of Senmut,3 the wall-paintings on which supply us with some of
the earliest illustrations of the tributaries from Keftiu.4 As separate features
both the spirals and rosettes of similar forms occur on the cups of Vapheio
type that they bear as offerings. These fit in again with the widespread
designs on friezes of spirals and rosettes much in vogue in the ' Domestic
Quarter' and in all probability belonging, as pointed out below,5 to a re- Mature
decoration of that quarter of the building about the close of the earlier phase decora-
of the First Late Minoan Period. tivestyle.
This conclusion would make the execution of the painted ceiling
distinctly later in date—as may well have been the case—than that of the
Miniature Frescoes on the walls, fragments of which had fallen on the floor
of the same chamber. It is at any rate clear that at the epoch when it was
designed the influence of Egypt under the New Kingdom was beginning to
make itself felt. As has been already shown, the floor-level on which these
remains came to light presented deposits covering a considerable length of
time and ranging, indeed, from the close of M. M. Ill to that of L. M. II.
The Miniature Frescoes and their Relative Date.
As a class, the Miniature Frescoes themselves fall into several groups. The
A group found in a different connexion, in which small designs are incorporated ture'a~
in the larger subject of a ' Holy Robe', will be described at the end of this Frescoes
0 J . triple
Section.6 Another group, of which some specimens occurred in the structure group.
referred to above, though it has the greatest claim to represent a historic
tradition, is unfortunately the most scantily preserved. It consists of throngs
of light-armed warriors for the most part hurling javelins upwards, clearly
at the defenders of some stronghold or fenced City, of the architectural
features of which we have only a few indications. The subject, however, is
of the greatest interest both in its relation to the ' Town Mosaic ' of an earlier
age and to the more or less contemporary silver ' rhyton' from the Fourth
Shaft Grave at Mycenae dealt with below in this relation.
In contrast to this the other scenes, of which more is preserved, illustrate
festal celebrations in honour of the Minoan Goddess. One of these, indeed,
shows her miniature columnar shrine between grand stands crowded with
1 See below, pp. 371-4, and Fig. 247. * See P. o/M., ii, Pt. II, p. 737, Fig. 470,
2 E.g. Wilkinson, Ancient Egyptians (1878 &c.
ed.), ii, PI. VIII, 31 (facing p. 363). 5 See below, p. 281, &c.
s G. Jequier, Decoration egyptienne, PI. XXI. s See p. 40 seqq.