DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0234
INFLUENCE OF REMAINS ON GREEK SETTLERS 191
doorway of the latter opening on the winding ramp-passage that ascended
between it and the buildings superposed on the Early Keep. Its deep-
walled pits, indeed, that might have called up visions of fearsome dungeons,
had been long since filled in and built over, but much more of the great
Palace Sanctuary was visible at that epoch to the strangers approaching it
from the North than the modern world had any conception of previous to
the excavations. At the time when they began it was as yet a bare hill-side.
It kindles the imagination when we realize that not only this old influ-
N.W. entrance, with its labyrinthine suggestions, was still visible in part of its remajns
height at least, but that much of the bull-grappling scenes still stood forth on imag':
! " . nation of
on the neighbouring Portico overlooking the Sea Gate. Not the head alone Hellenic
of the great' Urus ' bull that to-day excites general admiration, but its whole sett ers'
body in all its brilliant colouring, together with part at least of the scene to
which it belonged, would have daily met the eye of the Greek new-comers.
They may well have been onlookers of some companion piece—such as that
of which we have a record on the embossed cup—where the girl is seen at
mortal grips between the horns of another monstrous beast. What other
works of the Minoan Daedalos may not then have been still preserved
within the Palace walls we can never know, but one or other of the full-sized
female figures in rich attire that existed in the area within the North-
western Entrance' may well have kept its place on the wall to call forth
a vision of Ariadne.
So much, however, may be safely said. In all future speculations
regarding the fabulous lore that grew up round the site of Knossos strict
account must be taken, not only of the considerable remains of the ' House
of Minos' as they existed in early Greek days, but of the artistic creations
on its walls.
1 See above, p. 45, Fig. 27.
doorway of the latter opening on the winding ramp-passage that ascended
between it and the buildings superposed on the Early Keep. Its deep-
walled pits, indeed, that might have called up visions of fearsome dungeons,
had been long since filled in and built over, but much more of the great
Palace Sanctuary was visible at that epoch to the strangers approaching it
from the North than the modern world had any conception of previous to
the excavations. At the time when they began it was as yet a bare hill-side.
It kindles the imagination when we realize that not only this old influ-
N.W. entrance, with its labyrinthine suggestions, was still visible in part of its remajns
height at least, but that much of the bull-grappling scenes still stood forth on imag':
! " . nation of
on the neighbouring Portico overlooking the Sea Gate. Not the head alone Hellenic
of the great' Urus ' bull that to-day excites general admiration, but its whole sett ers'
body in all its brilliant colouring, together with part at least of the scene to
which it belonged, would have daily met the eye of the Greek new-comers.
They may well have been onlookers of some companion piece—such as that
of which we have a record on the embossed cup—where the girl is seen at
mortal grips between the horns of another monstrous beast. What other
works of the Minoan Daedalos may not then have been still preserved
within the Palace walls we can never know, but one or other of the full-sized
female figures in rich attire that existed in the area within the North-
western Entrance' may well have kept its place on the wall to call forth
a vision of Ariadne.
So much, however, may be safely said. In all future speculations
regarding the fabulous lore that grew up round the site of Knossos strict
account must be taken, not only of the considerable remains of the ' House
of Minos' as they existed in early Greek days, but of the artistic creations
on its walls.
1 See above, p. 45, Fig. 27.