Evans, Arthur J.: The Palace of Minos: a comparative account of the successive stages of the early Cretan civilization as illustred by the discoveries at Knossos (Band 3): The great transitional age in the northern and eastern sections of the Palace (London, 1930)

224 CONJECTURAL FORM OF MINOAN ARENA

a building for the spectators either with a straight frontage or actually sur-
rounding a rectilinear space—like the Central Courts of the Palaces'—
coupled with an elliptical enclosure probably surrounded by a wooden

Fig. 11

Acrobat between Horns of Bull on Steatite ' Rhyton ' from Hagia
Triada.

palisade for the performances themselves. The Spanish Plazas show
a space between the ring-fence of the arena and the actual front wall
below the spectators—answering to the podium of the Roman Amphitheatre
and giving them greater security.

1 It does not follow that these sports as a
rule took place in the Central Courts of the
Palaces. The ' Grand Stands ' as seen in the
fresco suggest a special ' theatral' arrange-
ment. If on occasion ceremonial shows of

this kind were held in the Central Court of
Knossos, opposite the little Pillar Shrine of the
Goddess, a fenced enclosure must have been
specially set up within the Court.