DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0353
EGYPTIAN MALACHITE USED FOR TIRYNS FRESCO 305
imperfect evidence supplied by the Tiryns fragments before their reconstitu-
tion—which included part of the centre of one of the shields and of the
rosette and spiral connected with it—had justly recognized the dependence
of this fresco, belonging to the earlier Palace there on the work, in a ' larger
and more monumental shape, with giant spiral bands ', from the Knossian
Palace.1
As can be seen from the photographic reproduction in Fig. 197 the
Tirynthian composition was altogether of a more decorative character. The
total height of the space occupied.by the bands above and below the shields
is itself almost equivalent to that of the shields themselves, which do not
stand apart as they do in the other case, as if suspended in the field, but
are almost embedded in the closely packed series of brilliant and elaborate
details. Ornament is the very essence of the design. Its whole height is
only 64-5 cm., the shields being about 31-5 cm. in height—less than
a fifth of those of the Knossian fresco.
Professor Rodenwaldt rightly attaches importance to the fact that green Mala-
appears among the colours of the upper and lower spiral bands in this green
composition.2 He observes that it is generally unknown in Mainland Greece, P'g"}ent
and only used in Minoan .Crete in the case of foliage, where, as at Knossos, ofEgyp-
yellow was mixed with blue. Admitting, as we seem bound to do, that the 0rigjn.
Tiryns composition was of somewhat later date, it is reasonable to ascribe
this innovation to the influence of Egyptian wall-paintings and ceilings of
the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Dynasty date, amongst which
a similar pale green pigment was much used for decorative purposes.3 It
was, in fact, of very ancient tradition, going back to the prehistoric usage of
pounded malachite, of which so many remains are found on the early slate
palettes. The Tiryns specimens examined by Mr. Noel Heaton seem to be
of this material.4
1 Ibid., p. 36 seqq. The fragment men- the new Theban Empire, from about 1400 to
tioned is illustrated there, p. 37, Fig. 10. iooo b. c, the green appears passim.
2 Ibid., p. 35. As a further element of 4 Heaton, in Tiryns, ii, p. 226. He ob-
distinction, he observes (p. 38) that the ' alter- serves in composition it appears to be carbonate
nating bar' motive—termed by him ' Zahn- of copper and probably therefore it was pre-
streifen '—that accompanies the spirals is here pared by grinding the mineral malachite. No
depicted in darker and lighter tones of grey, green pigment at all was used by the fresco
But the fuller restoration of the Knossian painters of Knossos, a green colour being
fresco shows that these particular tints of grey obtained when required by ' mixing blue and
characterize respectively two of the shield yellow'. The appearance of this colour on the
types. Tiryns frescoseems to have been due toa special
3 Among the ceilings illustrated in G. Egyptian influence on the Greek Mainland
Jequier's Decoration Egyptienne, belonging to that makes itself observable during this period.
II r. X
imperfect evidence supplied by the Tiryns fragments before their reconstitu-
tion—which included part of the centre of one of the shields and of the
rosette and spiral connected with it—had justly recognized the dependence
of this fresco, belonging to the earlier Palace there on the work, in a ' larger
and more monumental shape, with giant spiral bands ', from the Knossian
Palace.1
As can be seen from the photographic reproduction in Fig. 197 the
Tirynthian composition was altogether of a more decorative character. The
total height of the space occupied.by the bands above and below the shields
is itself almost equivalent to that of the shields themselves, which do not
stand apart as they do in the other case, as if suspended in the field, but
are almost embedded in the closely packed series of brilliant and elaborate
details. Ornament is the very essence of the design. Its whole height is
only 64-5 cm., the shields being about 31-5 cm. in height—less than
a fifth of those of the Knossian fresco.
Professor Rodenwaldt rightly attaches importance to the fact that green Mala-
appears among the colours of the upper and lower spiral bands in this green
composition.2 He observes that it is generally unknown in Mainland Greece, P'g"}ent
and only used in Minoan .Crete in the case of foliage, where, as at Knossos, ofEgyp-
yellow was mixed with blue. Admitting, as we seem bound to do, that the 0rigjn.
Tiryns composition was of somewhat later date, it is reasonable to ascribe
this innovation to the influence of Egyptian wall-paintings and ceilings of
the Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Dynasty date, amongst which
a similar pale green pigment was much used for decorative purposes.3 It
was, in fact, of very ancient tradition, going back to the prehistoric usage of
pounded malachite, of which so many remains are found on the early slate
palettes. The Tiryns specimens examined by Mr. Noel Heaton seem to be
of this material.4
1 Ibid., p. 36 seqq. The fragment men- the new Theban Empire, from about 1400 to
tioned is illustrated there, p. 37, Fig. 10. iooo b. c, the green appears passim.
2 Ibid., p. 35. As a further element of 4 Heaton, in Tiryns, ii, p. 226. He ob-
distinction, he observes (p. 38) that the ' alter- serves in composition it appears to be carbonate
nating bar' motive—termed by him ' Zahn- of copper and probably therefore it was pre-
streifen '—that accompanies the spirals is here pared by grinding the mineral malachite. No
depicted in darker and lighter tones of grey, green pigment at all was used by the fresco
But the fuller restoration of the Knossian painters of Knossos, a green colour being
fresco shows that these particular tints of grey obtained when required by ' mixing blue and
characterize respectively two of the shield yellow'. The appearance of this colour on the
types. Tiryns frescoseems to have been due toa special
3 Among the ceilings illustrated in G. Egyptian influence on the Greek Mainland
Jequier's Decoration Egyptienne, belonging to that makes itself observable during this period.
II r. X