DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0405
METRES
n
CIRCUITOUS ACCESS TO WOMEN'S QUARTERS 353
shown. This tortuous passage-way finds its analogy in the ' Dog's-leg
Corridor' at Knossos, described below.
It has been noted above that an open gangway led from the West end 'The
of the Southern light-area of the ' Hall of the Double Axes' to a door on Lefcor-
the left, giving access to two small back chambers—perhaps for attendants— ridor.'
the farther of which was
in communication both
with the portico of the
' Queen's Megaron ' and
the area that lighted its
inner compartment.
This strictly con-
trolled and distinctly cir-
cuitous route — inter-
cepted thus by closed
chambers—was supple-
mented by what was no
doubt the main line of
access, that, namely, to
which admittance was
obtained by the Southern
doorway of the 'Audi-
ence Chamber' of the
greater Hall,immediate-
Fig. 233. Plan of Entrance to Private Staircase
from ' Queen's Megaron ' showing Later Pier inserted
for Support of Upper Structures.
ly opposite that leading into it from the ' Lower East-West Corridor'. From
the double bend of the short passage thus entered it has been known from the
time of the excavation as the 'Dog's-leg Corridor'. It was evident that
the double turn, with its doors at either end, greatly enhanced the privacy
of the room beyond. Some of its gypsum dado slabs, as also those with
which it was paved, were in a singularly good state of preservation ; tests
made below the paving, however, produced no sherds later than M. M. Ill,1
and its construction may therefore be regarded as contemporary with that
of the ' Hall of Double Axes '.
Though short, the crooked passage-way must always have been decidedly
dark, and the contrast is the more agreeable, when, on reaching its left turn,
there opens the view of the smaller hall,—now reconstituted,—known as the
' Queen's Megaron', with its brilliant colouring set off by the abundant
lip'hting.
in.
I9J3-
a a
n
CIRCUITOUS ACCESS TO WOMEN'S QUARTERS 353
shown. This tortuous passage-way finds its analogy in the ' Dog's-leg
Corridor' at Knossos, described below.
It has been noted above that an open gangway led from the West end 'The
of the Southern light-area of the ' Hall of the Double Axes' to a door on Lefcor-
the left, giving access to two small back chambers—perhaps for attendants— ridor.'
the farther of which was
in communication both
with the portico of the
' Queen's Megaron ' and
the area that lighted its
inner compartment.
This strictly con-
trolled and distinctly cir-
cuitous route — inter-
cepted thus by closed
chambers—was supple-
mented by what was no
doubt the main line of
access, that, namely, to
which admittance was
obtained by the Southern
doorway of the 'Audi-
ence Chamber' of the
greater Hall,immediate-
Fig. 233. Plan of Entrance to Private Staircase
from ' Queen's Megaron ' showing Later Pier inserted
for Support of Upper Structures.
ly opposite that leading into it from the ' Lower East-West Corridor'. From
the double bend of the short passage thus entered it has been known from the
time of the excavation as the 'Dog's-leg Corridor'. It was evident that
the double turn, with its doors at either end, greatly enhanced the privacy
of the room beyond. Some of its gypsum dado slabs, as also those with
which it was paved, were in a singularly good state of preservation ; tests
made below the paving, however, produced no sherds later than M. M. Ill,1
and its construction may therefore be regarded as contemporary with that
of the ' Hall of Double Axes '.
Though short, the crooked passage-way must always have been decidedly
dark, and the contrast is the more agreeable, when, on reaching its left turn,
there opens the view of the smaller hall,—now reconstituted,—known as the
' Queen's Megaron', with its brilliant colouring set off by the abundant
lip'hting.
in.
I9J3-
a a