DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0406
554 SKILFUL PLANNING OF 'QUEEN'S MEGARON '
Double
compart-
ments of
* Queen's
Mega-
Private
staircase
and upper
' Thala-
mos'.
Supple-
mentary
piers for
support of
upper
struc -
tures.
The ' Queen's Megaron '.
This chamber, the Western Section of which was thus entered, was
divided into two compartments by a pillared stylobate with a doorway on
its Northern extre-
mity which opened in-
to the covered area of
a portico with a small
light-court beyond.
At the same time a
similar pillared stylo-
bate, entirely shutting
the South side of this
Western section,
opened on a nar-
rower light-area be-
yond. These arrange-
ments secured not
only a good supply of
fresh air, but a dif-
fused, reflected light,
much of the original
effect of which has
been recovered by the
reconstitution of the
upper structures. It will be seen that it would have been as easy here com-
pletely to close in the inner compartment of the Megaron by means of a row
of doorways that could be left open or shut, as it was in the case of the
neighbouring 'Hall of the Double Axes'. But perfect seclusion when
needed was here secured in another way by a private staircase that led from
a doorway placed beside that of the ' Dog's-leg Corridor', and communi-
cated above with a chamber already referred to, overlying the inner com-
partment of the Megaron. In the last Age of the Palace the entrance to this
staircase—originally only separated from that of the ' Dog's-leg Corridor'
by a thin partition—was partly blocked by a pier of masonry, evidently
inserted to give additional security to the upper flights of stairs. (See Plan,
Fig. 233, and Photographic View, Fig. 234.) Indications of a similar make-
shift device were noticed between the columns of the first flight of the Grand
Staircase. Of the piers themselves there were only disjointed remains, but
Fig. 234. View or Door-jambs opening from 'Queen's
Megaron ' to Private Staircase, showing Remains of
Later Supporting Pier. To left, Entrance to ' Dog's-leg
Corridor '.
Double
compart-
ments of
* Queen's
Mega-
Private
staircase
and upper
' Thala-
mos'.
Supple-
mentary
piers for
support of
upper
struc -
tures.
The ' Queen's Megaron '.
This chamber, the Western Section of which was thus entered, was
divided into two compartments by a pillared stylobate with a doorway on
its Northern extre-
mity which opened in-
to the covered area of
a portico with a small
light-court beyond.
At the same time a
similar pillared stylo-
bate, entirely shutting
the South side of this
Western section,
opened on a nar-
rower light-area be-
yond. These arrange-
ments secured not
only a good supply of
fresh air, but a dif-
fused, reflected light,
much of the original
effect of which has
been recovered by the
reconstitution of the
upper structures. It will be seen that it would have been as easy here com-
pletely to close in the inner compartment of the Megaron by means of a row
of doorways that could be left open or shut, as it was in the case of the
neighbouring 'Hall of the Double Axes'. But perfect seclusion when
needed was here secured in another way by a private staircase that led from
a doorway placed beside that of the ' Dog's-leg Corridor', and communi-
cated above with a chamber already referred to, overlying the inner com-
partment of the Megaron. In the last Age of the Palace the entrance to this
staircase—originally only separated from that of the ' Dog's-leg Corridor'
by a thin partition—was partly blocked by a pier of masonry, evidently
inserted to give additional security to the upper flights of stairs. (See Plan,
Fig. 233, and Photographic View, Fig. 234.) Indications of a similar make-
shift device were noticed between the columns of the first flight of the Grand
Staircase. Of the piers themselves there were only disjointed remains, but
Fig. 234. View or Door-jambs opening from 'Queen's
Megaron ' to Private Staircase, showing Remains of
Later Supporting Pier. To left, Entrance to ' Dog's-leg
Corridor '.