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)

STUCCO HEAD—GODDESS RATHER THAN SPHINX 521

This conventional pattern may give an approximate clue to the date of
this plaster head. Against the view that it belongs to a Mycenaean Sphinx
there is the insuperable objection that no trace appears on the upper surface

Fig. 365. Bronze Curls from Gigantesque Female Figures. (§)

of the head-piece of the crest that is the never-failing characteristic of the
monster. More probably we may recognize the head of the Minoan Goddess.
It is unfortunate that none of the painted plaster fragments from the
' East Hall' has supplied a record of the face of a human figure. Judging
from general analogy it is not likely that it would have stood on the same
high artistic level as the various parts, of the body, remains of which
actually occurred in the deposit. It will be remembered, indeed, that, in the
case of the ' Priest-king' relief, the indications that we have lead to the
conclusion that it was painted on the flat. But, whatever results may have
been achieved by the consummate craftsmen who decorated the great Hall,