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 4,1): Emergence of outer western enceinte, with new illustrations, artistic and religious, of the Middle Minoan Phase (London, 1935)

'AMPHORA' FRAGMENTS WITH CULT OBJECTS 345

The special object of cult in this case is the group of three Cypress-
like trees shown behind the altar and in front of which are set the ' sacral
horns ' and altars, while a votary brings down the divinity by blowing blasts

Fig. 289 a-e. Fragments of Large 'Amphora ' from South-West Palace Angle.

from a conch-shell. It is therefore specially interesting to note that the
design on another fragment of this palatial vessel shows a parallel group,
consisting of three leafy stems, above the horns (Fig. 289, c).

Equally ritual in its aspect is the object delineated in Fig. 2S9, a, ' Rhytoi
resembling a funnel-shaped ' rhyton ' with two loop-like handles, from one of
which hang two sections of a cord. The reticulated design on an associated
fragment, Fig. 289, 6, remains enigmatic. It closely resembles that on the
apron of the 'pard' Goddess from the Temple Repository' and recalls some
of the textile patterns on robes worn by the personages on the ' Procession
Fresco'.

1 P. of HI., i, pp. 502, 503, Figs. 360, 361.