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 4,2): Camp-stool Fresco, long-robed priests and beneficent genii [...] (London, 1935)

390

'ALABASTRON'-LIKE CHALICE OF GOLD

Alabas-

tron' like
Clialice
of Gold.

as shown above,1 it corresponds with a form of votive goblet much
in vogue in the last palatial Age of Knossos and in the ensuintf
epoch.

On fragment G we must recognize a ritual chalice of another class and
material. There is here depicted (see Fig. 325) the forearm of another male

figure raised in the same manner as
that of II, and also holding the
pedestal of some form of cup, but
in this case of a bright orange hue,
clearly significant of a gold original,
the black bands possibly indicating
niello decoration. From its slight
forward inclination it would appear
that, in this case too, the bearer was
about to hand it to some one in front
of him, possibly the seated figure of
the female votary wearing the sacral
knot, which is on the same blue
ground.2

The high stem of this goblet
might at first sight suggest that it
represented a gold version of the two-
handled cup, of which a silver ex-
has been recognized above. The tendency to repeat similar
features visible throughout these fresco remains would, in itself, tend
to confirm this conclusion. But a minute examination of the details of
what remained of the painted representation of the vessel at the time
of its discovery shows that we have rather to deal with a dif. iient form
of beaker. (See Fig. 325.)3
Gold The stem itself is distinctly slenderer than that of the other cup. -

compared sma" protruding piece of the blue background, moreover, indicates that
with 'Cup there was a ring round the base of the cup, itself marking its junction with
of Nestor' , • ■ ,, , , , . . a

and that what was originally a pedestal made in a separate piece.

of.Tiryns -phe snape—s0 ]a-e an ecclesiastical chalice—corresDonds with that o

Ring. 1 '•

Gold Chalice; restored.

1 See above, p. 365 seqq.

- Experience of the remains of fresco frag-
ments of the same class fallen near together
as were those of the 'Camp-Stool' series, shows
that in such cases there is an a priori proba-

bility of the remains belonging to the same
design.

1 The fragment is reproduced from *e
drawing made for me at the time of its dis-
covery by Monsieur E. Gillie'ron, pore.