DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1118#0555
OLD GYPSUM FAgADE INCLUDES CORNER STAIRS 903
time, under the existing conditions, had exploration advanced a few steps
farther into the 'Room of the Throne' itself, there is not the slightest
Fig. 878. Rounded Corner of Gypsum Orthostats or Earlier Facade Line enclosing
Staircase to Upper Structures of ' Throne Room ' System.
probability that the remains of the frescoes could have been preserved, or
the throne itself saved from probable deportation.
The Ante-room (see Plan, Fig. 877) was entered from the Court by Ante-
four doorways, showing the usual jambs, from which four descending steps 'R00m 0f
led to the paved floor, 1-85 m. beneath the surface of the ground at this T1»'°«e'-
point. The centre of the pavement consists of one of the usual squares
formed of irregular iron-stone blocks, this in turn being surrounded by
gypsum slabbing. The low doorways terminated North in a limestone
pier, opposite which a narrow passage led to a winding staircase constructed
within the rounded end of the gypsum corner (see Fig. 878) of the earlier
facade line.1 The blocks of this were here incised with the ' branch' sign
This curved corner of the old facade curve—diagonally opposite in a very early
seems, as already noted, to answer to a similar walled area—of which we have the traces in
time, under the existing conditions, had exploration advanced a few steps
farther into the 'Room of the Throne' itself, there is not the slightest
Fig. 878. Rounded Corner of Gypsum Orthostats or Earlier Facade Line enclosing
Staircase to Upper Structures of ' Throne Room ' System.
probability that the remains of the frescoes could have been preserved, or
the throne itself saved from probable deportation.
The Ante-room (see Plan, Fig. 877) was entered from the Court by Ante-
four doorways, showing the usual jambs, from which four descending steps 'R00m 0f
led to the paved floor, 1-85 m. beneath the surface of the ground at this T1»'°«e'-
point. The centre of the pavement consists of one of the usual squares
formed of irregular iron-stone blocks, this in turn being surrounded by
gypsum slabbing. The low doorways terminated North in a limestone
pier, opposite which a narrow passage led to a winding staircase constructed
within the rounded end of the gypsum corner (see Fig. 878) of the earlier
facade line.1 The blocks of this were here incised with the ' branch' sign
This curved corner of the old facade curve—diagonally opposite in a very early
seems, as already noted, to answer to a similar walled area—of which we have the traces in