DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1118#0590
THE PURPLE GYPSUM FONT
Holy-
water
sprinkler.
room—out of its place, and blocking the way—was found a massive basin
about 90 centimetres in diameter and 20 high, of that purple gypsum so
much in request for vases in the last Palatial Age. The nearest position
in which this conspicuous ob-
ject could with any probability
have originally stood, was on
the open space provided by the
pavement of the Ante-room (see
Plan, Fig. 877, opp. p. 902), and
here it was already placed in a
central position at the time
of the excavation, without any
reference to theoretic views
as to its ritual significance.
Evidently, however, it has the
appearance of having been a
'font' for ritual sprinkling.
The discovery of this gypsum ' font' in fact fits on to that of two other
specimens found in two basements bordering the North side of this corner
of the Central Court.1 One of these was of alabaster and the other of
gypsum, and they were associated.with pedestalled lamps of steatite and
purple gypsum, including the fine 'lotus' lamp with quatrefoil flutings.8
As pointed out above in relation to these finds, there is every reason to
suppose that in these cases the associated ' fonts ' had stood in connexion
with lustral rites.
New light has been shed on such lustral functions by the evidence
above adduced of Minoan holy-water sprinklers, consisting, seemingly, of
a wisp of hair attached to a rod.3 Such an object is seen on a seal-
stone (from the Stepped Portico) in the hands of the Snake Goddess
as the symbol of her spiritual dominion, the sword in her other hand
proclaiming her secular power (Fig. 907).4 The ' Young Prince ' on the
Purple Gypsum Font.
The
Hagia Triada cup holds the same symbolic objects
also seen in relief on a M. M. Ill b sherd.0
Attention has already been called7 to the remarkabh
sehted by the aspergillmn of the Roman Pontifices such
sp:
inkier is
trallel pre-
we see it
' See P. o/M., iii, p. 25 seqq.
■ lb., p. 27, Fig. 14 a.
'■' See P. o/M., ii, Pt. II, p. 792 seqq.,
Figs. 517, 518.
M; P- 793. l?,'g- 31r-
lb., p. 791, Fig. 516.
3., p. 795, Fig. 519.
See Ii., pp. 793, 794.
Holy-
water
sprinkler.
room—out of its place, and blocking the way—was found a massive basin
about 90 centimetres in diameter and 20 high, of that purple gypsum so
much in request for vases in the last Palatial Age. The nearest position
in which this conspicuous ob-
ject could with any probability
have originally stood, was on
the open space provided by the
pavement of the Ante-room (see
Plan, Fig. 877, opp. p. 902), and
here it was already placed in a
central position at the time
of the excavation, without any
reference to theoretic views
as to its ritual significance.
Evidently, however, it has the
appearance of having been a
'font' for ritual sprinkling.
The discovery of this gypsum ' font' in fact fits on to that of two other
specimens found in two basements bordering the North side of this corner
of the Central Court.1 One of these was of alabaster and the other of
gypsum, and they were associated.with pedestalled lamps of steatite and
purple gypsum, including the fine 'lotus' lamp with quatrefoil flutings.8
As pointed out above in relation to these finds, there is every reason to
suppose that in these cases the associated ' fonts ' had stood in connexion
with lustral rites.
New light has been shed on such lustral functions by the evidence
above adduced of Minoan holy-water sprinklers, consisting, seemingly, of
a wisp of hair attached to a rod.3 Such an object is seen on a seal-
stone (from the Stepped Portico) in the hands of the Snake Goddess
as the symbol of her spiritual dominion, the sword in her other hand
proclaiming her secular power (Fig. 907).4 The ' Young Prince ' on the
Purple Gypsum Font.
The
Hagia Triada cup holds the same symbolic objects
also seen in relief on a M. M. Ill b sherd.0
Attention has already been called7 to the remarkabh
sehted by the aspergillmn of the Roman Pontifices such
sp:
inkier is
trallel pre-
we see it
' See P. o/M., iii, p. 25 seqq.
■ lb., p. 27, Fig. 14 a.
'■' See P. o/M., ii, Pt. II, p. 792 seqq.,
Figs. 517, 518.
M; P- 793. l?,'g- 31r-
lb., p. 791, Fig. 516.
3., p. 795, Fig. 519.
See Ii., pp. 793, 794.