Further

parallel
supplied
by

Tomb I,
Isopata.

776 MINOAN TYPES OF VESSEL IN RAS-SHAMRA TOMBS

Palace style, a fine gold-mounted intaglio, and the gold signet-rino- depicti
the descent of the Goddess over an orgiastic dance of her handmaidens1 &

As in the case of the larger Knossian vault, the evidence is clear
that this structure goes back to the
palmy days of the last Palace period
(L. M. II). This keel-vaulted type
of built sepulchral chamber, as seen
on a smaller scale in Crete itself, has
evidently a considerable range there.
Tombs of this class, more or less
contemporary with those of Knossos,
reappear in the West of the Island
notably in the neighbourhood of
Canea.2

This extensive range in the Island
tends to show that the origin of the
construction illustrated by the Royal
Tombs of Minet-el-Beida and Ras-
Shamra should be sought on Cretan

soil, though—as in analogous cases—the existence of Cypro-Minoan inter
mediaries is only what might be expected.

Fig 755. Built Sepulchral Chamber

at Minet:el-Beida showing Aperture
in Back Wall like Tomb 1 or Isopata.

Minoa'n
types of
vessel
asso-
ciated
with Kas-
Shamra
lombs.

Minoan Types of Vessel associated with Ras-Shamra Tombs.

Although the bulk of the relics found in or near the tombs on the
latter sites—notably the faience 'head-goblet' and mask—are of L. M. HI
date, and, like the ivory reliefs there found, naturally show a close connexion
with the Cypro-Minoan fabrics of Enkomi, Professor Schaeffer has rightly
called attention to a certain number of vessels as clearly related to the
products of the last Palatial Age of Knossos. They even approach its
earliest limits.

Among the types reproduced in Fig. 75(i,;1 the ' rhyton ' a with a good
if somewhat symmetrically rendered,octopus,which represents the L. M. Ill a
element, while it differs in style and details from parallel examples found at

1 See P. o/M., iii, p. 6S, Fig. 38. have since come to light in that region.

- In The Tomb of the Double Axes, &c, p. 9, • From photographs kindly supplied me by

reference is made lo such tombs at Malami, Prof. Schaeffer (cf. Syria, xiii, PI. IV, l on(1 2"
about two hours West of Canea, and others