DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.812#0172
SEAL-STONES
[167]
SEAL-STONES
Seal-stones, M.M. \la (and largely b) (cont.)
lion-shaped seal of amethyst with spiraliform
pattern, IV. 486 (Fig. 416); parallel pre-
sented by scaraboid lion-seal of white
steatite (Knossos 1932), with fine en-
graving of crouched female figure, iv. 486
(Fig. 415 a-d)
revolution of sphragistic practice in closing
M.M. 116 phase (due to incipient usage
of the Linear Script A), marked by dis-
appearance of Hieroglyphic bead-seals,
iv. 438
'prism type' also used for natural forms as
wild-goat, couchant beneath tree, and
bird, 1. 274, 275 (Fig. 204 a), and fore-
part of stag with spreading antlers, ib.
(Fig. 204 b)
'signet' seals now used for more natural sub-
jects, such as wild-goats browsing on
peak, iv. 489 (Fig. 417)
appearance of 'flat cylinder' type (used as
bezel of finger-rings), an evolution from
ivory 'rounded tabloids' (E.M. Ill—
M.M. la), iv. 499; impression on clay-
sealing from House B, Zakro, with
signs of Hieroglyphic Class B,1 ib. and
n. 4;'specimen of banded agate (Reth-
ymnos) with spirited design of agrimi in
wild flight over rocks and trees, I. 274,
275 (Fig- 204 r, s), iv. 499, 500 (Fig.
439, Suppl. PI. LIV a)
M.M. lib:
flat-sided disks with slightly bossed faces,
derivatives of M.M. lb type in ivory and
soft stone, iv. 488, 489 (Fig. 418), and cf.
1. 685; specimen in banded agate from
Central Crete, showing 'triple palm-tree'
group on knoll of conventional rocks, II.
494 (Fig. 299); sometimes above and
below, like M.M. la prototypes, I. 275
(Fig. 204 b, c) (wild boar and hound seiz-
ing long-horned agrimi); rock crystal,
Sfaka, Siteia: chalcedony from Lasithi:
with horned sheep, fine natural style on
triply graduated base, I. 684 (Fig. 503 b),
iv. 489 (Fig. 418 a); upper part of design
showing part of conventional facade (see
Seal-stones, M.M. 116 (cont.)
1. 565 (Fig. 411 c, 1, 2), a type still in
vogue in M.M. Ill, 1. 564, 565
lentoids with picturesque naturalistic design,
well represented by seal impressions
from Hieroglyphic Deposit, Knossos (and
therefore overlapping use of Class B),
1. 272, 273, iv. 490, 491; specimens
with rock-scenery: doe beside stream,
peaks beyond, 1. 273 (Fig. 202 a); sea
grotto, 1. 273 (Fig. 202 c), iv. 116 (Fig.
81); fish and squid in rocky pool, 1.
273 (Fig. 202 b), iv. 490 (Fig. 422); rock
setting of these compared with Saffron-
Gatherer fresco, belonging to period of
ceramic polychromy, I. 265 seqq. and
Coloured PI. IV; tradition of rock-set
scenes carried on in M.M. Ill, iv. 500
impressions of 'signet' seals of clay sealings
from Hieroglyphic Deposit, Knossos,
showing portrait of male head (pre-
sumably of Minoan prince) of Armenoid
type, 1. 271, 272 (Fig. 201 a); accom-
panied by impression of prism seal giving
title, 1. 276 (Fig. 206): see too 1. 8 (Fig.
2 a); contrasted with 'Cup-bearer' of
fresco, Fig. 2 c
similar 'signet' impression of young boy
(prince), 1. 271, 272 (Fig. 201 b)
'signet' of yellow steatite (found in association
with M.M. II a polychrome pottery,
about Senusert II's time, 1906-1888
B.C.), with quadruple pattern of inter-
locked curves, II. 119, 220 (Fig. no a, 0)
pattern here supplies parallel to triple com-
bination of E.M. Ill ivory cylinder (see
above) shown to reflect a common
Middle Empire Egyptian scheme (adap-
tation of Minoan circular form to oval
scarab field), 11. 199, 200: compare Figs.
109, no AC, /; central 'sun' symbol,
ra, (re) of scarab form taken over on
Minoan signet, ib. (for survival as signet
type at Zakro, and appearance on
Mycenae grave stela, see under M.M. Ill)
amygdaloid type, represented on sealings of
Hieroglyphic Deposit, 1. 671
1 An impression from another seal-stone of the same type with a hieroglyphic inscription of
Class B was taken by Professor Sayce at Athens, Cretan Pictographs, A.E., p. 30 [209], Fig. 39.
On the other face was an agrimi seized by a dog (Scripta Minoa, PI. 11, p. 41). A.E.
[167]
SEAL-STONES
Seal-stones, M.M. \la (and largely b) (cont.)
lion-shaped seal of amethyst with spiraliform
pattern, IV. 486 (Fig. 416); parallel pre-
sented by scaraboid lion-seal of white
steatite (Knossos 1932), with fine en-
graving of crouched female figure, iv. 486
(Fig. 415 a-d)
revolution of sphragistic practice in closing
M.M. 116 phase (due to incipient usage
of the Linear Script A), marked by dis-
appearance of Hieroglyphic bead-seals,
iv. 438
'prism type' also used for natural forms as
wild-goat, couchant beneath tree, and
bird, 1. 274, 275 (Fig. 204 a), and fore-
part of stag with spreading antlers, ib.
(Fig. 204 b)
'signet' seals now used for more natural sub-
jects, such as wild-goats browsing on
peak, iv. 489 (Fig. 417)
appearance of 'flat cylinder' type (used as
bezel of finger-rings), an evolution from
ivory 'rounded tabloids' (E.M. Ill—
M.M. la), iv. 499; impression on clay-
sealing from House B, Zakro, with
signs of Hieroglyphic Class B,1 ib. and
n. 4;'specimen of banded agate (Reth-
ymnos) with spirited design of agrimi in
wild flight over rocks and trees, I. 274,
275 (Fig- 204 r, s), iv. 499, 500 (Fig.
439, Suppl. PI. LIV a)
M.M. lib:
flat-sided disks with slightly bossed faces,
derivatives of M.M. lb type in ivory and
soft stone, iv. 488, 489 (Fig. 418), and cf.
1. 685; specimen in banded agate from
Central Crete, showing 'triple palm-tree'
group on knoll of conventional rocks, II.
494 (Fig. 299); sometimes above and
below, like M.M. la prototypes, I. 275
(Fig. 204 b, c) (wild boar and hound seiz-
ing long-horned agrimi); rock crystal,
Sfaka, Siteia: chalcedony from Lasithi:
with horned sheep, fine natural style on
triply graduated base, I. 684 (Fig. 503 b),
iv. 489 (Fig. 418 a); upper part of design
showing part of conventional facade (see
Seal-stones, M.M. 116 (cont.)
1. 565 (Fig. 411 c, 1, 2), a type still in
vogue in M.M. Ill, 1. 564, 565
lentoids with picturesque naturalistic design,
well represented by seal impressions
from Hieroglyphic Deposit, Knossos (and
therefore overlapping use of Class B),
1. 272, 273, iv. 490, 491; specimens
with rock-scenery: doe beside stream,
peaks beyond, 1. 273 (Fig. 202 a); sea
grotto, 1. 273 (Fig. 202 c), iv. 116 (Fig.
81); fish and squid in rocky pool, 1.
273 (Fig. 202 b), iv. 490 (Fig. 422); rock
setting of these compared with Saffron-
Gatherer fresco, belonging to period of
ceramic polychromy, I. 265 seqq. and
Coloured PI. IV; tradition of rock-set
scenes carried on in M.M. Ill, iv. 500
impressions of 'signet' seals of clay sealings
from Hieroglyphic Deposit, Knossos,
showing portrait of male head (pre-
sumably of Minoan prince) of Armenoid
type, 1. 271, 272 (Fig. 201 a); accom-
panied by impression of prism seal giving
title, 1. 276 (Fig. 206): see too 1. 8 (Fig.
2 a); contrasted with 'Cup-bearer' of
fresco, Fig. 2 c
similar 'signet' impression of young boy
(prince), 1. 271, 272 (Fig. 201 b)
'signet' of yellow steatite (found in association
with M.M. II a polychrome pottery,
about Senusert II's time, 1906-1888
B.C.), with quadruple pattern of inter-
locked curves, II. 119, 220 (Fig. no a, 0)
pattern here supplies parallel to triple com-
bination of E.M. Ill ivory cylinder (see
above) shown to reflect a common
Middle Empire Egyptian scheme (adap-
tation of Minoan circular form to oval
scarab field), 11. 199, 200: compare Figs.
109, no AC, /; central 'sun' symbol,
ra, (re) of scarab form taken over on
Minoan signet, ib. (for survival as signet
type at Zakro, and appearance on
Mycenae grave stela, see under M.M. Ill)
amygdaloid type, represented on sealings of
Hieroglyphic Deposit, 1. 671
1 An impression from another seal-stone of the same type with a hieroglyphic inscription of
Class B was taken by Professor Sayce at Athens, Cretan Pictographs, A.E., p. 30 [209], Fig. 39.
On the other face was an agrimi seized by a dog (Scripta Minoa, PI. 11, p. 41). A.E.