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 (Index) (London, 1936)

SEAL-STONES

[172]

SEAL-STONES

Seal-stones, M.M. Illi, Deposit of clay seal im-
pressions in West Temple Repository (cont.)

fragment of impression with cordiform de-
sign compared with Zakro motives, I.
700 (Fig. 524, and cf. Fig. 523 a, b)

spirited scene of mariner beating off sea
monster from skiff, 1. 697, 698 (Fig. 520),
IV. 952 (Fig. 921); prototype of Skylla,
with features of Hippocampus, I, 697, IV.
951-3 (Figs. 919-21)

subjects of natural inspiration: stems bent
before breeze and rippling water, I, 697
(Fig. 519); tulip flower with wavy stalk,
1. 696 (Fig. 518)

animal motives and adjuncts: four little
owls round stellar symbol: rock border,
I. 695, 696 (Fig. 518/); three heads of
wolves (or dogs), I. 696 (Fig. 518 e)

horned sheep beside manger: swastika
above (18 examples), I. 684, 696 (Fig.
5186), iv. 570 (Fig. 544a); possible
reference of symbol to horned sheep
suckling infant God on sealing of Hiero-
glyphic Deposit, 1. 273 (Fig. 202 e), 684,
696, IV. 570 (also similar animal without
swastika)

cross somewhat elongated as «+■ of 'Linear'
scripts, 1. 515 (Fig. 374)

recumbent ox with head turned back, away
from the spectator, I. 695, 696 (Fig.
518 c); suggestive of later group of two
oxen, 1. 696 (Fig. 518 c), IV. 565 seqq.

she-goat in act of parturition, 1. 695, 696
(Fig. 518 d)

marine types: crab, 1. 696 (Fig. 518 g);
conch shells and cockles, 1. 696 (Fig.
518 h); four cockle-shells, 1. 696 (Fig.

5l8l)

enigmatic design of rocks arid horizontal
bars with crescent-shaped stands, I. 696
(Fig. 518 k), 697

pallium-like figure superposed on triple-
looped coils, 1. 696 (Fig. 5187)

scene of Taurokathapsia: youth performing
back somersault over coursing bull,
figure behind holding out arm, as later
fresco, 1. 694 (Fig. 514), in. 218 (Fig. 149)

fragment of boxing scene, pugilist with part
of fallen champion, and pillar indicating
Grand Stand, 1. 689 (Fig. 509), 691

Seal-stones (cont.)
L.M. la:

'flat cylinders', associated with some of the
finest intaglio designs at Mycenae and
Thisbe, iv. 504: cornelian, Snake God-
dess holding sword and lustral sprinkler
—symbols of temporal and spiritual do-
minion—found, with bronze hoard and
L.M. la painted ewer, by Stepped Por-
tico, 11. 792, 793 (Fig. 517), 794

agate, N.W. Treasure House: facing bull's
head with Double Axe rising from it, II.
619 (Fig. 388)

— red jasper, Kydonia: warrior covered
by 8-shaped shield thrusting spear at
lion's neck, kneeling archer in front of
him, rocks below, iv. 575 (Fig. 556), 576;
design derived from pictorial prototype
parallel to lion-hunt on inlaid dagger-
blade, ib.

group of three 'flat cylinders', gold (per-
haps for wrist), from earlier deposit,
Chamber Tomb, Thisbe, Boeotia: lion
seizing bull, in. 123, 124 (Fig. 75);
scenes of Taurokathapsia—youth thrown
by bull, 'Sacral Knot' in field, in. 225,
226 (Fig. 159) (parallel design and sym-
bol on gold signet-ring from Smyrna,
in. 225, Fig. 158); ritual stabbing of
bull, in. 226 (Fig. 160), 227 (parallel
supplied by Boegia of Miletos, iv. 47)

group of three 'flat cylinders', probably
also for wrist, from Third Shaft Grave,
Mycenae (found with one-handled
'aryballos', mature L.M. la), wounded
lion with arrow in flank on rocky slope,
iv. 546 (Fig. 507); warrior stabbing lion
with short sword, in. 125 (Fig. 78);
type imitated by Hellenistic engraver on
ivory ring bezel, IV. 125 (Fig. 79), 126
(for the third example of the group—
'Hector slain by Achilles'—see Schlie-
mann Mycenae, p. 174, Fig. 123)
solid gold finger-ring with oval bezel, from
large tholos tomb, Kakovatos, 'Nestor's
Pylos', known as 'Ring of Nestor': entry
into Minoan Underworld, scenes divided
by boughs and trunk of 'Tree of the
World' (Minoan Yggdrasil) with mon-
ster at foot ('one-headed Cerberus'): (1)