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

[178]

SEAL-STONES

Seal-stones, L.M. II, General observations (cont.)
flat cylinder chalcedony (gold mounted),
Isopata Tomb 1, Knossos, with Palace
style pottery: collared lion with two
attendants and 8-shaped shield, iv. 500
(Fig. 442), 501
flat cylinder, clay impression of, Deposit
C: three (less probably, four as restored
in Figure) female adorants, iv. 602 (Fig.

597A, *)

— numerous impressions from 'Archives
Deposit', iv. 603 (C. 38, Fig. 597 B. j)
showing collared bitch from the same
'flat' cylinder as others from L.M. la
stratum of A 6—an evidence of con-
tinued palatial use
Amygdaloids:

haematite, Mirabello: expanded wing of
water-bird seized by cat-like animal, in.
116, 117 (Fig. 68)

haematite, Crete: feline animal chasing
water-bird, in. 117 (Fig. 69)

(The spirited design of this and the
preceding intaglios warrants their inclu-
sion in L.M. lb. For near relation of
types to duck-hunting scenes on Mycenae
dagger-blade, see III. 114 seqq.)

amygdaloid impression of design, set
vertically, four Double Axes with redup-
licated edges symmetrically arranged
round rosette, C, iv. 608 (Fig. 597 A, d);
ceiling pattern restored from it, iv. 614
(Fig. 601); set horizontally, two sacral
knots on either side of palm-tree, C, iv.

608 (Fig. 597 a, k)

elongated oval, two oxen walking towards
one another, a palm behind each, C, iv.

609 (Fig. 597 B, m, probably gold bead)
Signet-rings: clay impression Goddess on peak

with lion supporters, male adorant before
her, behind, pillar shrine with sacral
horns, Central Shrine, B, iv. 608 (Fig.
597 a, e): and see n. 809 (Fig. 528) (re-
mains of numerous examples)

variants of same, iv. 607

Goddess richly apparalled, with hands
raised: male adorant to left, B, iv. 603 (Fig.
596): impression imperfectly preserved

fragmentary impression probably from
gold signet: male adorant before tvvo-

Seal-stones, L.M. II, Signet-rings (cont.)

winged shrine with bi-columnar central
compartment, iv. 608 (Fig. 597 A, j):
Little Palace

fragmentary sealing, perhaps from signet
ring, Little Palace, E, showing two
opposed lions resting their fore-paws on
rocky peak like that on which the God-
dess stands on the preceding signet types,
iv. 610-12 (Fig. 597 a, i, upper part re-
stored); (C) represents free standing
sculptural group in the round, iv. 612-
14; comparison with Lions' Gate type, iv.
610, 611 (Fig. 599 a, b, c,), 613 (Fig. 600)

gold signet-ring, Mycenae: two lions
tethered to column showing part of
architrave, with sacral knots attached,
towards which their heads are turned,
IV. 610 (Fig. 598 a); compared with agate
amygdaloid from Mycenae with Goddess
replacing baetylic pillar between the
lions, iv. 610 (Fig. 598 b)

seal impression: two antithetic lions
resting their fore-paw-s on rocky peak,
set on base supported by two pillars, iv.
608 (Fig. 597 a, j), and (with heads con-
fronted, Knossos) cf. n. 524 (Fig. 327)

young God (representing baetylic peak),
between two lions similarly posed (pro-
bably from signet-ring), Knossos, D. 4,
iv. 608 (Fig. 597 a, h)

gold signet-ring, Dendra, Royal Tomb
(date of contents, on various grounds,
equated with L.M. II): two fore-parts of
horned sheep antithetically placed with
heads turned to one another, above triple
'snake-frames' (see IV. 168 seqq.) plaited
together; in exergual space below, two
opposed symmetric figures of calves with
heads turned back, IV. 170 (Fig. 134), 171
Lentoid bead-seals (antithetic subjects in reli-
gious connexion):

large chalcedony, Diktaean Cave (Psy-
chro): Goddess standing between lions
antithetically grouped, holding up over
her head a 'snake frame' (as above) with
Double Axe rising from its centre. On
either side of her, Griffins antithetically
set on raised base, iv. 169 (Fig. 130);
similar design on lentoid from Ialyscs,