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

[183]

SEAL-STONES

Seal-stones, L.M. Ilia, Lentoids (cont.)

(harnspex) making incision into entrails
of a boar, laid on sacrificial table, as last,

iv- 572, 573 (Fig- 53°)
L.M. Ill*:

'Reoccupation Period' of Knossos. General
observations: It is always possible that
stray sealings belonging to this phase
may have intruded themselves among
the scattered remains of the true Palatial
deposits (L.M. II). For an isolated seal
impression attributed to this phase (lion
springing on bull) from the Little Palace,
see iv. 534, 535 (Fig. 467). The most
important remains were from the Lapi-
dary's Workshop, S.W. Basement, show-
ing steatite bead-seals of lentoid form in
process of manufacture, iv. 594, 595, in-
cluding unfinished intaglio with cow and
calf design (Fig. 590). On clay nodule
used for trial pieces were a dog seizing
quarry, couchant oxen, goats, horned
sheep, and part of conventional palm-
tree, iv. 595 n. 1

Referred to this epoch is also the
cornelian lentoid from Arkhanes, iv.
588 (Fig. 582), feline animal and ducks
illustrating a further advance of L.M.
II convoluted types. A remarkable
dark steatite lentoid (transitional to
amygdaloid) lately found in Knossos
district, here given in inset, shows a

Steatite bead-seal from near Knossos
L.M. III b (f)

highly convoluted and ornamentalized
design of an Argonaut with its three
tentacled fish. This design is of great
interest as a glyptic version of the Argo-
naut types of the Ceramic 'Late Revival'

Seal-stones, L.M. lllb (cont.)

style of the close of L.M. lllb—-itself a
derivative of the Knossian 'Palace Style'
of L.M. II, and presenting at times the
tell-ta'e 'three Cs'.
L.M. I He (term here applied to concluding
L.M. Ill phase, including Cretan 'proto-
Geometrical'):
Gpld signet-ring of Minoan type (oval bezel
at right angles to hoop) but without in-
taglio, Chamber Tomb, Karakovilia,
near Vrokastro, E. Crete (E. H. Hall),
11. 137 (Fig. 70 B, 13), 138, and cf. 198
(Fig. 108 d: bronze ring of Minoan type
with engraved pattern from Glasinatz,
Bosnia)

It may be noted that the manufacture
of typical Minoan bead-seals of hard
stones also survived to this transitional
Age. In other contemporary tombs of
Vrokastro were found two seal-stones,
one a cornelian amygdaloid, the other
agate of exceptionally broad amygdaloid
form with what appear to be degenerate
vegetable motives.
Bead-seals. Forms and material of and
chronological place in above list
Primitive three-sided type of irregular fabric,

steatite, E.M. I
Whorl of irregular fabric, green steatite,

E.M. I
Cylinders of indigenous type, with lateral
perforation, steatite baked clay, E.M. II,
E.M. Ill
Compact three-sided type, better executed,
in soft materials, steatite and ivory,
E.M. II, E.M. Ill
Bottle or pear-shaped seals (forerunners of
'signet' type), steatite and ivory, E.M.
II-M.M. la
Animal types (bulls and sheep couchant, apes,
fore-parts of swine), mostly ivory, begin
E.M. II, E.M. Ill
Bird's-head, ivory, E.M. II
Birds (Dove and young), ivory, E.M. Ill
Lion couchant, ivory (imitations of proto-

Egyptian draught-pieces), E.M. Ill
Little Owl, ivory, E.M. Ill
Cylinder of Oriental tvpe, imitated in gold,
E.M. Ill