DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16205#0060
CULT OBJECTS
The principal object in the shrine is the figure twined with snakes (No. i), which represents the
Earth-Goddess. That there were other representations of her is shown by the hands (Nos. 6 and 7)
and heads (Nos. 2 and 5) one of which has part of a snake on the neck. The goddess is accompanied
also by doves—possibly one was perched on her head.' The crudeness of the idol's form at a period
when better work was done, leads to the conclusion that it preserves an older canonical tradition.
No attempt is made to indicate the details of dress by painting or relief, but the bell-shaped skirt re-
produces roughly the prevailing style of Minoan dress.2 The same clinging to convention is manifest
in the idol's gesture, which has a ritualistic significance not yet satisfactorily explained in view of the
fact that the Minoans, not only in their glyptic, but also in their plastic, art, were able to express a series
of different gestures, and that they were not hampered in their power of expression by inability to use
its medium. This gesture has been interpreted as adoration and benediction,3 but the attitude of adora-
tion is better expressed by the bronze statuette (No. 21), and the interpretation as benediction is at
best only doubtful, for it may well be questioned whether, at this early period, a deity could be con-
ceived of as conferring benefits in so symbolic a manner. To the writer there appears a striking
similarity between the position of the arms and the form of the sacred horns (No. 25), which suggests
comparison with an Egyptian predynastic figure in which the raised arms bear a strong resemblance
to horns.* It is not impossible that in Crete, as in Egypt, there prevailed an early worship of a Great
Mother under the form of a cow goddess, and that a reminiscence of such a goddess is preserved in
this curious attitude, although connecting evidence is lacking.
The altar-table (No. 7) explains one of its uses in bearing a cultus vase, which, in its turn, supported
a bowl or cup of offering. The cultus vases (Nos. 11, 12, 13) closely resemble so-called offering-stands
of Egypt,5 and though found elsewhere in Crete, at Prinia, they appear not to have been in common
use.0 Each of them bears, above a handle, the commonest Minoan religious emblem, the "horns of
consecration,"7 and also a series of three or four conventionalized snake handles. Two vases are dis-
tinguished by additional symbols, the snakes, and the disc; the latter is the emblem of Egyptian
Hathor and may have been given to the Cretan goddess in this instance because of the resemblances
between the two goddesses. Unfortunately the symbol of the third vase is missing: it may have
been a dove. We may, therefore, assume that the goddess with her different accompaniments had
different characteristics, and that a worshipper would set his bowl of offering on the cultus vase, which,
by its symbol, designated the particular aspect of the goddess to which he wished to make offering. The
only remaining object from our shrine, besides numerous coarse fragments, is a sherd with the double-
axe (No. 8), which appears from its convexity to have belonged to a large pithos.8
We must now notice certain objects found at Gournia outside the shrine, which are supposed to
have a religious meaning. Altar-tables, such as No. 24, were used for domestic offerings. Scenes on
gems and frescoes frequently present the sacred horns surmounting the cornice of a building." Gournia
yielded two pairs of such horns, one of limestone (No. 25), which formed part of the cornice of the
Palace, and a smaller pair (Phila.) from the Great House.
1 Idol. Goddess twined with snakes. Coarse red clay. Hollow. Eyeballs, breasts, and snakes were affixed. H. (to
top of diadem) 36.5 cm. W. 25.5 cm. Th. (body) 7.3 cm. D. (base) 13.5 cm. Reg. No. 1934.
2 Head of similar idol, but note addition of chin and ear. Fragment of snake on neck. Clay.
3, 4 Doves. Coarse red clay. Reg. No. 2845.
5 Head of idol. Suggestion of snake on forehead. Hair (?) in three plaits over back of head. Clay.
6 Idol's arm entwined with snake which binds a straight flat object to the hand. Clay.
7 Altar-table with three legs. Coarse clay, sun-baked, with coating of plaster. On it is the broken base (D. 21 cm.) of
a cultus vase of coarse red clay. Rim of table slightly raised. D. of table 40 cm. H. 21 cm. Reg. No. 2968.
8 Fragment of pithos with a double-axe in relief. Coarse red clay. Reg. No. 2847.
9 Head of snake. Slight ridge under throat shows line of adhesion to another object. Reg. No. 2845.
10 Idol's hand entwined with a snake. Coarse red clay.
11 Cultus vase; hollow, open top and bottom. 8 vertical loop handles; grooved handle surmounted by sacred horns.
Flaring rim, partly broken. 3 ridges around neck, 2 around base. Bright red gritty clay. H. 38 cm. Reg. No. 1937.
12 Cultus vase, like preceding. 6 loop handles; round handle surmounted by sacred horns. The 2 snakes end in pointed
tails on other side. 2 ridges around base, 3 ridges around neck. Coarse red clay. H. 40.5 cm. Reg. No. 1936.
13 Cultus vase, like Nos. 11,12. 8 loop handles and grooved handle surmounted by sacred horns with disc above. 4
ridges around neck, 1 ridge around base. Bright red gritty clay. H.42CITI. Reg. No. 1935.
14 A,B. Amulet,aseated goddess. On r. shoulderaslight ridge,broken. Electron. H.1.5cm. From wall w.of 0,7,8,9. Reg.No.202.
1 Cf. Dove-Goddess of Knossos. Vide infra, Appendix A, p. 51.
2 Note 8, p. 51, infra. 3 Note 7, p. 51, infra.
4 Cf. a figure in the Metr. Mus., N. Y. The gesture occurs also on predynastic pottery. De Morgan, Origines, I, PI. X.
5 The Egyptian offering-stand, though more commonly of stone in the IVth Dynasty, was reproduced from the Vth
to Xllth Dynasty in pottery, was hollow, and was open top and bottom with a height varying from 50 cm. to 25 or 30
cm. From the Xllth to the X VI11 th Dynasty it gradually shortened until it became a low "ring-stand." Tor this
information my thanks are due to Mr. A. M. Lythgoe, Metropolitan Museum, N. Y.
° See Ohnefalsch-Richter, Kypros, die Bibel und Homer, PI. XVII, figs. 2 and 3, for hollow conical vases with doves
from the temenos of Astarte (?) in Cyprus. These, however, appear to be later than the Gournia vases.
7 Compared by Dr. Evans (Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult, pp. 37-40) with the Hebrew 'horns of the altar.'
8 It proves not to be part of a cultus vase, as was stated by Miss Boyd {Transactions, \, 1, p. 41), who described it
as a "double-axe and disc." Comparison with a fragment from the Dictaean cave (B. S. A., VI., p. 104, fig. 34) and
with another fragment from Gournia (unpublished), proves that the "disc" is a ball on the shaft of the axe. Cf. also
PI. VIII 26. • » Vide infra, Appendix A, p. 52.
10 Evans, Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult, p. 24. In the case of the shield, the argument is based on his interpretation of
the small figure with 8-shaped shield, on the great signet from Mycenae, as a Warrior God (/. c. p. 10), and on a very
doubtful identification of two objects pictured on gold rings as shields of "the dead god" (/. c, pp. 78 ff, and figs. 52, 53).
In the writer's opinion, however, Dr. Evans has here made the mistake of attaching an Hellenic myth about Zeus to a
scene belonging to a different civilization. Minoan evidence for a male divinity is very slight (p. 52, infra).
It has been argued that the eight-shaped shield and the double-axe are aniconic representations
of a male god.10 Eight-shaped shields occur on seal stones," on a fresco from Mycenae,12 and as
ornaments in relief on large vessels.13 We may infer, therefore, the ornamental use of the bronze
shield (No. 15), and of the cockleshell (No. 16) which appears elsewhere as a motive for decoration.1'
The eight-shaped shield was as distinctive of Minyan Orchomenos as was the double-axe of Minoan
Knossos, and both may have been marks of distinguished families, clans, or classes. The claim for
the double-axe as "the proper emblem of the male god" has already been contested 15 in favor of an
interpretation of it as primarily an emblem of secular power. Such seems to be the meaning of two
large double-axes of thin bronze (Nos. 22, 23), found in Gournia houses, which could be stuck on
short handles and held in the hand, or set up on stepped pedestals 10 (PI. V 16).
The bull was from early times the chief animal of sacrifice in Crete, and was commonly represented
among the votive offerings in shrines and caves. Our bull's head rhyton (No. 20), may have been
a ceremonial cup, intended, like early Chinese sacrificial vessels, to hold the bull's blood in religious
rites.17 It was filled at a large hole above the handle, and a small hole in the muzzle allowed the liquid to
pass out in a thin stream either as a drink or a libation. While no claim can be advanced for this head as
a faithful or artistic copy of life, it is of peculiar interest as an early example of a rhyton in the shape of
an animal's head.18 The curious object No. I9A is a clay mould for a bull's face, from which the cast
No. 19B was taken. Possibly the mould served for making a rhyton, although similar moulds were
used to cast faience or stucco reliefs for decorations and votive offerings. Unfortunately, our draw-
ing is on too small a scale to do justice to the excellent technique. Rhytons in other shapes were used,
particularly models of conch shells made of marble,1" liparite,20 or clay, like our two conchs (Nos.
17,18). These were cast in moulds made probably from real shells, and were finished by hand with
great care.
The figurines give more light on religious observances and also show the skill attained by the
Gournia artist in modelling the human form. No. 14 is a representation of the goddess to be worn
as an amulet attached to a necklace.2' The tiny idol sits cross-legged with both hands raised to her
ears.22 The full skirts of the time are well represented; a plain bodice covers the back, while the muscles
of the breast and stomach are delineated so plainly as to leave no doubt that this part of the body
was nude. The features are indicated by dots and lines. The bronze statuette 23 of a votary is a more
successful treatment of the human figure. Though so badly corroded that any delicacy of surface-
modelling has disappeared, the statuette is very lifelike in pose and gesture, and exhibits considerable
freedom of movement. The hair24 is particularly interesting, showing the foppish twists on the head
and the three long braids or curls affected by Minoan men. The figure appears to wear only the breech-
clout; but a slight rise in the surface between thigh and knee may indicate drawers or loin-cloth, al-
though the corroded surface makes the identification uncertain. The square base was evidently in-
tended for a support, whereas the projection below is only the metal jet. Such statuettes were made
by a simple process of solid casting.
15 Miniature shield. Perforated transversely. Bronze. L. 2.1 cm. W. 1.8 cm. From A 43. Reg. No. 837.
16 Cockleshell. Bronze. L. 1.6 cm. W. 1.8 cm. From C 30. Reg. No. 836.
17 Cast of conch shell for rhyton. Gray clay. L. 30.7 cm. Gt. W. 14.2 cm. From E 13. Reg. No. 1109.
18 Same as No. 17. Fine gray clay. L. 28.2 cm. Gt. W. 12.9 cm. From Hill House 10. Reg. No. 1108.
19 A. Mould for bull's head. Coarse pinkish-yellow clay with fine dark particles. L. 16.7 cm. W. 13.1 cm. From F 7.
Reg. No. 1933. 19 B is a cast taken from 19 A.
20 Rhyton in shape of bull's head. Small hole (D. 1 cm.) in muzzle. Larger hole (D. 3 cm.) above handle. Flat base.
Yellow clay with yellow slip and painted with black and red (dotted) bands. Reconstructed from fragments.
L. 24 cm. Gt. W. 20. cm. From A 20. Reg. No. 1923. [Cf. imaginary sketch by M. Bagge, Fig. 36, p. 55.]
21 Statuette of man on square support; he wears girdle and clout. Hair is divided into 3 snake-like tresses which fall 1
down back and 2 over shoulders, meeting on breast. Bronze, much corroded. H. 13.5 cm. From G 27. Reg. No. 612.
22 Double-axe. Bronze. L. 31cm. Gt. W. c. 14.5 cm. Gt. Th. 3.2 cm. From C 31. Reg. No. 964.
23 Double-axe. Bronze. Socket is made by curving the overlapping edges of the two plates, of which the axe is formed,
and fastening them together by two pairs of rivets (D. 3 cm.). L. 24.5.cm. From Hill House. Reg. No. 556.
24 Altar-table with two parallel ledge supports having a round base (L. 20 cm. W. 5.8 cm. H. 2.4 cm.). Top hollowed
into a shallow oblong basin (L. c. 18cm. W.c.i2cm. D.c.2cm.). Table: H. c. 10.2 cm. L. c. 29 cm. W. c. 28 cm.
Clay, sun-baked, covered with fine plaster painted red and hand-polished. From A 4. Reconstructed.
25 Sacred horns. Coarse limestone. H.38cm. L. 38 cm. W. 15 cm. From north end of Public Court (see p. 25).
11 Perrot and Chipiez, VI, PI. XVI, 1; Evans, B. S. A., VIII, p. 77, fig. 41. 12 'E<p. 'Apx-, 1887, PI. X.
13 Perrot and Chipiez,VI, fig. 365. Evans, Preh. Tombs of Knossos, pp. 74, 121, figs. 83, 115; B. S. A., IX, p. 73, fig. 51;
p. 72, fig. 49. The 8-shaped shield throughout classical times was used as an emblem on coins of Boeotia and Salamis
(Ridgeway, Early Age of Greece, p. 320, fig. 62). Cf. shields of rock crystal and carnelian for ornaments from Avgo (Has-
tings, A. J. A.,n. s., IX, p. 285), and a gold necklace of shields from Enkomi (A. S. Murray, Excavations in Cyprus, PI. VI).
14 Evans, Prehistoric Tombs of Knossos, fig. 54; B. S. A., IX, p. 73, fig. 51.
15 Vide supra, p. 13, note 105; also Rouse, The Double Axe and the Labyrinth, J. H. S., XXI, 1902, pp. 268-274.
But see H. R. Hall's reply, The Two Labyrinths, J. H. S., XXIV, 1905, p. 325 n."
18 For stepped pedestals and double-axes of thin bronze from AghiaTriadha, see Halbherr, Mem. R.I si. Lomb.,XXl,fig. 5.
17 p. 52, infra. " Vide infra, p. 52, note 40.
18 Evans, B. S. A., VI, p. 31. 2U Paribeni. Rendic. Lincei XII, 1903, p. 334.
21 Such amulets have appeared also in graves. Cf. a gold ornament from Mycenae, Perrot and Chipiez, VI, fig. 383; also a
paste glass figure,'Ef.'Apx. PI. VI11, fig. 9; steatite amulets from the 'tholos'tomb at Aghia Triadha (Halbherr, Mem. R.
1st. Lomb., XXI, fasc. V, fig. 27); and from chamber-tomb 97, Evans, Prehistoric Tombs, fig. 95; a gold pendant from
Sardinia, Furtwangler and Loeschke, Myk. Vasen, p. 48; a tiny earring, A. S. Murray, Excavations in Cyprus, p. 19, fig. 36.
22 Cf. a lapis-lazuli pendant in the form of a long-tailed monkey with hands raised to its ears (Evans, op. cit., fig. 131a).
23 Cf. statuettes, Excavations in Phylakopi, PI. XXXVII, pp. 186-189; Jahrbuch, Arch. Anj., 1892, VII, p. 48, figs.
62 and 63; cf. also another statuette from Gournia, h. 6.4 cm.
24 For hair and dress, cf. the Keftiu on wall painting of the tomb of Rekhmara; note 86, p. 6, gives references.
B. E. Williams.
The principal object in the shrine is the figure twined with snakes (No. i), which represents the
Earth-Goddess. That there were other representations of her is shown by the hands (Nos. 6 and 7)
and heads (Nos. 2 and 5) one of which has part of a snake on the neck. The goddess is accompanied
also by doves—possibly one was perched on her head.' The crudeness of the idol's form at a period
when better work was done, leads to the conclusion that it preserves an older canonical tradition.
No attempt is made to indicate the details of dress by painting or relief, but the bell-shaped skirt re-
produces roughly the prevailing style of Minoan dress.2 The same clinging to convention is manifest
in the idol's gesture, which has a ritualistic significance not yet satisfactorily explained in view of the
fact that the Minoans, not only in their glyptic, but also in their plastic, art, were able to express a series
of different gestures, and that they were not hampered in their power of expression by inability to use
its medium. This gesture has been interpreted as adoration and benediction,3 but the attitude of adora-
tion is better expressed by the bronze statuette (No. 21), and the interpretation as benediction is at
best only doubtful, for it may well be questioned whether, at this early period, a deity could be con-
ceived of as conferring benefits in so symbolic a manner. To the writer there appears a striking
similarity between the position of the arms and the form of the sacred horns (No. 25), which suggests
comparison with an Egyptian predynastic figure in which the raised arms bear a strong resemblance
to horns.* It is not impossible that in Crete, as in Egypt, there prevailed an early worship of a Great
Mother under the form of a cow goddess, and that a reminiscence of such a goddess is preserved in
this curious attitude, although connecting evidence is lacking.
The altar-table (No. 7) explains one of its uses in bearing a cultus vase, which, in its turn, supported
a bowl or cup of offering. The cultus vases (Nos. 11, 12, 13) closely resemble so-called offering-stands
of Egypt,5 and though found elsewhere in Crete, at Prinia, they appear not to have been in common
use.0 Each of them bears, above a handle, the commonest Minoan religious emblem, the "horns of
consecration,"7 and also a series of three or four conventionalized snake handles. Two vases are dis-
tinguished by additional symbols, the snakes, and the disc; the latter is the emblem of Egyptian
Hathor and may have been given to the Cretan goddess in this instance because of the resemblances
between the two goddesses. Unfortunately the symbol of the third vase is missing: it may have
been a dove. We may, therefore, assume that the goddess with her different accompaniments had
different characteristics, and that a worshipper would set his bowl of offering on the cultus vase, which,
by its symbol, designated the particular aspect of the goddess to which he wished to make offering. The
only remaining object from our shrine, besides numerous coarse fragments, is a sherd with the double-
axe (No. 8), which appears from its convexity to have belonged to a large pithos.8
We must now notice certain objects found at Gournia outside the shrine, which are supposed to
have a religious meaning. Altar-tables, such as No. 24, were used for domestic offerings. Scenes on
gems and frescoes frequently present the sacred horns surmounting the cornice of a building." Gournia
yielded two pairs of such horns, one of limestone (No. 25), which formed part of the cornice of the
Palace, and a smaller pair (Phila.) from the Great House.
1 Idol. Goddess twined with snakes. Coarse red clay. Hollow. Eyeballs, breasts, and snakes were affixed. H. (to
top of diadem) 36.5 cm. W. 25.5 cm. Th. (body) 7.3 cm. D. (base) 13.5 cm. Reg. No. 1934.
2 Head of similar idol, but note addition of chin and ear. Fragment of snake on neck. Clay.
3, 4 Doves. Coarse red clay. Reg. No. 2845.
5 Head of idol. Suggestion of snake on forehead. Hair (?) in three plaits over back of head. Clay.
6 Idol's arm entwined with snake which binds a straight flat object to the hand. Clay.
7 Altar-table with three legs. Coarse clay, sun-baked, with coating of plaster. On it is the broken base (D. 21 cm.) of
a cultus vase of coarse red clay. Rim of table slightly raised. D. of table 40 cm. H. 21 cm. Reg. No. 2968.
8 Fragment of pithos with a double-axe in relief. Coarse red clay. Reg. No. 2847.
9 Head of snake. Slight ridge under throat shows line of adhesion to another object. Reg. No. 2845.
10 Idol's hand entwined with a snake. Coarse red clay.
11 Cultus vase; hollow, open top and bottom. 8 vertical loop handles; grooved handle surmounted by sacred horns.
Flaring rim, partly broken. 3 ridges around neck, 2 around base. Bright red gritty clay. H. 38 cm. Reg. No. 1937.
12 Cultus vase, like preceding. 6 loop handles; round handle surmounted by sacred horns. The 2 snakes end in pointed
tails on other side. 2 ridges around base, 3 ridges around neck. Coarse red clay. H. 40.5 cm. Reg. No. 1936.
13 Cultus vase, like Nos. 11,12. 8 loop handles and grooved handle surmounted by sacred horns with disc above. 4
ridges around neck, 1 ridge around base. Bright red gritty clay. H.42CITI. Reg. No. 1935.
14 A,B. Amulet,aseated goddess. On r. shoulderaslight ridge,broken. Electron. H.1.5cm. From wall w.of 0,7,8,9. Reg.No.202.
1 Cf. Dove-Goddess of Knossos. Vide infra, Appendix A, p. 51.
2 Note 8, p. 51, infra. 3 Note 7, p. 51, infra.
4 Cf. a figure in the Metr. Mus., N. Y. The gesture occurs also on predynastic pottery. De Morgan, Origines, I, PI. X.
5 The Egyptian offering-stand, though more commonly of stone in the IVth Dynasty, was reproduced from the Vth
to Xllth Dynasty in pottery, was hollow, and was open top and bottom with a height varying from 50 cm. to 25 or 30
cm. From the Xllth to the X VI11 th Dynasty it gradually shortened until it became a low "ring-stand." Tor this
information my thanks are due to Mr. A. M. Lythgoe, Metropolitan Museum, N. Y.
° See Ohnefalsch-Richter, Kypros, die Bibel und Homer, PI. XVII, figs. 2 and 3, for hollow conical vases with doves
from the temenos of Astarte (?) in Cyprus. These, however, appear to be later than the Gournia vases.
7 Compared by Dr. Evans (Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult, pp. 37-40) with the Hebrew 'horns of the altar.'
8 It proves not to be part of a cultus vase, as was stated by Miss Boyd {Transactions, \, 1, p. 41), who described it
as a "double-axe and disc." Comparison with a fragment from the Dictaean cave (B. S. A., VI., p. 104, fig. 34) and
with another fragment from Gournia (unpublished), proves that the "disc" is a ball on the shaft of the axe. Cf. also
PI. VIII 26. • » Vide infra, Appendix A, p. 52.
10 Evans, Myc. Tree and Pillar Cult, p. 24. In the case of the shield, the argument is based on his interpretation of
the small figure with 8-shaped shield, on the great signet from Mycenae, as a Warrior God (/. c. p. 10), and on a very
doubtful identification of two objects pictured on gold rings as shields of "the dead god" (/. c, pp. 78 ff, and figs. 52, 53).
In the writer's opinion, however, Dr. Evans has here made the mistake of attaching an Hellenic myth about Zeus to a
scene belonging to a different civilization. Minoan evidence for a male divinity is very slight (p. 52, infra).
It has been argued that the eight-shaped shield and the double-axe are aniconic representations
of a male god.10 Eight-shaped shields occur on seal stones," on a fresco from Mycenae,12 and as
ornaments in relief on large vessels.13 We may infer, therefore, the ornamental use of the bronze
shield (No. 15), and of the cockleshell (No. 16) which appears elsewhere as a motive for decoration.1'
The eight-shaped shield was as distinctive of Minyan Orchomenos as was the double-axe of Minoan
Knossos, and both may have been marks of distinguished families, clans, or classes. The claim for
the double-axe as "the proper emblem of the male god" has already been contested 15 in favor of an
interpretation of it as primarily an emblem of secular power. Such seems to be the meaning of two
large double-axes of thin bronze (Nos. 22, 23), found in Gournia houses, which could be stuck on
short handles and held in the hand, or set up on stepped pedestals 10 (PI. V 16).
The bull was from early times the chief animal of sacrifice in Crete, and was commonly represented
among the votive offerings in shrines and caves. Our bull's head rhyton (No. 20), may have been
a ceremonial cup, intended, like early Chinese sacrificial vessels, to hold the bull's blood in religious
rites.17 It was filled at a large hole above the handle, and a small hole in the muzzle allowed the liquid to
pass out in a thin stream either as a drink or a libation. While no claim can be advanced for this head as
a faithful or artistic copy of life, it is of peculiar interest as an early example of a rhyton in the shape of
an animal's head.18 The curious object No. I9A is a clay mould for a bull's face, from which the cast
No. 19B was taken. Possibly the mould served for making a rhyton, although similar moulds were
used to cast faience or stucco reliefs for decorations and votive offerings. Unfortunately, our draw-
ing is on too small a scale to do justice to the excellent technique. Rhytons in other shapes were used,
particularly models of conch shells made of marble,1" liparite,20 or clay, like our two conchs (Nos.
17,18). These were cast in moulds made probably from real shells, and were finished by hand with
great care.
The figurines give more light on religious observances and also show the skill attained by the
Gournia artist in modelling the human form. No. 14 is a representation of the goddess to be worn
as an amulet attached to a necklace.2' The tiny idol sits cross-legged with both hands raised to her
ears.22 The full skirts of the time are well represented; a plain bodice covers the back, while the muscles
of the breast and stomach are delineated so plainly as to leave no doubt that this part of the body
was nude. The features are indicated by dots and lines. The bronze statuette 23 of a votary is a more
successful treatment of the human figure. Though so badly corroded that any delicacy of surface-
modelling has disappeared, the statuette is very lifelike in pose and gesture, and exhibits considerable
freedom of movement. The hair24 is particularly interesting, showing the foppish twists on the head
and the three long braids or curls affected by Minoan men. The figure appears to wear only the breech-
clout; but a slight rise in the surface between thigh and knee may indicate drawers or loin-cloth, al-
though the corroded surface makes the identification uncertain. The square base was evidently in-
tended for a support, whereas the projection below is only the metal jet. Such statuettes were made
by a simple process of solid casting.
15 Miniature shield. Perforated transversely. Bronze. L. 2.1 cm. W. 1.8 cm. From A 43. Reg. No. 837.
16 Cockleshell. Bronze. L. 1.6 cm. W. 1.8 cm. From C 30. Reg. No. 836.
17 Cast of conch shell for rhyton. Gray clay. L. 30.7 cm. Gt. W. 14.2 cm. From E 13. Reg. No. 1109.
18 Same as No. 17. Fine gray clay. L. 28.2 cm. Gt. W. 12.9 cm. From Hill House 10. Reg. No. 1108.
19 A. Mould for bull's head. Coarse pinkish-yellow clay with fine dark particles. L. 16.7 cm. W. 13.1 cm. From F 7.
Reg. No. 1933. 19 B is a cast taken from 19 A.
20 Rhyton in shape of bull's head. Small hole (D. 1 cm.) in muzzle. Larger hole (D. 3 cm.) above handle. Flat base.
Yellow clay with yellow slip and painted with black and red (dotted) bands. Reconstructed from fragments.
L. 24 cm. Gt. W. 20. cm. From A 20. Reg. No. 1923. [Cf. imaginary sketch by M. Bagge, Fig. 36, p. 55.]
21 Statuette of man on square support; he wears girdle and clout. Hair is divided into 3 snake-like tresses which fall 1
down back and 2 over shoulders, meeting on breast. Bronze, much corroded. H. 13.5 cm. From G 27. Reg. No. 612.
22 Double-axe. Bronze. L. 31cm. Gt. W. c. 14.5 cm. Gt. Th. 3.2 cm. From C 31. Reg. No. 964.
23 Double-axe. Bronze. Socket is made by curving the overlapping edges of the two plates, of which the axe is formed,
and fastening them together by two pairs of rivets (D. 3 cm.). L. 24.5.cm. From Hill House. Reg. No. 556.
24 Altar-table with two parallel ledge supports having a round base (L. 20 cm. W. 5.8 cm. H. 2.4 cm.). Top hollowed
into a shallow oblong basin (L. c. 18cm. W.c.i2cm. D.c.2cm.). Table: H. c. 10.2 cm. L. c. 29 cm. W. c. 28 cm.
Clay, sun-baked, covered with fine plaster painted red and hand-polished. From A 4. Reconstructed.
25 Sacred horns. Coarse limestone. H.38cm. L. 38 cm. W. 15 cm. From north end of Public Court (see p. 25).
11 Perrot and Chipiez, VI, PI. XVI, 1; Evans, B. S. A., VIII, p. 77, fig. 41. 12 'E<p. 'Apx-, 1887, PI. X.
13 Perrot and Chipiez,VI, fig. 365. Evans, Preh. Tombs of Knossos, pp. 74, 121, figs. 83, 115; B. S. A., IX, p. 73, fig. 51;
p. 72, fig. 49. The 8-shaped shield throughout classical times was used as an emblem on coins of Boeotia and Salamis
(Ridgeway, Early Age of Greece, p. 320, fig. 62). Cf. shields of rock crystal and carnelian for ornaments from Avgo (Has-
tings, A. J. A.,n. s., IX, p. 285), and a gold necklace of shields from Enkomi (A. S. Murray, Excavations in Cyprus, PI. VI).
14 Evans, Prehistoric Tombs of Knossos, fig. 54; B. S. A., IX, p. 73, fig. 51.
15 Vide supra, p. 13, note 105; also Rouse, The Double Axe and the Labyrinth, J. H. S., XXI, 1902, pp. 268-274.
But see H. R. Hall's reply, The Two Labyrinths, J. H. S., XXIV, 1905, p. 325 n."
18 For stepped pedestals and double-axes of thin bronze from AghiaTriadha, see Halbherr, Mem. R.I si. Lomb.,XXl,fig. 5.
17 p. 52, infra. " Vide infra, p. 52, note 40.
18 Evans, B. S. A., VI, p. 31. 2U Paribeni. Rendic. Lincei XII, 1903, p. 334.
21 Such amulets have appeared also in graves. Cf. a gold ornament from Mycenae, Perrot and Chipiez, VI, fig. 383; also a
paste glass figure,'Ef.'Apx. PI. VI11, fig. 9; steatite amulets from the 'tholos'tomb at Aghia Triadha (Halbherr, Mem. R.
1st. Lomb., XXI, fasc. V, fig. 27); and from chamber-tomb 97, Evans, Prehistoric Tombs, fig. 95; a gold pendant from
Sardinia, Furtwangler and Loeschke, Myk. Vasen, p. 48; a tiny earring, A. S. Murray, Excavations in Cyprus, p. 19, fig. 36.
22 Cf. a lapis-lazuli pendant in the form of a long-tailed monkey with hands raised to its ears (Evans, op. cit., fig. 131a).
23 Cf. statuettes, Excavations in Phylakopi, PI. XXXVII, pp. 186-189; Jahrbuch, Arch. Anj., 1892, VII, p. 48, figs.
62 and 63; cf. also another statuette from Gournia, h. 6.4 cm.
24 For hair and dress, cf. the Keftiu on wall painting of the tomb of Rekhmara; note 86, p. 6, gives references.
B. E. Williams.