DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1066#0079
THE SITES: KNOSSOS
populace as is the White Elephant to the Siamese.
Farther south on that part of the west wall
which is opposite the inspector's portico, artists
had painted a procession of men and women,
advancing toward the palace entrance; but time
has destroyed all of this composition except the
brown feet of the men and the white feet of
the women, with an inch or two of their rich
robes.
The same theme was continued in a passage
within the entrance, and the ruin of this portion
of the fresco was fortunately less complete. One
figure has been recovered in two-thirds its length
from the dust in which its shattered fragments lay.
This is the famous Cup-bearer of Knossos, the
most precious possession of the Museum at Candia.
No one who has seen this portrait of a youth will
doubt that the Minoan artist was on the right
path, the path followed later by Polygnotus and
by all artists filled with the Greek love of beauty
and distinction. The painter was determined that
all who ever saw his picture should share his
admiration for the young Minoan. Dr. Michaelis
says that the fine profile shows a life and perfection
not met with again before the great outburst of
Greek art in the time of the Persian wars. The
youth advances proudly, conscious of his own
dignity and of the value of the object he bears—a
splendid gold and silver vase of funnel shape,
like those carried by chieftains in Egyptian
paintings. A wave-line in the background suggests
that he came as an envoy from another of ' The
Isles in the Midst of the Great Green Sea/ but
his features and costume are identical with those
F 65
populace as is the White Elephant to the Siamese.
Farther south on that part of the west wall
which is opposite the inspector's portico, artists
had painted a procession of men and women,
advancing toward the palace entrance; but time
has destroyed all of this composition except the
brown feet of the men and the white feet of
the women, with an inch or two of their rich
robes.
The same theme was continued in a passage
within the entrance, and the ruin of this portion
of the fresco was fortunately less complete. One
figure has been recovered in two-thirds its length
from the dust in which its shattered fragments lay.
This is the famous Cup-bearer of Knossos, the
most precious possession of the Museum at Candia.
No one who has seen this portrait of a youth will
doubt that the Minoan artist was on the right
path, the path followed later by Polygnotus and
by all artists filled with the Greek love of beauty
and distinction. The painter was determined that
all who ever saw his picture should share his
admiration for the young Minoan. Dr. Michaelis
says that the fine profile shows a life and perfection
not met with again before the great outburst of
Greek art in the time of the Persian wars. The
youth advances proudly, conscious of his own
dignity and of the value of the object he bears—a
splendid gold and silver vase of funnel shape,
like those carried by chieftains in Egyptian
paintings. A wave-line in the background suggests
that he came as an envoy from another of ' The
Isles in the Midst of the Great Green Sea/ but
his features and costume are identical with those
F 65