DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4856#0038
32
Plate II. The intention of the artist was clearly to leave a minimum of background unoccupied. To get the
hind legs of the lion in evidence under the belly of the bull, and to get his head and legs into the
space above the bull's back is possibly not altogether true to what actually happens when a lion
overtakes a wild bull. On that point knowledge was perhaps as vague then as now. The attack of
the lion on the rump of the bull gave the sculptor an occasion for turning the bull's head back, which
it is to be remembered was a favourite motive in early Greek art, originating apparently in the desire
to economise space and to display a dexterity for drawing. It will be noticed also that the tail of
the bull is thrown up so as to occupy the space in front of the lion's head. But whether that again
would be natural in the circumstances we do not know. The gryphon, as we have seen, puts his tail
between his legs in a way that seems highly natural. The hole pierced through the top of the ivory
was doubtless intended for the attachment of a bronze disc or mirror, such as was found with the other
ivory on this Plate, No. 402.
Tomb 17, from which our ivory was obtained, was in fact one of three tombs with their entrances
close together, each having square doorways of masonry, while the interior of the tomb was sunk
irregularly in the soil. Two of them had been completely rifled, the third contained, in addition to
the ivory mirror-handle, two gold bands stamped with spirals, a bronze knife, fragments of Mycenaean
pottery and of stone figures of the Cypriote type.
No. 402, Tomb J2>-—Ivory mirror handle, similar to that last described, except that here the
subject on both sides is that of a lion attacking a bull. On one side the relief is greatly defaced,
and is not here given. It had represented the lion springing upon the bull from the front. On
the side given in this plate, the lion is on the further side of the bull, as in No. 872a, but is
bodily contorted in what seems to be an unnatural manner. Apparently, a clear uninterrupted
view of the bull was the first necessity in the mind of the artist. As regards the style and
composition, nothing need be added to what has already been said in connection with No. 872a. As
stated above, a circular bronze mirror was found in the same tomb, which fitted into a socket on
the top of the ivory. In the Plate this mirror and the handle, which terminated in a knob, is
omitted. The tomb was about 9 feet below the surface, very small (about 4 ft. by 5 ft.) and full
of hard earth. It contained, in addition to the ivory, and bronze mirror, two gold diadems
(one of them, PL X, No. 401), an alabaster vase 16 inches high, a Mycenaean pyxis, three pre-Mycensean
fluted jugs, a stone dish and pestle, and a bronze bowl.
No. 1339, Tomb 16.—Part of a small ivory mirror-handle with reliefs on both sides, representing
on one side a recumbent stag with its antlers thrown back so as to occupy the space above the
body of the animal, and on the other side a wild goat, recumbent, with its head similarly
thrown back.
No. 1340, Tomb 16.—An ivory fragment of a bearded head wearing a helmet of tiara shape,
and much resembling the ivory head found in the Mycenaean tomb at Spata in Attica, now in
the Central Museum of Athens. This tomb was found on the edge of the rocky plateau, sunk deep.
In the approach were obtained the following objects in limestone (1333-1335), of a Cypriote character,
viz., a large female head wearing a rich necklace, fragments of statuettes, and a part of vase with a
capital in relief. In the tomb itself were a pair of gold earrings, a thin ring of gold, fragment
of gold band with star pattern, bronze spear-heads and knives, bronze bowls, and fragments of
stone dishes.
No. 883, Tomb 24.—An ivory fragment of a cylindrical box, on which is a man slaying a
gryphon, as in No. 872*3, on this Plate. The helmet is, however, worn with a strap under the chin
in this instance, and has not the tiara appearance of that on Nos. 872^ and 1340.
This tomb had been tunnelled deep into the face of the rocky plateau, and contained, besides the
above, fragments of an ivory box, perhaps part of the last described, an ivory boat-shaped dish,
an ivory rod and fragments of ivory, a number of gold mouth-pieces and diadems, gold earrings
and finger rings (also generally described on p. 32), two gems, porcelain scarab of one of the
Osorkons or Shishaks (PI. IV, No. 29), much decayed, small vase of grey stone, stone whorls,
bronze knives and bronze wheel.
No. 1126, Tomb 75.—An ivory fragment of a cylindrical box with relief of sphinx being led to
left by a man. The sphinx is rendered in a large fine style. She wears a crown of vertical points
with a tress flying back from the top of the head, as on the gold ornaments, and necklace of massive
pendants; the eyes have been inlaid. In this tomb were found the gold ornaments (PI. X,
Nos. 403-406, 412-416, 418-421, 425-427, 430-432), and the ivory vase in the form of a nude figure,
much defaced, in the attitude of a swimmer holding up a dish (Fig. 21), and a porcelain cylinder
(PI. IV, No. 425).
Plate II. The intention of the artist was clearly to leave a minimum of background unoccupied. To get the
hind legs of the lion in evidence under the belly of the bull, and to get his head and legs into the
space above the bull's back is possibly not altogether true to what actually happens when a lion
overtakes a wild bull. On that point knowledge was perhaps as vague then as now. The attack of
the lion on the rump of the bull gave the sculptor an occasion for turning the bull's head back, which
it is to be remembered was a favourite motive in early Greek art, originating apparently in the desire
to economise space and to display a dexterity for drawing. It will be noticed also that the tail of
the bull is thrown up so as to occupy the space in front of the lion's head. But whether that again
would be natural in the circumstances we do not know. The gryphon, as we have seen, puts his tail
between his legs in a way that seems highly natural. The hole pierced through the top of the ivory
was doubtless intended for the attachment of a bronze disc or mirror, such as was found with the other
ivory on this Plate, No. 402.
Tomb 17, from which our ivory was obtained, was in fact one of three tombs with their entrances
close together, each having square doorways of masonry, while the interior of the tomb was sunk
irregularly in the soil. Two of them had been completely rifled, the third contained, in addition to
the ivory mirror-handle, two gold bands stamped with spirals, a bronze knife, fragments of Mycenaean
pottery and of stone figures of the Cypriote type.
No. 402, Tomb J2>-—Ivory mirror handle, similar to that last described, except that here the
subject on both sides is that of a lion attacking a bull. On one side the relief is greatly defaced,
and is not here given. It had represented the lion springing upon the bull from the front. On
the side given in this plate, the lion is on the further side of the bull, as in No. 872a, but is
bodily contorted in what seems to be an unnatural manner. Apparently, a clear uninterrupted
view of the bull was the first necessity in the mind of the artist. As regards the style and
composition, nothing need be added to what has already been said in connection with No. 872a. As
stated above, a circular bronze mirror was found in the same tomb, which fitted into a socket on
the top of the ivory. In the Plate this mirror and the handle, which terminated in a knob, is
omitted. The tomb was about 9 feet below the surface, very small (about 4 ft. by 5 ft.) and full
of hard earth. It contained, in addition to the ivory, and bronze mirror, two gold diadems
(one of them, PL X, No. 401), an alabaster vase 16 inches high, a Mycenaean pyxis, three pre-Mycensean
fluted jugs, a stone dish and pestle, and a bronze bowl.
No. 1339, Tomb 16.—Part of a small ivory mirror-handle with reliefs on both sides, representing
on one side a recumbent stag with its antlers thrown back so as to occupy the space above the
body of the animal, and on the other side a wild goat, recumbent, with its head similarly
thrown back.
No. 1340, Tomb 16.—An ivory fragment of a bearded head wearing a helmet of tiara shape,
and much resembling the ivory head found in the Mycenaean tomb at Spata in Attica, now in
the Central Museum of Athens. This tomb was found on the edge of the rocky plateau, sunk deep.
In the approach were obtained the following objects in limestone (1333-1335), of a Cypriote character,
viz., a large female head wearing a rich necklace, fragments of statuettes, and a part of vase with a
capital in relief. In the tomb itself were a pair of gold earrings, a thin ring of gold, fragment
of gold band with star pattern, bronze spear-heads and knives, bronze bowls, and fragments of
stone dishes.
No. 883, Tomb 24.—An ivory fragment of a cylindrical box, on which is a man slaying a
gryphon, as in No. 872*3, on this Plate. The helmet is, however, worn with a strap under the chin
in this instance, and has not the tiara appearance of that on Nos. 872^ and 1340.
This tomb had been tunnelled deep into the face of the rocky plateau, and contained, besides the
above, fragments of an ivory box, perhaps part of the last described, an ivory boat-shaped dish,
an ivory rod and fragments of ivory, a number of gold mouth-pieces and diadems, gold earrings
and finger rings (also generally described on p. 32), two gems, porcelain scarab of one of the
Osorkons or Shishaks (PI. IV, No. 29), much decayed, small vase of grey stone, stone whorls,
bronze knives and bronze wheel.
No. 1126, Tomb 75.—An ivory fragment of a cylindrical box with relief of sphinx being led to
left by a man. The sphinx is rendered in a large fine style. She wears a crown of vertical points
with a tress flying back from the top of the head, as on the gold ornaments, and necklace of massive
pendants; the eyes have been inlaid. In this tomb were found the gold ornaments (PI. X,
Nos. 403-406, 412-416, 418-421, 425-427, 430-432), and the ivory vase in the form of a nude figure,
much defaced, in the attitude of a swimmer holding up a dish (Fig. 21), and a porcelain cylinder
(PI. IV, No. 425).