DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8074#0052
46 The Palace
a multitude of handles and knobs to facilitate handling,
as well as a decoration of rope-pattern.
You turn now and descend to the East Bastion,
where there is a strongly protected postern gate. The
interest of this entrance lies in the elaborate method
of automatically checking the flow of rain-water in the
open conduit which runs down beside the steps. In-
stead of allowing the water to come down a plain
incline, gathering speed the whole way and splashing
over when it comes to a corner, the engineers led the
water down in a series of small waterfalls; at the bottom
of each it was checked, with the result that it reached
the corner at only half-speed and turned it without
spilling a drop. Near the bottom are two square basins
where sediment was allowed to deposit before the clean
water flowed out below. Sir Arthur attractively sug-
gests that the Palace laundry may have been here.
(From here to the Royal Villa, see below page 52,
three minutes.)
On the flat stretch of land between here and the
river—the only suitable space in the district—Sir
Arthur believes the Bull-Ring to have been, the ring
where the foreign tribute of youths and maidens, sent
from the mainland dominions of Minos, showed their
skill with the Bull of Minos.
From the East Bastion you ascend again past the
Giant Pithoi till you come out on to a flat paved
corridor where a grating shows the drain-pipes of the
first Palace, with their carefully tapering shape to
ensure a greater head of water driving through any
stoppage. This Corridor of the Draughtboard was
where the inlaid gaming table, now in the Museum,
was found. On one side lies the North-East Hall,
on the other, at a lower level, a series of openings with
a multitude of handles and knobs to facilitate handling,
as well as a decoration of rope-pattern.
You turn now and descend to the East Bastion,
where there is a strongly protected postern gate. The
interest of this entrance lies in the elaborate method
of automatically checking the flow of rain-water in the
open conduit which runs down beside the steps. In-
stead of allowing the water to come down a plain
incline, gathering speed the whole way and splashing
over when it comes to a corner, the engineers led the
water down in a series of small waterfalls; at the bottom
of each it was checked, with the result that it reached
the corner at only half-speed and turned it without
spilling a drop. Near the bottom are two square basins
where sediment was allowed to deposit before the clean
water flowed out below. Sir Arthur attractively sug-
gests that the Palace laundry may have been here.
(From here to the Royal Villa, see below page 52,
three minutes.)
On the flat stretch of land between here and the
river—the only suitable space in the district—Sir
Arthur believes the Bull-Ring to have been, the ring
where the foreign tribute of youths and maidens, sent
from the mainland dominions of Minos, showed their
skill with the Bull of Minos.
From the East Bastion you ascend again past the
Giant Pithoi till you come out on to a flat paved
corridor where a grating shows the drain-pipes of the
first Palace, with their carefully tapering shape to
ensure a greater head of water driving through any
stoppage. This Corridor of the Draughtboard was
where the inlaid gaming table, now in the Museum,
was found. On one side lies the North-East Hall,
on the other, at a lower level, a series of openings with