DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0154
THE MIDDLE MINOAN PERIOD 119
a conventional tree, broad arrows, crosses and stars, ' dumb-
bells ' and other simple signs. These were masons' marks
perhaps signifying what place they were to occupy or perhaps
denoting the gang of workmen.1 Together with these must be
taken various incised inscriptions on vases. A pithos from
Khamaizi is incised with a sign resembling the Egyptian pavi-
lion, a miniature jug with incised decoration round the neck
of the type described above, from Prodhromos Botzanou near
Kritsa, has a double axe, a cross and a version of the Egyptian
negation sign,2 a similar jug from Trapeza has a dog and a libation
vase, and examples from Mallia, Nirou Khani and Krasi are
Fig. 19.—Middle Minoan i Seals
also inscribed. But while by themselves these marks might
merely denote personal badges, the seal stones confirm that
hieroglyphs were now in comparatively common use.
Most usually the hieroglyphs appear on three- and four-sided m.m.\
seals of a rather longer shape than those of E.M.m. Seah
The general effect is not so pleasing as in the case of mere
designs, for calligraphy was in its infancy and the primary object
was to get the signs in somehow. But when the object is
pure decoration the advance over the previous period is obvious.
Fig. 19, 1, shows one side of an ivory half-cylinder found some-
where near Knossos. It shows a man of the Petsophas type
1 This latter is the case at Tell el-Amarna (see forthcoming City of
Akhenaten, III). It is not evidence of piece-work but a check to see
that each gang did its quota.
2 P. of M., I, 639.
a conventional tree, broad arrows, crosses and stars, ' dumb-
bells ' and other simple signs. These were masons' marks
perhaps signifying what place they were to occupy or perhaps
denoting the gang of workmen.1 Together with these must be
taken various incised inscriptions on vases. A pithos from
Khamaizi is incised with a sign resembling the Egyptian pavi-
lion, a miniature jug with incised decoration round the neck
of the type described above, from Prodhromos Botzanou near
Kritsa, has a double axe, a cross and a version of the Egyptian
negation sign,2 a similar jug from Trapeza has a dog and a libation
vase, and examples from Mallia, Nirou Khani and Krasi are
Fig. 19.—Middle Minoan i Seals
also inscribed. But while by themselves these marks might
merely denote personal badges, the seal stones confirm that
hieroglyphs were now in comparatively common use.
Most usually the hieroglyphs appear on three- and four-sided m.m.\
seals of a rather longer shape than those of E.M.m. Seah
The general effect is not so pleasing as in the case of mere
designs, for calligraphy was in its infancy and the primary object
was to get the signs in somehow. But when the object is
pure decoration the advance over the previous period is obvious.
Fig. 19, 1, shows one side of an ivory half-cylinder found some-
where near Knossos. It shows a man of the Petsophas type
1 This latter is the case at Tell el-Amarna (see forthcoming City of
Akhenaten, III). It is not evidence of piece-work but a check to see
that each gang did its quota.
2 P. of M., I, 639.