DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0174
THE MIDDLE MINOAN PERIOD 139
rather coarse, one large jar at least which is decorated in the
grand manner is most effective. This is a tall jar with a
narrow neck and rather low horizontal handles, from Phaistos.1
The decoration consists of four linked scrolls, rather like the
linked disks of East Cretan M.M.i. These are surrounded by
a circle which frames the whole pattern. The outer angle
where the connecting tangent leaves each scroll is painted red
and from it project spiky leaves. A diagonal line runs across
the centre from left to right and on either side of it are small
objects like caltrops in red and white which may be meant to
represent sharp-petalled flowers.
Another large jar with a pinched-in mouth, from Phaistos,
from the Sanctuary,2 had broad vertical stripes of alternate
buff and brown, separated by white lines. On the buff stripes
is the design in brown with a white centre shown in Fig. 23, 6;
on the brown stripes is a rather sprawling pattern of connected
loops with scarlet flowers between.
Of humbler vases good examples were found in a pit in
Tomb XVII of the Mavrospelio cemetery at Knossos.3 There
were conical cups with a rough decoration of brown paint,
cups similarly decorated with a short broad foot and a slight
outward curve near the rim, flat saucers with a very low foot
and rather taller ones sloping out to the rim. Round-mouthed
jugs were found either with a red wash or with vertical lines
of white on black. Coarse sherds from burial pithoi with
trickle pattern or bands in black and red were found at the top
of the pit.
A version of the tortoiseshell ware survives to tide over
the gap into M.M.iii, but the imitation of stone ceases with
the remarkable bridge-spouted jar painted to look like con-
glomerate and a fruit-stand similarly painted from the Kamarais
Cave.4 Beetles and cockle-shells appear in relief on several
vases and the beginnings of a close imitation of nature are
shown in the representation of flowers and plants, particularly
on another vase from the Kamarais cave which shows crocuses
in white with red pistils and stamens sprouting from an undulat-
ing band which represents rocky country. The Minoan artist
had, in fact, already started to show the setting of the objects he
draws, a naturalistic impulse which no other ancient people
attempted to follow until after the downfall of Crete.
1 P. of M., I, 257 ; Festos, I, PI. XXXII.
2 Ibid., I, 260 ; Festos I, PI. XXV.
3 B.S.A., XXVIII, 279. 4 P. ofM., XIX, Pis. XIX and IX.
rather coarse, one large jar at least which is decorated in the
grand manner is most effective. This is a tall jar with a
narrow neck and rather low horizontal handles, from Phaistos.1
The decoration consists of four linked scrolls, rather like the
linked disks of East Cretan M.M.i. These are surrounded by
a circle which frames the whole pattern. The outer angle
where the connecting tangent leaves each scroll is painted red
and from it project spiky leaves. A diagonal line runs across
the centre from left to right and on either side of it are small
objects like caltrops in red and white which may be meant to
represent sharp-petalled flowers.
Another large jar with a pinched-in mouth, from Phaistos,
from the Sanctuary,2 had broad vertical stripes of alternate
buff and brown, separated by white lines. On the buff stripes
is the design in brown with a white centre shown in Fig. 23, 6;
on the brown stripes is a rather sprawling pattern of connected
loops with scarlet flowers between.
Of humbler vases good examples were found in a pit in
Tomb XVII of the Mavrospelio cemetery at Knossos.3 There
were conical cups with a rough decoration of brown paint,
cups similarly decorated with a short broad foot and a slight
outward curve near the rim, flat saucers with a very low foot
and rather taller ones sloping out to the rim. Round-mouthed
jugs were found either with a red wash or with vertical lines
of white on black. Coarse sherds from burial pithoi with
trickle pattern or bands in black and red were found at the top
of the pit.
A version of the tortoiseshell ware survives to tide over
the gap into M.M.iii, but the imitation of stone ceases with
the remarkable bridge-spouted jar painted to look like con-
glomerate and a fruit-stand similarly painted from the Kamarais
Cave.4 Beetles and cockle-shells appear in relief on several
vases and the beginnings of a close imitation of nature are
shown in the representation of flowers and plants, particularly
on another vase from the Kamarais cave which shows crocuses
in white with red pistils and stamens sprouting from an undulat-
ing band which represents rocky country. The Minoan artist
had, in fact, already started to show the setting of the objects he
draws, a naturalistic impulse which no other ancient people
attempted to follow until after the downfall of Crete.
1 P. of M., I, 257 ; Festos, I, PI. XXXII.
2 Ibid., I, 260 ; Festos I, PI. XXV.
3 B.S.A., XXVIII, 279. 4 P. ofM., XIX, Pis. XIX and IX.