DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0187
i52 THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CRETE
which contained the offerings and decoration of some shrine
close by, perhaps the predecessor illustrated in the Miniature
Frescoes of that which was built in L.M.i, on the Central Court
facade. Other alterations and repairs it is difficult to assign,
and it seems safer to leave a discussion of the Palace in its final
state until the great rebuilding towards the end of M.M.111&.1
At Phaistos the steps leading up North from the West Court
were remodelled and a wall built behind them. The old shrine
was filled in and, behind where it had been, a flight of steps led
up eastwards into a propylaeum with a central column behind
which three columns gave on to a light-well. North of this
is a peristyle from which in some way no longer clear access
was obtained to what seems to have corresponded on a smaller
scale to the Domestic Quarters of Knossos. South of the
Propylaeum lies a short corridor with magazines opening off
it on either side. This is approached direct from the Central
Court through a propylaeum which is peculiar in being divided
longitudinally by two columns with a third on the facade of
the court itself. The court is surrounded by a veranda, the
roof supported on square piers. East of this are further struc-
tures which are much denuded and traces of a second peristyle
and an eastern court.2 It may be noted here that Phaistos
seems hardly to have suffered at all either from the slight earth-
quake which necessitated repairs at Knossos at the end of
M.M.liia nor from the very severe shock near the end of
M.M.111& which did great damage to the latter. As the floor
deposits show, the palace remained till the final disaster, practi-
cally as it was rebuilt at the beginning of M.M.nw.
It is probable that the small palace at Agia Triadha was first
built early in M.M.m, the lack of floor deposits of the period
being accounted for by the fact that the floors themselves were
in continual use until the end. Here as at Phaistos we find the
Peristyle, which seems to be a feature of South Cretan architec-
ture. At all events at Knossos, it occurs but once and then on
only three sides in the South-East house.
At Mallia the reconstructed palace seems to have retained
more of the features of the original M.M.i structure than did
the others. It appears that the upper stories had not been
as extensive as elsewhere, or so one is led to believe by the
absence of stairways, and therefore the destruction was not
so great. The most noteworthy feature is the row of columns
alternating with square piers, each connected by a grille with its
1 P. ofM., 1,462. 2 Festos, I, PI. II, and the forthcoming Festos, II.
which contained the offerings and decoration of some shrine
close by, perhaps the predecessor illustrated in the Miniature
Frescoes of that which was built in L.M.i, on the Central Court
facade. Other alterations and repairs it is difficult to assign,
and it seems safer to leave a discussion of the Palace in its final
state until the great rebuilding towards the end of M.M.111&.1
At Phaistos the steps leading up North from the West Court
were remodelled and a wall built behind them. The old shrine
was filled in and, behind where it had been, a flight of steps led
up eastwards into a propylaeum with a central column behind
which three columns gave on to a light-well. North of this
is a peristyle from which in some way no longer clear access
was obtained to what seems to have corresponded on a smaller
scale to the Domestic Quarters of Knossos. South of the
Propylaeum lies a short corridor with magazines opening off
it on either side. This is approached direct from the Central
Court through a propylaeum which is peculiar in being divided
longitudinally by two columns with a third on the facade of
the court itself. The court is surrounded by a veranda, the
roof supported on square piers. East of this are further struc-
tures which are much denuded and traces of a second peristyle
and an eastern court.2 It may be noted here that Phaistos
seems hardly to have suffered at all either from the slight earth-
quake which necessitated repairs at Knossos at the end of
M.M.liia nor from the very severe shock near the end of
M.M.111& which did great damage to the latter. As the floor
deposits show, the palace remained till the final disaster, practi-
cally as it was rebuilt at the beginning of M.M.nw.
It is probable that the small palace at Agia Triadha was first
built early in M.M.m, the lack of floor deposits of the period
being accounted for by the fact that the floors themselves were
in continual use until the end. Here as at Phaistos we find the
Peristyle, which seems to be a feature of South Cretan architec-
ture. At all events at Knossos, it occurs but once and then on
only three sides in the South-East house.
At Mallia the reconstructed palace seems to have retained
more of the features of the original M.M.i structure than did
the others. It appears that the upper stories had not been
as extensive as elsewhere, or so one is led to believe by the
absence of stairways, and therefore the destruction was not
so great. The most noteworthy feature is the row of columns
alternating with square piers, each connected by a grille with its
1 P. ofM., 1,462. 2 Festos, I, PI. II, and the forthcoming Festos, II.