DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0239
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF CRETE
In the background are sprays of olive leaves. Below are bands
of patterns among them that are shown in Fig. 36, 5.1 Others
of similar shape are covered with linked spirals or have bands
of spirals, dark paint and leaves (PI. XXXIII, 4).
Of pithoi the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos and the private
houses provide innumerable examples. And here we come
to a somewhat crucial question, that of the Medallion Pithoi.
A number of these were found in situ in the East Wing of the
Palace at Knossos. They stand on a gypsum floor below
which were found two earlier floors of plaster before the
' mosaiko ' floor, typical of M.M.116, was reached. The pottery
in the three layers between the gypsum floor and the mosaiko
was uniformly M.M.111 except for a few M.M.n sherds in
the lowest level. The original entrance to the Corridor of the
Bays, from which access was obtained to the present Magazine,
was blocked at the end of M.M.1116. At all events vases typical
of that period were found in situ just within the blocking.2
Other examples of medallion pithoi were found in use in the
Sixth and Tenth Magazines along with L.M. examples as also in
the North-East House.3 Thus it might be conceded that they
were originally M.M.111&, though that would mean an extra-
ordinary number of structural alterations in the floors of the
magazines for one period, and that a few had survived the
devastating earthquake towards the end of that period and
were re-used elsewhere. On the other hand, the shape is quite
unlike the elongated M.M.1116 shapes and corresponds exactly
to that of the painted jars just described. Furthermore, traces
of a possible doorway, communicating eventually with the
Corridor of the Draughtboard, are indicated by a great block
of gypsum resting on the foundations opposite which has been
cut as if to form an entrance and has holes in the side as if for
the attachment of jambs. Thus it is possible that only the
Corridor of the Bays fell into disuse while the Magazine of the
Medallion Pithoi remained open to serve the needs of the Great
East Hall above. At all events the pithoi, stylistically, seem
to approximate to the L.M.i type 4 and to have been in use
until the end of L.M.11. They are between 5 feet and 5 feet
1 Pseira, PI. VII. 2 P. of M„ I, 320 ff.
3 Ibid., II, 415 ff. and 421, most of the pottery was L.M.ia, some
was of the transitional M.M.mi-L.M.ia type.
4 P. of M., I, 562. Fragments of jars which may or may not have
survived the earthquake have the pattern of a broken M.M.m gem
impressed on small rings.
In the background are sprays of olive leaves. Below are bands
of patterns among them that are shown in Fig. 36, 5.1 Others
of similar shape are covered with linked spirals or have bands
of spirals, dark paint and leaves (PI. XXXIII, 4).
Of pithoi the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos and the private
houses provide innumerable examples. And here we come
to a somewhat crucial question, that of the Medallion Pithoi.
A number of these were found in situ in the East Wing of the
Palace at Knossos. They stand on a gypsum floor below
which were found two earlier floors of plaster before the
' mosaiko ' floor, typical of M.M.116, was reached. The pottery
in the three layers between the gypsum floor and the mosaiko
was uniformly M.M.111 except for a few M.M.n sherds in
the lowest level. The original entrance to the Corridor of the
Bays, from which access was obtained to the present Magazine,
was blocked at the end of M.M.1116. At all events vases typical
of that period were found in situ just within the blocking.2
Other examples of medallion pithoi were found in use in the
Sixth and Tenth Magazines along with L.M. examples as also in
the North-East House.3 Thus it might be conceded that they
were originally M.M.111&, though that would mean an extra-
ordinary number of structural alterations in the floors of the
magazines for one period, and that a few had survived the
devastating earthquake towards the end of that period and
were re-used elsewhere. On the other hand, the shape is quite
unlike the elongated M.M.1116 shapes and corresponds exactly
to that of the painted jars just described. Furthermore, traces
of a possible doorway, communicating eventually with the
Corridor of the Draughtboard, are indicated by a great block
of gypsum resting on the foundations opposite which has been
cut as if to form an entrance and has holes in the side as if for
the attachment of jambs. Thus it is possible that only the
Corridor of the Bays fell into disuse while the Magazine of the
Medallion Pithoi remained open to serve the needs of the Great
East Hall above. At all events the pithoi, stylistically, seem
to approximate to the L.M.i type 4 and to have been in use
until the end of L.M.11. They are between 5 feet and 5 feet
1 Pseira, PI. VII. 2 P. of M„ I, 320 ff.
3 Ibid., II, 415 ff. and 421, most of the pottery was L.M.ia, some
was of the transitional M.M.mi-L.M.ia type.
4 P. of M., I, 562. Fragments of jars which may or may not have
survived the earthquake have the pattern of a broken M.M.m gem
impressed on small rings.