DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7519#0280
THE LATE MINOAN PERIOD 245
of Mainland type from Palaikastro,1 though the two-handled
example from the Diktaian Cave is certainly Minoan from the
thickness of the outer whorl of the spirals.2 The normal type,
however, is still really a goblet with a hollow pedestal and two
handles, indistinguishable except for the pattern from L.M.II3
(PI. XL, 3). The normal cup, which is now almost always
decorated with a narrow band of dark brown paint below the
rim and amorphous splashes, is more carefully made than
before ; it has a swelling body and narrows down to a low
foot.4 The ' Vapheio ' shape has died out. At Palaikastro
a small straight-sided vase with a handle perched on the flaring
rim makes its appearance. It is always painted and examples
occur with a small cup on the rim beside the handle and with
two handles one within the other.5 Bridge-spouted saucers
are also a characteristic shape of L.M.ina in the East. They
occur both handleless and with a single handle either opposite
the spout or at the side.6 The circular pyxis has come into
favour again, and round, domed covers for lamps are found.7
The rhytons are invariably of the conical shape.
The pithoi are squat, almost barrel-shaped, and are fre-
quently painted on the upper half of the body. They have a
low neck on to which fitted large flanged lids. The handles
are set just below the rim and are four in number, two vertical
and two horizontal.8
In Central Crete the chest larnax is the most common form.
These larnakes have a single panel on each side which is framed
either by a thickening of the edges or by an imitation in paint.
The lid is gabled and the ridge pole projects at either end to
enable it to be raised. In East Crete the sides are usually
divided into two panels and the division is continued on to the
lid, which is provided with handles corresponding to those on
the body so that it could be tied on. These, however, are in
a minority in this part of the island, the most usual shape
being the bath-type already described in L.M.n. These were
covered either with fragments of their predecessors, for
secondary burials were still common, or by a plain pottery
slab. While the chest larnax was copied no doubt from the
wooden chests in the houses, there is little doubt that the bath
1 B.S.A., Sup., 84. P.T.K., No. 76c 2 P. of M., IV, 369.
3 Examples ibid., Fig. 306, from the Temple Tomb.
4 B.S.A., Sup., Fig. 68, 2. 6 Ibid., 86.
6 Ibid., and Gournia, PI. X, 29, 30, 38.
' Ibid., X, 5. B.S.A., Sup., 89. 8 Ibid., 98.
of Mainland type from Palaikastro,1 though the two-handled
example from the Diktaian Cave is certainly Minoan from the
thickness of the outer whorl of the spirals.2 The normal type,
however, is still really a goblet with a hollow pedestal and two
handles, indistinguishable except for the pattern from L.M.II3
(PI. XL, 3). The normal cup, which is now almost always
decorated with a narrow band of dark brown paint below the
rim and amorphous splashes, is more carefully made than
before ; it has a swelling body and narrows down to a low
foot.4 The ' Vapheio ' shape has died out. At Palaikastro
a small straight-sided vase with a handle perched on the flaring
rim makes its appearance. It is always painted and examples
occur with a small cup on the rim beside the handle and with
two handles one within the other.5 Bridge-spouted saucers
are also a characteristic shape of L.M.ina in the East. They
occur both handleless and with a single handle either opposite
the spout or at the side.6 The circular pyxis has come into
favour again, and round, domed covers for lamps are found.7
The rhytons are invariably of the conical shape.
The pithoi are squat, almost barrel-shaped, and are fre-
quently painted on the upper half of the body. They have a
low neck on to which fitted large flanged lids. The handles
are set just below the rim and are four in number, two vertical
and two horizontal.8
In Central Crete the chest larnax is the most common form.
These larnakes have a single panel on each side which is framed
either by a thickening of the edges or by an imitation in paint.
The lid is gabled and the ridge pole projects at either end to
enable it to be raised. In East Crete the sides are usually
divided into two panels and the division is continued on to the
lid, which is provided with handles corresponding to those on
the body so that it could be tied on. These, however, are in
a minority in this part of the island, the most usual shape
being the bath-type already described in L.M.n. These were
covered either with fragments of their predecessors, for
secondary burials were still common, or by a plain pottery
slab. While the chest larnax was copied no doubt from the
wooden chests in the houses, there is little doubt that the bath
1 B.S.A., Sup., 84. P.T.K., No. 76c 2 P. of M., IV, 369.
3 Examples ibid., Fig. 306, from the Temple Tomb.
4 B.S.A., Sup., Fig. 68, 2. 6 Ibid., 86.
6 Ibid., and Gournia, PI. X, 29, 30, 38.
' Ibid., X, 5. B.S.A., Sup., 89. 8 Ibid., 98.