DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7518#0077
64
HANDBOOK TO THE PALACE OF MINOS
Above the landing the stairway divides into two separate
wings to reach the upper story. This upper story seems to have
followed the lines of the lower one for the most part, and it
has been so restored. It is probable that the mam entrance to
the building was on this level, for a branch of the causeway
which runs above the Theatral Area would, if prolonged, strike
the middle of the west wall of the Villa. In any case, Sir Arthur
is justified in seeing in it a dependency of the Great Palace of
M.M. III date.
THE HOUSE OF THE SACRIFICED OXEN, HOUSE OF
THE FALLEN BLOCKS, HOUSE OF THE CHANCEL
SCREEN, SOUTH-EAST HOUSE
The first two of these houses are M.M. Ill constructions, over-
thrown by the great earthquake about the middle of M.M.
Ill b. As a result, only the basement rooms remain. They he
just below the south-east angle of the Palace (page 56). In the
first of these was found the remains of a sacrifice, a tripod altar
and the horns of a Urus bull. Into the second house had been
hurled a number of huge blocks from the Palace facade.
The House of the Chancel Screen which adjoins these has been
partially covered over. It, too, seems to have been deserted
after the earthquake. Its entrance has disappeared, but probably
a passage led to the steps which ascend into the Central Hall,
off which the Megaron opens to the north. At the west end of
the Megaron is a dais for a seat of honour, railed off by a
balustrade on which stood two columns (cf. Royal Villa,
page 62). This has given the house its name, and even the work-
men called it the 'House of the Priest' (tou liana to EmTt).
In the middle of the west side of the house is a Pillar Crypt
with one square pier; while close to the entrance is a small
Lustral Area.
The South-East House you descend to from the House of the
Chancel Screen by what may well have been its original en-
HANDBOOK TO THE PALACE OF MINOS
Above the landing the stairway divides into two separate
wings to reach the upper story. This upper story seems to have
followed the lines of the lower one for the most part, and it
has been so restored. It is probable that the mam entrance to
the building was on this level, for a branch of the causeway
which runs above the Theatral Area would, if prolonged, strike
the middle of the west wall of the Villa. In any case, Sir Arthur
is justified in seeing in it a dependency of the Great Palace of
M.M. III date.
THE HOUSE OF THE SACRIFICED OXEN, HOUSE OF
THE FALLEN BLOCKS, HOUSE OF THE CHANCEL
SCREEN, SOUTH-EAST HOUSE
The first two of these houses are M.M. Ill constructions, over-
thrown by the great earthquake about the middle of M.M.
Ill b. As a result, only the basement rooms remain. They he
just below the south-east angle of the Palace (page 56). In the
first of these was found the remains of a sacrifice, a tripod altar
and the horns of a Urus bull. Into the second house had been
hurled a number of huge blocks from the Palace facade.
The House of the Chancel Screen which adjoins these has been
partially covered over. It, too, seems to have been deserted
after the earthquake. Its entrance has disappeared, but probably
a passage led to the steps which ascend into the Central Hall,
off which the Megaron opens to the north. At the west end of
the Megaron is a dais for a seat of honour, railed off by a
balustrade on which stood two columns (cf. Royal Villa,
page 62). This has given the house its name, and even the work-
men called it the 'House of the Priest' (tou liana to EmTt).
In the middle of the west side of the house is a Pillar Crypt
with one square pier; while close to the entrance is a small
Lustral Area.
The South-East House you descend to from the House of the
Chancel Screen by what may well have been its original en-