DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0040
KOUMASA
13
bands can be discerned. On the left part of the breast is a raised ridge, perhaps tholos b
to represent a hand like the applied ridges of 4137 in the same Plate. The clay objects
height is -115 m., and the width at the top -105 m. This vase, which was
found outside the doorway, belongs to E.M. III.
7. Zoomorphic Vases.
A good many pots in the form of animals have been found in the Mesara Zoomorphic Vases
tholoi. Three from this tholos are shown in Plate XX, Nos. 4140, 4141,
and 4146.
No. 4146. This was found by the villagers, and is in the form of a tortoise.
The clay is coarse and heavy from the presence of little bits of red stone. No
wash of paint or other decoration is preserved. The representation of a tortoise
is quite a success, for we see clearly the feet, on which the vessel stands, the
head with a hole for pouring, the tail, and the upper shell. The mouth of the
vessel is in the middle of this last, and had a raised run, which has been knocked
off. Length -155 m., breadth -115 m., height -07 m. Its exact attribution in
the Early Minoan period is uncertain.
No. 4141 (Plates II and XX). The body of the vessel is triangular, like
the representation of the human chest in the vases just described. The mouth
is at one angle, the other has a projection more or less resembling an ox's head
with the horns broken off. One side has a decoration of red ribbons and red
leaves or fruit on a yellowish-white slip. Height, including the curved handle,
•13 m.; length -16 m.
No. 4140. This is smaller than 4141, and has the curved handle fixed the
other way, that is, across the vase. There is a wide mouth in one corner, and
the other ends in a small animal head too much decayed for the species to
appear. The clay is pure and free from grit, and is covered with a black wash,
on which was a network of white lines. To-day the white has disappeared,
and the lines stand out blacker than the rest of the surface. This phenomenon,
which deceives the casual glance, has been observed on many clay vessels of
E.M. Ill and M.M. I and II. The correctness of the interpretation is fully
established by examples that preserve the white on part of the pattern.1 Height
•10 m., length -095 m. Period E.M. HI.
8. Miscellaneous Vessels. (Plate XX.)
(a) 4156 (also Plate V), a jug with one upright arched handle, a low neck, Miscellaneous
and a belly that would be globular but for an angular profile. It is covered Vessels
1 Parallel examples of the protection afforded entirely lost both paint and slip except for the
by paint, which has itself subsequently dis- slip that was under and protected by the paint,
appeared, are to be found in the post-Mycenaean so that the design that once was black on a white
geometric vases of Laconia which have their ground now stands out white against the pink
designs painted on a friable white slip. Many clay of the vase.—J. P. D.
pieces have been found at Sparta which have
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bands can be discerned. On the left part of the breast is a raised ridge, perhaps tholos b
to represent a hand like the applied ridges of 4137 in the same Plate. The clay objects
height is -115 m., and the width at the top -105 m. This vase, which was
found outside the doorway, belongs to E.M. III.
7. Zoomorphic Vases.
A good many pots in the form of animals have been found in the Mesara Zoomorphic Vases
tholoi. Three from this tholos are shown in Plate XX, Nos. 4140, 4141,
and 4146.
No. 4146. This was found by the villagers, and is in the form of a tortoise.
The clay is coarse and heavy from the presence of little bits of red stone. No
wash of paint or other decoration is preserved. The representation of a tortoise
is quite a success, for we see clearly the feet, on which the vessel stands, the
head with a hole for pouring, the tail, and the upper shell. The mouth of the
vessel is in the middle of this last, and had a raised run, which has been knocked
off. Length -155 m., breadth -115 m., height -07 m. Its exact attribution in
the Early Minoan period is uncertain.
No. 4141 (Plates II and XX). The body of the vessel is triangular, like
the representation of the human chest in the vases just described. The mouth
is at one angle, the other has a projection more or less resembling an ox's head
with the horns broken off. One side has a decoration of red ribbons and red
leaves or fruit on a yellowish-white slip. Height, including the curved handle,
•13 m.; length -16 m.
No. 4140. This is smaller than 4141, and has the curved handle fixed the
other way, that is, across the vase. There is a wide mouth in one corner, and
the other ends in a small animal head too much decayed for the species to
appear. The clay is pure and free from grit, and is covered with a black wash,
on which was a network of white lines. To-day the white has disappeared,
and the lines stand out blacker than the rest of the surface. This phenomenon,
which deceives the casual glance, has been observed on many clay vessels of
E.M. Ill and M.M. I and II. The correctness of the interpretation is fully
established by examples that preserve the white on part of the pattern.1 Height
•10 m., length -095 m. Period E.M. HI.
8. Miscellaneous Vessels. (Plate XX.)
(a) 4156 (also Plate V), a jug with one upright arched handle, a low neck, Miscellaneous
and a belly that would be globular but for an angular profile. It is covered Vessels
1 Parallel examples of the protection afforded entirely lost both paint and slip except for the
by paint, which has itself subsequently dis- slip that was under and protected by the paint,
appeared, are to be found in the post-Mycenaean so that the design that once was black on a white
geometric vases of Laconia which have their ground now stands out white against the pink
designs painted on a friable white slip. Many clay of the vase.—J. P. D.
pieces have been found at Sparta which have