DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0058
KOUMASA
31
F. Pendants and Necklaces. (Plate XXVI a.) tholos b
132, 134. Two small amulets in the shape of a leg. pendants
132 (also Plate III) is of grey limestone with broad veins of white. It is Leg Amulets
pierced near the top. Length of leg -03 m., length of foot -035 m.
134 is of bluish steatite and very small. The top end is broken off at the
hole.
We may suppose that these stone legs were credited with prophylactic
powers when worn as amulets. Precisely similar amulets are found in Egypt
in tombs of the first dynasty attached to the ankles of the dead, while others
in the form of arms are fastened to the wrists, the notion apparently being to
give strength to the limb in question.1
Similar leg-shaped pendants of steatite were found in the large tholos
of Hagia Triada,2 in that of Marathokephalon,3 and at Platanos.4
804, 806, 807. Three steatite pendants with simple incisions. There were steatite Pendants
four others, likewise of steatite, of irregular shape.
809, 810. Two small necklaces of steatite beads. 809 has thirty of
different shapes ; eight are about the size and shape of olive stones, three are
irregular, and the numerous small ones are all flat discs. There is one bead
not of steatite but of lapis lazuli (natural Kvavos), with the size and shape of
the seed capsule of lilac (syringa vulgaris, iracrxa^o.). Of the other necklace, 810,
the steatite beads are either disc-shaped or amygdaloid. Two, however, are
spherical, but these are not of steatite, but one is of sard and the other of
some white stone. The other Koumasa tombs and Platanos produced hundreds
of amygdaloid beads that must have been made up into necklaces. In form,
size, and material they resemble the beads from early dynastic tombs in Egypt.
811. This necklace consists of seventeen cylindrical or spherical beads
of faience or glazed paste,5 three of which preserve traces of red or green colour.
Their presence shows that in the Early Minoan age the Cretan knew how to
make beads and other small objects of this material, having learnt the art from
the Egyptians, among whom it had a great vogue. In shape the Cretan beads
are like the Egyptian, but they are of inferior make, and do not equal their
models either in colour or hardness.6
133. An amulet of pale grey steatite rudely cut in the form of an ox.
Height -015 m., length -035 m. The neck is pierced through vertically and
horizontally, the double hole showing that the maker was particular that the
amulet should hang straight. Probably the ox-form was credited with pro-
tective power. But the sacred character of the ox throughout the Minoan
age and its frequent appearance in a religious or ritual connection are well
1 Evans, Scripta Minoa, pp. 119-120; Palace, 3 'Apx. AeA-r., to/*. 4, irapdprqpa, trek. 22, (Ik. 8.
p. 125. 4 P. 128, Plate LVIII.
Naville, Cemeteries of Abydos, I, Plates Hand VII. 5 For an analysis of this material see Evans,
Garstang, Mahasna, p. SO, Plate XXXIX. Palace, p. 489, note 3.
2 Mem.ht.Lomb.,loc. cit., p.251,Tav. XI, fig. 27. 6 Cf. Evans, Palace, pp. 85 and 486-494.
31
F. Pendants and Necklaces. (Plate XXVI a.) tholos b
132, 134. Two small amulets in the shape of a leg. pendants
132 (also Plate III) is of grey limestone with broad veins of white. It is Leg Amulets
pierced near the top. Length of leg -03 m., length of foot -035 m.
134 is of bluish steatite and very small. The top end is broken off at the
hole.
We may suppose that these stone legs were credited with prophylactic
powers when worn as amulets. Precisely similar amulets are found in Egypt
in tombs of the first dynasty attached to the ankles of the dead, while others
in the form of arms are fastened to the wrists, the notion apparently being to
give strength to the limb in question.1
Similar leg-shaped pendants of steatite were found in the large tholos
of Hagia Triada,2 in that of Marathokephalon,3 and at Platanos.4
804, 806, 807. Three steatite pendants with simple incisions. There were steatite Pendants
four others, likewise of steatite, of irregular shape.
809, 810. Two small necklaces of steatite beads. 809 has thirty of
different shapes ; eight are about the size and shape of olive stones, three are
irregular, and the numerous small ones are all flat discs. There is one bead
not of steatite but of lapis lazuli (natural Kvavos), with the size and shape of
the seed capsule of lilac (syringa vulgaris, iracrxa^o.). Of the other necklace, 810,
the steatite beads are either disc-shaped or amygdaloid. Two, however, are
spherical, but these are not of steatite, but one is of sard and the other of
some white stone. The other Koumasa tombs and Platanos produced hundreds
of amygdaloid beads that must have been made up into necklaces. In form,
size, and material they resemble the beads from early dynastic tombs in Egypt.
811. This necklace consists of seventeen cylindrical or spherical beads
of faience or glazed paste,5 three of which preserve traces of red or green colour.
Their presence shows that in the Early Minoan age the Cretan knew how to
make beads and other small objects of this material, having learnt the art from
the Egyptians, among whom it had a great vogue. In shape the Cretan beads
are like the Egyptian, but they are of inferior make, and do not equal their
models either in colour or hardness.6
133. An amulet of pale grey steatite rudely cut in the form of an ox.
Height -015 m., length -035 m. The neck is pierced through vertically and
horizontally, the double hole showing that the maker was particular that the
amulet should hang straight. Probably the ox-form was credited with pro-
tective power. But the sacred character of the ox throughout the Minoan
age and its frequent appearance in a religious or ritual connection are well
1 Evans, Scripta Minoa, pp. 119-120; Palace, 3 'Apx. AeA-r., to/*. 4, irapdprqpa, trek. 22, (Ik. 8.
p. 125. 4 P. 128, Plate LVIII.
Naville, Cemeteries of Abydos, I, Plates Hand VII. 5 For an analysis of this material see Evans,
Garstang, Mahasna, p. SO, Plate XXXIX. Palace, p. 489, note 3.
2 Mem.ht.Lomb.,loc. cit., p.251,Tav. XI, fig. 27. 6 Cf. Evans, Palace, pp. 85 and 486-494.