DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0089
62
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
PORTf 5108. The profile of this vase is concave. It is very narrow at the base,
clay objects but widens to the brim. Both sides are covered with black glaze, but the red
bands applied to this can barely be made out. Height -06 m., diameter at
brim *06 m.
(d) Miscellaneous clay objects
Miscellaneous (l) 5135 (Plate XXXVII). This two-handled jar of very pale clay was
Vases found in fragments in trench y. The shape is that of a sphere with a large slice
taken off for the base and a smaller for the brim. The polishing of the outside
is the only decoration and there are no wheel-marks. Height -15 m., diameter
at brim -095 m.
(2) 5143 (Plate XXXVII). An apparently hand-made vessel from the tholos
with one handle, and elegant with its carinated belly and small foot. There is
black glaze inside as well as out, and the outer surface has red and white bands.
Height -09 m., diameter at brim -082 m.
(3) 5131 (Plate XXXVII). A wheel-made vessel from trench y of fine clay
covered with a slip of yet whiter clay. In shape it is not unlike 5135, but with
lugs, pierced each with a pair of holes, instead of handles. Round the belly
are three grooves. It looks like a copy of the old suspension pots. Height
•065 m., diameter at brim -063 m.
Bull Rhytons (4) 5052, 5053 (Plates VII and XXXVII). These are a pair of rhytons in
the shape of an ox.1
5052. This, found in the tholos, is of heavy clay. The hole for filling is
in the neck, that for pouring in the muzzle. A toreador hung on each horn,
but the right horn is missing. For decoration there are vertical lines in red-
brown on the back and flanks, now very faint. Height, including horns, -095 m.;
length -165 m.2
5053. This was found in an M.M. pithos which had contained a body.
Horns and legs are broken, the hind legs being broken short off. The head is
unnaturally long and narrow. The mouth of the vessel is on the right side of
the neck, and there are two small holes for the eyes and two for the nostrils,
but these do not penetrate to the interior of the vessel, an indication that it
was not intended for use. Neither, perhaps, were its fellows. The whole of
the surface is covered by a red-brown wash on which are white lines, slanting
on the neck, vertical over the back, so close together as to give the impression
of alternate red and white lines. Shoulder and tail are marked in relief.
Extant length -195 m., height by the head -14 m.
Terracotta ibex (5) 5114 (Plates VII and XXXVII). This ibex or wild goat made of heavy
clay was found to the south of the tholos near the heap of stones. It is a
daring piece of work which has caught the general look and attitude of the
1 For the toreadors see above on the Koumasa 2 Cf. Evans, Palace, pp. 188-189, fig. 137.
rhyton, 4126, p. 40. Tomb of the Double Axes (London, 1914), p. 90,
fig. 96.
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
PORTf 5108. The profile of this vase is concave. It is very narrow at the base,
clay objects but widens to the brim. Both sides are covered with black glaze, but the red
bands applied to this can barely be made out. Height -06 m., diameter at
brim *06 m.
(d) Miscellaneous clay objects
Miscellaneous (l) 5135 (Plate XXXVII). This two-handled jar of very pale clay was
Vases found in fragments in trench y. The shape is that of a sphere with a large slice
taken off for the base and a smaller for the brim. The polishing of the outside
is the only decoration and there are no wheel-marks. Height -15 m., diameter
at brim -095 m.
(2) 5143 (Plate XXXVII). An apparently hand-made vessel from the tholos
with one handle, and elegant with its carinated belly and small foot. There is
black glaze inside as well as out, and the outer surface has red and white bands.
Height -09 m., diameter at brim -082 m.
(3) 5131 (Plate XXXVII). A wheel-made vessel from trench y of fine clay
covered with a slip of yet whiter clay. In shape it is not unlike 5135, but with
lugs, pierced each with a pair of holes, instead of handles. Round the belly
are three grooves. It looks like a copy of the old suspension pots. Height
•065 m., diameter at brim -063 m.
Bull Rhytons (4) 5052, 5053 (Plates VII and XXXVII). These are a pair of rhytons in
the shape of an ox.1
5052. This, found in the tholos, is of heavy clay. The hole for filling is
in the neck, that for pouring in the muzzle. A toreador hung on each horn,
but the right horn is missing. For decoration there are vertical lines in red-
brown on the back and flanks, now very faint. Height, including horns, -095 m.;
length -165 m.2
5053. This was found in an M.M. pithos which had contained a body.
Horns and legs are broken, the hind legs being broken short off. The head is
unnaturally long and narrow. The mouth of the vessel is on the right side of
the neck, and there are two small holes for the eyes and two for the nostrils,
but these do not penetrate to the interior of the vessel, an indication that it
was not intended for use. Neither, perhaps, were its fellows. The whole of
the surface is covered by a red-brown wash on which are white lines, slanting
on the neck, vertical over the back, so close together as to give the impression
of alternate red and white lines. Shoulder and tail are marked in relief.
Extant length -195 m., height by the head -14 m.
Terracotta ibex (5) 5114 (Plates VII and XXXVII). This ibex or wild goat made of heavy
clay was found to the south of the tholos near the heap of stones. It is a
daring piece of work which has caught the general look and attitude of the
1 For the toreadors see above on the Koumasa 2 Cf. Evans, Palace, pp. 188-189, fig. 137.
rhyton, 4126, p. 40. Tomb of the Double Axes (London, 1914), p. 90,
fig. 96.