DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0126
PLATANOS
99
(a) Kernoi the
cemetery
As before, by this name I mean those double or multiple vessels consisting stone objects
of two or more contiguous cups. All the specimens came either from the Kernoi
external tombs round Tholos A or from trench a.
1619 (Plate LII). A square vessel of soft red ironstone, with four cylindri- Quadruple Kemos
cal cavities or cups. Each side is ornamented with three deep vertical grooves
and vertical lines in pairs incised between them. The vessel is pierced vertically
right through the centre, possibly to take a fixing peg of wood or metal.
Dimensions -10 m. square by -055 m.
The double kemos (Plates X and LII) is either oblong or elliptical. Double Kernoi
1020 (Plate LII). This is of the same reddish stone as the square kernos. Oblong
In the long sides there are four round cavities and two in the short, no doubt
once filled with an inlay. Between the cavities are pairs of vertical incised
lines. In the middle of each long side, near the top, is a hole slanting upwards
through the edge for suspension. Length *135 m., width *07 m., height -05 m.
1027 (Plate LII). This has two cavities on each long side, on one side
preserving their inlay of red stone; and one on the short. The sides are also
decorated along the upper and lower edge with a row of short vertical incised
lines. Suspension holes as in 1020. Length -09 m., width -055 m., height -035 m.
Nine similar oblong double kernoi were found, five of which, Nos. 1022,
1024, 1025, 1028, and 1029, are shown on Plate X; all are of the same shape,
with the same incised geometric ornament, and the same suspension holes, as
those described.
1029 was made in two pieces neatly fitted together.1
Of the oval double kernoi six were found, one of which, 1033, is shown Oval
on Plate X. These have suspension holes and incised ornament just like the
oblong type.
One, 1030 (Plate LII), is exceptional in being of bluish-white marble with
no ornament or suspension holes.
Similar double kernoi are found in Egypt from the predynastic period.2
(b) Vases of mortar or bird's nest shape. (Plates XI and LII.)
These form the most numerous class of stone objects in the Mesara tombs. Bird's Nest Vases
They were found by dozens in trench a outside Tholos A, and in the other
burials. Some are plain, but others, like the kernoi, have an incised geometric
linear decoration, and round hollows for an inlay of white or red, of which
traces survive only on two or three. A few of these vases are not of the usual
black, green, or dark grey steatite, but of marble, alabaster, or breccia.
1 There are other similar specimens, one from of these small vessels.
Platanos (1030) and two from Koumasa (g79, 080,
Plate XXIV a). This method of construction is 2 Pctrie, Prehistoric Egypt (1920), Plate XLII,
proof of the purely symbolic, religious purpose figs. 213, 214.
99
(a) Kernoi the
cemetery
As before, by this name I mean those double or multiple vessels consisting stone objects
of two or more contiguous cups. All the specimens came either from the Kernoi
external tombs round Tholos A or from trench a.
1619 (Plate LII). A square vessel of soft red ironstone, with four cylindri- Quadruple Kemos
cal cavities or cups. Each side is ornamented with three deep vertical grooves
and vertical lines in pairs incised between them. The vessel is pierced vertically
right through the centre, possibly to take a fixing peg of wood or metal.
Dimensions -10 m. square by -055 m.
The double kemos (Plates X and LII) is either oblong or elliptical. Double Kernoi
1020 (Plate LII). This is of the same reddish stone as the square kernos. Oblong
In the long sides there are four round cavities and two in the short, no doubt
once filled with an inlay. Between the cavities are pairs of vertical incised
lines. In the middle of each long side, near the top, is a hole slanting upwards
through the edge for suspension. Length *135 m., width *07 m., height -05 m.
1027 (Plate LII). This has two cavities on each long side, on one side
preserving their inlay of red stone; and one on the short. The sides are also
decorated along the upper and lower edge with a row of short vertical incised
lines. Suspension holes as in 1020. Length -09 m., width -055 m., height -035 m.
Nine similar oblong double kernoi were found, five of which, Nos. 1022,
1024, 1025, 1028, and 1029, are shown on Plate X; all are of the same shape,
with the same incised geometric ornament, and the same suspension holes, as
those described.
1029 was made in two pieces neatly fitted together.1
Of the oval double kernoi six were found, one of which, 1033, is shown Oval
on Plate X. These have suspension holes and incised ornament just like the
oblong type.
One, 1030 (Plate LII), is exceptional in being of bluish-white marble with
no ornament or suspension holes.
Similar double kernoi are found in Egypt from the predynastic period.2
(b) Vases of mortar or bird's nest shape. (Plates XI and LII.)
These form the most numerous class of stone objects in the Mesara tombs. Bird's Nest Vases
They were found by dozens in trench a outside Tholos A, and in the other
burials. Some are plain, but others, like the kernoi, have an incised geometric
linear decoration, and round hollows for an inlay of white or red, of which
traces survive only on two or three. A few of these vases are not of the usual
black, green, or dark grey steatite, but of marble, alabaster, or breccia.
1 There are other similar specimens, one from of these small vessels.
Platanos (1030) and two from Koumasa (g79, 080,
Plate XXIV a). This method of construction is 2 Pctrie, Prehistoric Egypt (1920), Plate XLII,
proof of the purely symbolic, religious purpose figs. 213, 214.