DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0141
114
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
the opposite to the animal is filled with four hooks. The small end has a lion
cemetery contorted into symmetry.
ivory seals 1104> From Tholos B. This is large, but has lost part of the wide end.
1104 . .
Enough, however, remains to show that seven lions marched to the right in
procession round the edge, while the centre is filled with a triangular design
with spirals at the corners, outside which are four small holes. The smaller
end has an oblong design with diagonals and spirals at the corners. The outer
field is filled with hatchings.
1029 1029. This is a very short cylinder with a design on one end only, an
elegant three-legged pattern of curved lines extremely well cut. The other end
has only a pair of suspension holes.
1045 1045. From hut £. This is cut into two cylinders joined down one side.
The wider ends have on one half a highly stylised scorpion with lines to indicate
the legs on each side, and on the other a design of six spirals. The narrow
ends have each what may be meant for the bough of a tree or else for a much
conventionalised fish.
(2) Ivory seals in animal form
ivory Seals in Among the most interesting of the Platanos seals and the most original
Animal Form an(j surprising are the following three :—
1040 1040 (Plate XIII). From hut £. This is in the form of a dog-headed
ape squatting in the ritual attitude usual to this figure in Egypt. It has a
horizontal hole right through the shoulders, and this hole is met by a vertical
hole through the head, the object being that this amulet seal should hang
always the right way up. The design on the base consists of three contorted
lions arranged in a circle. This contortion, which aims at symmetry, can best
be described by saying that the hind part of each animal is twisted upside
down.
1044 1044 (Plate XIII). From hut £. This has the form of an ox couchant
upon an oblong plinth. The base has a design of two lions walking to the
left within a frame of continuous spirals,
lose 1086 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is in the form of a boar's
head resting on the fore-paws. The base, the section through the animal's
neck, has a design of spirals.
(3) Miscellaneous ivories
ivory Seals of 1079 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. A three-sided prism with one circular
Vanous^shapes an{j ^wo oyaj gjjgg Qn circuiar side is a deer or ibex, and round it small
full-ornamente. On one oval side is a ship drawn in some detail with two fish
beneath it, and behind it an object with four prongs like a fishing spear. This
ship reflects the busy sea traffic of the first Middle Minoan age, in which the seal
is placed, not only by its shape but by its provenance, since almost every date-
able object from Tholos B belongs to that period. The third side has a linear
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
the opposite to the animal is filled with four hooks. The small end has a lion
cemetery contorted into symmetry.
ivory seals 1104> From Tholos B. This is large, but has lost part of the wide end.
1104 . .
Enough, however, remains to show that seven lions marched to the right in
procession round the edge, while the centre is filled with a triangular design
with spirals at the corners, outside which are four small holes. The smaller
end has an oblong design with diagonals and spirals at the corners. The outer
field is filled with hatchings.
1029 1029. This is a very short cylinder with a design on one end only, an
elegant three-legged pattern of curved lines extremely well cut. The other end
has only a pair of suspension holes.
1045 1045. From hut £. This is cut into two cylinders joined down one side.
The wider ends have on one half a highly stylised scorpion with lines to indicate
the legs on each side, and on the other a design of six spirals. The narrow
ends have each what may be meant for the bough of a tree or else for a much
conventionalised fish.
(2) Ivory seals in animal form
ivory Seals in Among the most interesting of the Platanos seals and the most original
Animal Form an(j surprising are the following three :—
1040 1040 (Plate XIII). From hut £. This is in the form of a dog-headed
ape squatting in the ritual attitude usual to this figure in Egypt. It has a
horizontal hole right through the shoulders, and this hole is met by a vertical
hole through the head, the object being that this amulet seal should hang
always the right way up. The design on the base consists of three contorted
lions arranged in a circle. This contortion, which aims at symmetry, can best
be described by saying that the hind part of each animal is twisted upside
down.
1044 1044 (Plate XIII). From hut £. This has the form of an ox couchant
upon an oblong plinth. The base has a design of two lions walking to the
left within a frame of continuous spirals,
lose 1086 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is in the form of a boar's
head resting on the fore-paws. The base, the section through the animal's
neck, has a design of spirals.
(3) Miscellaneous ivories
ivory Seals of 1079 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. A three-sided prism with one circular
Vanous^shapes an{j ^wo oyaj gjjgg Qn circuiar side is a deer or ibex, and round it small
full-ornamente. On one oval side is a ship drawn in some detail with two fish
beneath it, and behind it an object with four prongs like a fishing spear. This
ship reflects the busy sea traffic of the first Middle Minoan age, in which the seal
is placed, not only by its shape but by its provenance, since almost every date-
able object from Tholos B belongs to that period. The third side has a linear