DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0143
116
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
ivory seals
1046
the 1046 (Plate XIII). This is in the form of a hexagon narrowing to
cemetery ^Gp wfth a double decorative groove up each angle. These are joined
in pairs by continuations along the top edge. The base designs consist of
squares divided by diagonals, the triangles so formed being hatched alternate
ways.
1116 1116 (Plate XIII). From Tholos A. This is in shape a long narrow
pyramid. The base has a quatrefoil, hatched, with a central button, and a
button between each of the leaves.
1085 1085 (Plate XIII). From Tholos B. This is a disc, flat on the one side,
slightly arched on the other. The arched side has a double spiral, and between
the spirals on each side a branch or tree. The flat side has a triangle with a
spiral or hook at each corner.
1073 1073 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is only the half of a broad
ring with a long oblong bezel which shows parts of two large leaves with the
veins indicated, and two border grooves. The one side of the ring remaining
has an ox-head rudely cut out in high relief.
1059 105 9 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This has one flat and one arched
side, broad ellipses in shape. The flat side has an ibex facing right, and above
it a two-headed snake (?) coiled in a spiral. The arched side is divided
into two by two pairs of lines, with hatching between. The semicircle
left on the one side has a design of three leaves. The other side is broken
away.
1070 1070 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is a small square slab. One
side only has a design, a quadruped with other motifs in the field, but the
whole was cut so shallow that these cannot be made out.
The above are the most interesting of the ivory seals, the rest being either
fragmentary, or else belonging to the class of hemi-cylinders with merely linear
designs.
II. Stone Seals.
Most of the stone seals were found in B, the later of the two tholoi, but
some are from the burials outside them.
(1) Foreign seals
Of very special interest are three seals, foreign, or at least of foreign type,
and all of them from Tholos B, namely, a Babylonian cylinder of haematite
and two scarabs of Egyptian type of white steatite.
Babylonian 1098. This haematite cylinder, which is in excellent preservation, has only
Cylinder two figures engraved upon it, a god and goddess (see the illustration). These
1098 occupy only one-third of the circumference. The length is -021 m., and the
diameter -012 m. The diameter of the hole through the axis is not quite a
third that of the cylinder.
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
ivory seals
1046
the 1046 (Plate XIII). This is in the form of a hexagon narrowing to
cemetery ^Gp wfth a double decorative groove up each angle. These are joined
in pairs by continuations along the top edge. The base designs consist of
squares divided by diagonals, the triangles so formed being hatched alternate
ways.
1116 1116 (Plate XIII). From Tholos A. This is in shape a long narrow
pyramid. The base has a quatrefoil, hatched, with a central button, and a
button between each of the leaves.
1085 1085 (Plate XIII). From Tholos B. This is a disc, flat on the one side,
slightly arched on the other. The arched side has a double spiral, and between
the spirals on each side a branch or tree. The flat side has a triangle with a
spiral or hook at each corner.
1073 1073 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is only the half of a broad
ring with a long oblong bezel which shows parts of two large leaves with the
veins indicated, and two border grooves. The one side of the ring remaining
has an ox-head rudely cut out in high relief.
1059 105 9 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This has one flat and one arched
side, broad ellipses in shape. The flat side has an ibex facing right, and above
it a two-headed snake (?) coiled in a spiral. The arched side is divided
into two by two pairs of lines, with hatching between. The semicircle
left on the one side has a design of three leaves. The other side is broken
away.
1070 1070 (Plate XIV). From Tholos B. This is a small square slab. One
side only has a design, a quadruped with other motifs in the field, but the
whole was cut so shallow that these cannot be made out.
The above are the most interesting of the ivory seals, the rest being either
fragmentary, or else belonging to the class of hemi-cylinders with merely linear
designs.
II. Stone Seals.
Most of the stone seals were found in B, the later of the two tholoi, but
some are from the burials outside them.
(1) Foreign seals
Of very special interest are three seals, foreign, or at least of foreign type,
and all of them from Tholos B, namely, a Babylonian cylinder of haematite
and two scarabs of Egyptian type of white steatite.
Babylonian 1098. This haematite cylinder, which is in excellent preservation, has only
Cylinder two figures engraved upon it, a god and goddess (see the illustration). These
1098 occupy only one-third of the circumference. The length is -021 m., and the
diameter -012 m. The diameter of the hole through the axis is not quite a
third that of the cylinder.