DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0149
122
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
the shoulders and two below crossing. The number and position of these holes
were clearly intended to secure the upright position of the figure, and show
that it must have been used as a pendant or amulet. The artist spent his
pains mostly on the head, and worked the details of the face, ears, eyes, and
lips in relief with some accuracy. The figure wears a band round the head,
unless the intention was to show a low round cap. Height -05 m.
230. From Tholos B. This has lost its head, and represents a woman
wearing the long flounced Minoan skirt and bodice and holding her hands to
her breast. Height -023 m.
223. From Tholos A. This represents a woman in a squatting posture.
The head is almost an owl's in shape, with two round holes for eyes. Height
•026 m.
The square chest of another ivory figure was found. These four ivory
figures were probably worn on the body as magical apotropaic amulets. There
were others like them in the large tholos of Hagla Triada.1
(4) A Limestone Figure.
Limestone 225 (Plate LVIII). Found in the earth of Tholos A. A figure (?) in
Figure (?) form of a cross, that is to say, it is a slab of white limestone with arms
projecting opposite one another as if meant for those of a figure. The lower
part is broken. Extant height -048 m. ; width, including arms, -043 m.
(5) An Ape Amulet.
Ape Amulet 1026 (Plate XV). From Tholos A. An ivory amulet in the form of two
apes seated back to back. The heads and faces are a fair copy of nature,
with details in high relief and small round holes for the eyes ; while the rest
of the body, with the arms and legs, is worked in very low relief.
The suspension hole passes between the heads at the level of the neck.
Amulets in the form of animals were used in Crete as they were in pre-
dynastic Egypt, and the ape is found as an amulet in predynastic tombs.2
(6) An Ape or Elephant (?) Amulet.
Ape or Elephant (?) 1145 (Plate XV). From Tholos B. An ivory amulet very well pre-
Amuiet served, representing some beast, but what beast is a puzzle. It might be a
large ape, or conceivably an elephant. It is pierced right through the back
in both directions, as is usual with the ivory seals and many of the amulets.
Height -021 m., length -032 m.
(7) Ox-head Amulets.
Ox-Head Amulets Two amulets in the form of an ox-head.
The one, 1147, from Tholos B (Plate XV), is of ivory ; the other, 1252,
found outside in the earth, is of black steatite. Both have suspension holes.
THE
CEMETERY
FIGURINES, ETC.
Ivory Figures
1 Mem. 1st. Lomb., loc. cit., Tav. XI, fig. 27.
2 Petrie, Prehistoric Egypt, p. 10,
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
the shoulders and two below crossing. The number and position of these holes
were clearly intended to secure the upright position of the figure, and show
that it must have been used as a pendant or amulet. The artist spent his
pains mostly on the head, and worked the details of the face, ears, eyes, and
lips in relief with some accuracy. The figure wears a band round the head,
unless the intention was to show a low round cap. Height -05 m.
230. From Tholos B. This has lost its head, and represents a woman
wearing the long flounced Minoan skirt and bodice and holding her hands to
her breast. Height -023 m.
223. From Tholos A. This represents a woman in a squatting posture.
The head is almost an owl's in shape, with two round holes for eyes. Height
•026 m.
The square chest of another ivory figure was found. These four ivory
figures were probably worn on the body as magical apotropaic amulets. There
were others like them in the large tholos of Hagla Triada.1
(4) A Limestone Figure.
Limestone 225 (Plate LVIII). Found in the earth of Tholos A. A figure (?) in
Figure (?) form of a cross, that is to say, it is a slab of white limestone with arms
projecting opposite one another as if meant for those of a figure. The lower
part is broken. Extant height -048 m. ; width, including arms, -043 m.
(5) An Ape Amulet.
Ape Amulet 1026 (Plate XV). From Tholos A. An ivory amulet in the form of two
apes seated back to back. The heads and faces are a fair copy of nature,
with details in high relief and small round holes for the eyes ; while the rest
of the body, with the arms and legs, is worked in very low relief.
The suspension hole passes between the heads at the level of the neck.
Amulets in the form of animals were used in Crete as they were in pre-
dynastic Egypt, and the ape is found as an amulet in predynastic tombs.2
(6) An Ape or Elephant (?) Amulet.
Ape or Elephant (?) 1145 (Plate XV). From Tholos B. An ivory amulet very well pre-
Amuiet served, representing some beast, but what beast is a puzzle. It might be a
large ape, or conceivably an elephant. It is pierced right through the back
in both directions, as is usual with the ivory seals and many of the amulets.
Height -021 m., length -032 m.
(7) Ox-head Amulets.
Ox-Head Amulets Two amulets in the form of an ox-head.
The one, 1147, from Tholos B (Plate XV), is of ivory ; the other, 1252,
found outside in the earth, is of black steatite. Both have suspension holes.
THE
CEMETERY
FIGURINES, ETC.
Ivory Figures
1 Mem. 1st. Lomb., loc. cit., Tav. XI, fig. 27.
2 Petrie, Prehistoric Egypt, p. 10,