DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0157
130
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
egyptian 14. The great use of ivory in Minoan Crete is itself a proof of its close
parallels communication with Egypt and Libya.
Ivory 15. Lastly, the Early Minoan age in Crete ends at about the same time
as the old kingdom in Egypt. This may be mere coincidence, but it might be
accounted for by close relations between the two civilisations.
The cumulative effect of all these parallels is enough to convince us of kin-
ship between these two ancient peoples, and relations closer than mere casual
contact. We must assume, not only racial kinship, as anthropologists have
deduced it from their skulls and bones, between the Egyptians and iEgean
Emigration from branches of the Mediterranean race, but actual intermingling, emigration and
Egypt to Crete mflux from one country to the other. Sir Arthur Evans thinks the part played
by this early Egyptian element very large. He has already expressed the not
improbable view that at the time when the Dynastic Elements in Egypt
obtained their power a portion of the prehistoric predynastic population may
have been driven out from Egypt and have settled on the soil of Crete.1
In any case, however we regard the influence of Egypt on Crete—whether
as due to racial kinship or to frequent communications by sea—we must
certainly admit Mesara to be the nearest and most conveniently situated part
of the island to receive any influence and contact from the south. Its natural
harbours, Matala, Fair Havens, and Leben, must have been the havens and
bases of the Minoan ships which carried the traffic to and fro. (See frontispiece.)
Thus it would be natural for Egypto-Libyan influence and affinities to be
found clearer and more stressed in this portion of the island. And so in fact
they have been found, as we have seen, in the tholos tombs of Mesara.
other III. OTHER FOREIGN INFLUENCES IN CRETE
foreign
influences Compared with the strength of Egyptian influence, indications pointing to
relations in other directions seem few and of less importance. They have been
recently dealt with by Sir Arthur Evans in his monumental work, the Palace of
Minos, which I have quoted so often, and for this reason I shall merely sum-
marise the indications from the Mesara tombs, indications that point mainly
to the Cyclades and Asia Minor.
cycladic A, cycladic influences.
influences Resemblances with Cycladic work, and possibly direct influence, have been
C1o4eJEdm.ind n°ted in the style of the clay pyxides and other vases of the first and second
Vases Early Minoan periods. These vases keep the sub-neolithic tradition, the black
or grey clay (the so-called bucchero), and in many examples the burnished
surface and incised ornament together with the small round shapes. Moreover,
the style of the early geometric vases of Chalandriane in Syra was plentifully
1 Evans, Palace, pp. 17, 64, 65.
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
egyptian 14. The great use of ivory in Minoan Crete is itself a proof of its close
parallels communication with Egypt and Libya.
Ivory 15. Lastly, the Early Minoan age in Crete ends at about the same time
as the old kingdom in Egypt. This may be mere coincidence, but it might be
accounted for by close relations between the two civilisations.
The cumulative effect of all these parallels is enough to convince us of kin-
ship between these two ancient peoples, and relations closer than mere casual
contact. We must assume, not only racial kinship, as anthropologists have
deduced it from their skulls and bones, between the Egyptians and iEgean
Emigration from branches of the Mediterranean race, but actual intermingling, emigration and
Egypt to Crete mflux from one country to the other. Sir Arthur Evans thinks the part played
by this early Egyptian element very large. He has already expressed the not
improbable view that at the time when the Dynastic Elements in Egypt
obtained their power a portion of the prehistoric predynastic population may
have been driven out from Egypt and have settled on the soil of Crete.1
In any case, however we regard the influence of Egypt on Crete—whether
as due to racial kinship or to frequent communications by sea—we must
certainly admit Mesara to be the nearest and most conveniently situated part
of the island to receive any influence and contact from the south. Its natural
harbours, Matala, Fair Havens, and Leben, must have been the havens and
bases of the Minoan ships which carried the traffic to and fro. (See frontispiece.)
Thus it would be natural for Egypto-Libyan influence and affinities to be
found clearer and more stressed in this portion of the island. And so in fact
they have been found, as we have seen, in the tholos tombs of Mesara.
other III. OTHER FOREIGN INFLUENCES IN CRETE
foreign
influences Compared with the strength of Egyptian influence, indications pointing to
relations in other directions seem few and of less importance. They have been
recently dealt with by Sir Arthur Evans in his monumental work, the Palace of
Minos, which I have quoted so often, and for this reason I shall merely sum-
marise the indications from the Mesara tombs, indications that point mainly
to the Cyclades and Asia Minor.
cycladic A, cycladic influences.
influences Resemblances with Cycladic work, and possibly direct influence, have been
C1o4eJEdm.ind n°ted in the style of the clay pyxides and other vases of the first and second
Vases Early Minoan periods. These vases keep the sub-neolithic tradition, the black
or grey clay (the so-called bucchero), and in many examples the burnished
surface and incised ornament together with the small round shapes. Moreover,
the style of the early geometric vases of Chalandriane in Syra was plentifully
1 Evans, Palace, pp. 17, 64, 65.