DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3044#0092
CATALOGUE 77
28c Rings may have either circular, ellipsoidal or rectangular plates and proportionately
thin hoops. The boring of CMS III 191 is narrow but those of the other examples are wide e-
nough to accomodate a finger. The materials represented are bone, ivory and "serpentine". In
their height 28c Rings range from 2.3 to 2.7 cms., when measured from the seal plate. These
seals comprise a subclass of heterogeneous shapes, which, in workmanship, range from fair to
good.
Decoration and dating
The motifs which decorate 28c Rings are cross-hatching, a meandroid, cross with Zwickel-
fiillung and a Vierpass.202 CS 32 is assigned to the EM II-MM IA Quatrefoil Group. Further evi-
dence for dating is provided by stratified examples: CMS III 185 and 191 both stem from EM
II-MM IA contexts in Lenda. The evidence of style, ivory as a seal material and stratigraphic
factors indicate a tentative dating for the examples of this subclass within EM II-MM IA.
28d) metal
AGD II 35; CMS VII 68; HM Metal 143; HM Precious Metal 530
Early Cretan Rings in metal occur with plates which in plan are ei-
ther circular or ellipsoidal. The ellipsoidal plates are more convex in the
short than in the long axis. AGD II 35 has an ellipsoidal bezel but those
of the other three examples have circular ones. While this Ring seems to
have been cast , the plate of CMS VII 68 appears to have been brazed cms VII 68
to a solid hoop.205 The plate of AGD II 35 measures 2.0 x 1.52 cms.
and those of the other three Rings range from 1.0 to 1.8 cms. A silver alloy (AGD II 35), gold
(CMS VII 68; HM Precious Metal 530) and lead (HM Metal 143) are the materials represented.
HM Metal 143 is of fair workmanship but that of CMS VII 68 and Precious Metal 530 is excel-
lent. Rings from the Old Palatial Period may also be studied from their ancient impressions. No
other seal shape leaves such an impression except for certain Amygdaloids and on the grounds of
the contour and iconography, distinguishing Amygdaloid from Ring impressions is easy. Many Ring
impressions are identifiable from the MM IIB Hieroglyphic Deposit in Knossos °6, MM IIB Phais-
tos: sealing deposit207 and MM IIIB Temple Repository.208 As few Aegean stone Rings are
one assumes that the originals which produced these impressions were in metal.
Decoration and dating
Numerous heterogeneous motifs decorate early Cretan metal Rings. These include men,
goats, deer, lions, owls, a whorl shell, leaves, a boat and a pictorialized motif. No 28d Rings
are assigned to groups although some impressions are dated by their attributions to the MM IIIB
Temple Repository Mannerist Group. In addition to this evidence, we have already noted that
stratigraphically datable impressions are relatively numerous in MM IIB and MM IIIB contexts.211
Two Rings stem also from stratified contexts:
HM Metal 143 MM III-LM IA Sphoungaras, Pithos Burial
HM Precious Metal 530 MM III-LM Mavro Spelio, Gr. IXE
Metal Rings, common in the Neopalatial Period , are in production as early as MM II.
28c Rings may have either circular, ellipsoidal or rectangular plates and proportionately
thin hoops. The boring of CMS III 191 is narrow but those of the other examples are wide e-
nough to accomodate a finger. The materials represented are bone, ivory and "serpentine". In
their height 28c Rings range from 2.3 to 2.7 cms., when measured from the seal plate. These
seals comprise a subclass of heterogeneous shapes, which, in workmanship, range from fair to
good.
Decoration and dating
The motifs which decorate 28c Rings are cross-hatching, a meandroid, cross with Zwickel-
fiillung and a Vierpass.202 CS 32 is assigned to the EM II-MM IA Quatrefoil Group. Further evi-
dence for dating is provided by stratified examples: CMS III 185 and 191 both stem from EM
II-MM IA contexts in Lenda. The evidence of style, ivory as a seal material and stratigraphic
factors indicate a tentative dating for the examples of this subclass within EM II-MM IA.
28d) metal
AGD II 35; CMS VII 68; HM Metal 143; HM Precious Metal 530
Early Cretan Rings in metal occur with plates which in plan are ei-
ther circular or ellipsoidal. The ellipsoidal plates are more convex in the
short than in the long axis. AGD II 35 has an ellipsoidal bezel but those
of the other three examples have circular ones. While this Ring seems to
have been cast , the plate of CMS VII 68 appears to have been brazed cms VII 68
to a solid hoop.205 The plate of AGD II 35 measures 2.0 x 1.52 cms.
and those of the other three Rings range from 1.0 to 1.8 cms. A silver alloy (AGD II 35), gold
(CMS VII 68; HM Precious Metal 530) and lead (HM Metal 143) are the materials represented.
HM Metal 143 is of fair workmanship but that of CMS VII 68 and Precious Metal 530 is excel-
lent. Rings from the Old Palatial Period may also be studied from their ancient impressions. No
other seal shape leaves such an impression except for certain Amygdaloids and on the grounds of
the contour and iconography, distinguishing Amygdaloid from Ring impressions is easy. Many Ring
impressions are identifiable from the MM IIB Hieroglyphic Deposit in Knossos °6, MM IIB Phais-
tos: sealing deposit207 and MM IIIB Temple Repository.208 As few Aegean stone Rings are
one assumes that the originals which produced these impressions were in metal.
Decoration and dating
Numerous heterogeneous motifs decorate early Cretan metal Rings. These include men,
goats, deer, lions, owls, a whorl shell, leaves, a boat and a pictorialized motif. No 28d Rings
are assigned to groups although some impressions are dated by their attributions to the MM IIIB
Temple Repository Mannerist Group. In addition to this evidence, we have already noted that
stratigraphically datable impressions are relatively numerous in MM IIB and MM IIIB contexts.211
Two Rings stem also from stratified contexts:
HM Metal 143 MM III-LM IA Sphoungaras, Pithos Burial
HM Precious Metal 530 MM III-LM Mavro Spelio, Gr. IXE
Metal Rings, common in the Neopalatial Period , are in production as early as MM II.