DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3044#0174
No. 44: C-HOOKS AND C-SPIRALS 159
Hieroglyphic Deposit Group. No. 8, an impression from the MM IIB Phaistos sealing deposit,
was also stamped by an original of this group. The remaining two designs also came to light in
the Phaistos deposit. In no. 9 the interlocking C-hooks resemble those shown in nos. 1 and 2.
No. 9, however, differs from them in that plant sprays are part of the composition. Plant sprays
are well documented in MM II motifs but not in those from earlier periods. Thus, it is likely
that the original which impressed no. 9 may date approximately to MM II.
C-hooks and C-spirals are undocumented subsequent to MM IIB.
INDEX: C-hooks and C-spirals
1 CMS III 243', Similar: CMS III 25, 472*. 2 CMS IV 42b. 3 Knossos Tl\ Cf: Knossos Tc*. 4 CS 67a. 5
Knossos H2; CMS III 110; IV 22Dc. 6 CS 117*. 7 CM 160. 8 CMS 115 204*, Sim: CMS 112 6, Cf: CMS 112
41; VIII 22b; CS 74. 9 CMS 115 194*, Cf: CMS V 468*. 10 CMS 115 176*, Sim: CMS 115 174*, Cf: CMS V
288*.
45: J-HOOKS AND J-SPIRALS
J-spirals and J-hooks comprise a heterogeneous category of ornament known from about
thirty early Cretan seal motifs. J-hooks generally appear in groups of twos or threes. When posed
along or when axially ordered in pairs, they suggest roatation. The examples shown in nos. 1 and
2 are carved on ivory Stamp Cylinders which date to EM II-MM IA largely on the grounds of
their material. Further evidence for the dating of no. 1 is that the seal bearing this motif came
to light in an EM II-MM IA context in Marathokephalo. Hooks similar to those shown in no. 1
are combined on other seals in twos, threes, fours and sixes, all of which are centrally oriented.
The motifs in nos. 3-5 are from seals of the EM III-MM IA Parading Lions/Spiral Complex.
In no. 3 J-hooks are joined to form a whirling composite spiral. Such an arrangement is wholly
typical of the Parading Lions/Spiral Complex. The J-hooks in no. 4 frame the composition and
in no. 5 they are arranged in an interlocking and asymmetrical composition. Several kinds of J-
hooks decorate the seals of this style-complex. In no. 6 two J-hooks composed in axial symme-
try form the design. This motif appears on a seal from a MM IA context in Lenda, the reverse
side of which bears a motif typical of the EM III-MM IA (-? ) Border/Leaf Complex.
No. 7 shows an example of an outline arrangement of J-hooks carved on a seal of the MM
IA-IB Ladder and Spiral Group. In no. 8, two sketchily carved J-hooks are arranged in axial sym-
metry. The seal on which this motif is carved stems from a MM I context in Phaistos.
The J-hooks shown in nos. 9 and 10 are engraved on Prisms attributed to the MM II (-?)
Hieroglyphic Deposit Group. In no. 9 two hooks originally posed in axial symmetry to each
other are mounted as terminals on an N-form. No. 10 shows four centrally arranged J-hooks
which combine with four others to form four S-hooks. The center of the composition is dominat-
ed by a trowel sign (cf. Motif 57:8).
No. 11 shows two J-hooks which lie next to each other in bilateral symmetry. In stylistical-
ly related designs the spirals may also face forward. This motif and several similar ones came to
light in the MM IIB Phaistos sealing deposit. Stylistically similar seal motifs are also known from
contexts containing MM IB and earlier ceramic.1
Hieroglyphic Deposit Group. No. 8, an impression from the MM IIB Phaistos sealing deposit,
was also stamped by an original of this group. The remaining two designs also came to light in
the Phaistos deposit. In no. 9 the interlocking C-hooks resemble those shown in nos. 1 and 2.
No. 9, however, differs from them in that plant sprays are part of the composition. Plant sprays
are well documented in MM II motifs but not in those from earlier periods. Thus, it is likely
that the original which impressed no. 9 may date approximately to MM II.
C-hooks and C-spirals are undocumented subsequent to MM IIB.
INDEX: C-hooks and C-spirals
1 CMS III 243', Similar: CMS III 25, 472*. 2 CMS IV 42b. 3 Knossos Tl\ Cf: Knossos Tc*. 4 CS 67a. 5
Knossos H2; CMS III 110; IV 22Dc. 6 CS 117*. 7 CM 160. 8 CMS 115 204*, Sim: CMS 112 6, Cf: CMS 112
41; VIII 22b; CS 74. 9 CMS 115 194*, Cf: CMS V 468*. 10 CMS 115 176*, Sim: CMS 115 174*, Cf: CMS V
288*.
45: J-HOOKS AND J-SPIRALS
J-spirals and J-hooks comprise a heterogeneous category of ornament known from about
thirty early Cretan seal motifs. J-hooks generally appear in groups of twos or threes. When posed
along or when axially ordered in pairs, they suggest roatation. The examples shown in nos. 1 and
2 are carved on ivory Stamp Cylinders which date to EM II-MM IA largely on the grounds of
their material. Further evidence for the dating of no. 1 is that the seal bearing this motif came
to light in an EM II-MM IA context in Marathokephalo. Hooks similar to those shown in no. 1
are combined on other seals in twos, threes, fours and sixes, all of which are centrally oriented.
The motifs in nos. 3-5 are from seals of the EM III-MM IA Parading Lions/Spiral Complex.
In no. 3 J-hooks are joined to form a whirling composite spiral. Such an arrangement is wholly
typical of the Parading Lions/Spiral Complex. The J-hooks in no. 4 frame the composition and
in no. 5 they are arranged in an interlocking and asymmetrical composition. Several kinds of J-
hooks decorate the seals of this style-complex. In no. 6 two J-hooks composed in axial symme-
try form the design. This motif appears on a seal from a MM IA context in Lenda, the reverse
side of which bears a motif typical of the EM III-MM IA (-? ) Border/Leaf Complex.
No. 7 shows an example of an outline arrangement of J-hooks carved on a seal of the MM
IA-IB Ladder and Spiral Group. In no. 8, two sketchily carved J-hooks are arranged in axial sym-
metry. The seal on which this motif is carved stems from a MM I context in Phaistos.
The J-hooks shown in nos. 9 and 10 are engraved on Prisms attributed to the MM II (-?)
Hieroglyphic Deposit Group. In no. 9 two hooks originally posed in axial symmetry to each
other are mounted as terminals on an N-form. No. 10 shows four centrally arranged J-hooks
which combine with four others to form four S-hooks. The center of the composition is dominat-
ed by a trowel sign (cf. Motif 57:8).
No. 11 shows two J-hooks which lie next to each other in bilateral symmetry. In stylistical-
ly related designs the spirals may also face forward. This motif and several similar ones came to
light in the MM IIB Phaistos sealing deposit. Stylistically similar seal motifs are also known from
contexts containing MM IB and earlier ceramic.1