DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3044#0201
186 SYNTAX
strebung", "Aufteilung des Bildfeldes", "Bevorzugung gerader Linien und recbter Winkel" des-
cribe literally hundreds of stylistically developed Cretan seal motifs.14 Not only do large num-
bers of seals from Late Helladic contexts show "Minoan" structure , but many sealing designs
from EH II-III Lerna, unknown to Biesantz in 1954, do so as well. So-called Minoan struc-
1 7
ture is well represented on the mainland, in Anatolia and in the Orient. His "elimination of
centers and radials through a slurring of elements and unified rotation' disregards the existence
of hundreds of other early Cretan seal motifs. Finally, early Cretan seal motifs are as often as
not characterized by two or even three structural arrangements of equal value. While nearly all
experts would agree that certain style tendencies characterize Minoan and Helladic style, structure
is only secondary to these as a working criterion for making a distinction. The following classifi-
cation of decorative syntax is based on rigorous criteria and with an eye to how representative
the structural schemes actually are.
A. Field division
With respect to early Cretan seals, a discussion of decorative syntax refers primarily to field
division and less to decoration of the seal body. The syntax of the seal motifs, which may be
treated first, is characterized by several different principles which are neither necessarily opposite
to nor mutually exclusive of one another. The principles discussed below are not presented as
laws and may not be used polemically. They are rather intended as aids which help to character-
ize the material.
Rotation. Rotation is not a compositional scheme but rather a principle. The rotational effects of
motifs as well as the relation between the field and composition are considered here. Rotational
elements may appear in outline, rapport, radiating, segmental and frieze systems. Motifs with an
inherent whirling effect include petaloid and multiple loops, swastikas, J- and S-hooks and spirals
as well as whirling motifs (Zweipdsse etc.). TSte-beche arrangements are also inherently rotation-
al. Whirling motifs, when used as the main element, suggest a general rotation but ancillary ones
rotate only within their immediate part of the composition. Rotation is unrestricted in a circular
field but hindered in a rectangular one. The more angular or elongated the field, the less free
is the rotation. In circular fields centralized whirling motifs are usually the dominating element.
In ellipsoidal fields longer ones or pairs occur. In square fields rotational compositions are unus-
ual.
Of the estimated 5500 seal faces or impressions, about 280 cases show a whirling motif as
the dominant element (less than two percent). Nonetheless, rotation of individual elements is typ-
ically Minoan. Rotational compositions occur in practically every early Cretan style-group and are
not limited to any one period.
Radiacion. Kadiating motifs issue from the center to the periphery They are adaptable and occur
in circular, square and occasionally ellipsoidal fields. Of the compositional schemes discussed
here, radiation is represented by the largest number of examples (c. 300). Examples are numer-
ous in both the Prepalatial and Old Palatial Periods. In the Prepalatial Period typical radiating
compositions are composed of leaves (Motifs 19:13, 15-19, 23-25) and centrally radiating mo-
tdfs. In the Old Palatial Period examples of this schema are composed of "leaves" (19:43, 56-
57), tectonic ornament (24:13), centrally radiating motifs (26:8-45) and stars (28:1-16), to men-
strebung", "Aufteilung des Bildfeldes", "Bevorzugung gerader Linien und recbter Winkel" des-
cribe literally hundreds of stylistically developed Cretan seal motifs.14 Not only do large num-
bers of seals from Late Helladic contexts show "Minoan" structure , but many sealing designs
from EH II-III Lerna, unknown to Biesantz in 1954, do so as well. So-called Minoan struc-
1 7
ture is well represented on the mainland, in Anatolia and in the Orient. His "elimination of
centers and radials through a slurring of elements and unified rotation' disregards the existence
of hundreds of other early Cretan seal motifs. Finally, early Cretan seal motifs are as often as
not characterized by two or even three structural arrangements of equal value. While nearly all
experts would agree that certain style tendencies characterize Minoan and Helladic style, structure
is only secondary to these as a working criterion for making a distinction. The following classifi-
cation of decorative syntax is based on rigorous criteria and with an eye to how representative
the structural schemes actually are.
A. Field division
With respect to early Cretan seals, a discussion of decorative syntax refers primarily to field
division and less to decoration of the seal body. The syntax of the seal motifs, which may be
treated first, is characterized by several different principles which are neither necessarily opposite
to nor mutually exclusive of one another. The principles discussed below are not presented as
laws and may not be used polemically. They are rather intended as aids which help to character-
ize the material.
Rotation. Rotation is not a compositional scheme but rather a principle. The rotational effects of
motifs as well as the relation between the field and composition are considered here. Rotational
elements may appear in outline, rapport, radiating, segmental and frieze systems. Motifs with an
inherent whirling effect include petaloid and multiple loops, swastikas, J- and S-hooks and spirals
as well as whirling motifs (Zweipdsse etc.). TSte-beche arrangements are also inherently rotation-
al. Whirling motifs, when used as the main element, suggest a general rotation but ancillary ones
rotate only within their immediate part of the composition. Rotation is unrestricted in a circular
field but hindered in a rectangular one. The more angular or elongated the field, the less free
is the rotation. In circular fields centralized whirling motifs are usually the dominating element.
In ellipsoidal fields longer ones or pairs occur. In square fields rotational compositions are unus-
ual.
Of the estimated 5500 seal faces or impressions, about 280 cases show a whirling motif as
the dominant element (less than two percent). Nonetheless, rotation of individual elements is typ-
ically Minoan. Rotational compositions occur in practically every early Cretan style-group and are
not limited to any one period.
Radiacion. Kadiating motifs issue from the center to the periphery They are adaptable and occur
in circular, square and occasionally ellipsoidal fields. Of the compositional schemes discussed
here, radiation is represented by the largest number of examples (c. 300). Examples are numer-
ous in both the Prepalatial and Old Palatial Periods. In the Prepalatial Period typical radiating
compositions are composed of leaves (Motifs 19:13, 15-19, 23-25) and centrally radiating mo-
tdfs. In the Old Palatial Period examples of this schema are composed of "leaves" (19:43, 56-
57), tectonic ornament (24:13), centrally radiating motifs (26:8-45) and stars (28:1-16), to men-