196

THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.

graphic signs, but somewhat elongated (Fig. 143).1 Some seal impressions
are also known, including Fig. 144, found together with the ' dove vase \
Fig. 107 above,2 and other early M. M. I types on the original floor of the
early Pillar Basement to the South-East of the Palace site at Knossos.3 The
fragments from the ' Vat-Room ' deposit belong to the same class. These are
of special synchronistic value since they show that this advance in the Art of
Writing had been already achieved before the foundation of the Palace as we
know it.

Fig. 143.

b c d

Faces of Three-sided Steatite Bead-Seals showing
Hieroglyphs of Class A. (f)

Con-
tinued
use of
Ivory
Seals.

Hemi-
Cylinders.

Fig. 144. Clay Sealing with Sign-Group of Class A.
Early Pillar Basement, Knossos. (f)

cr

The Early Minoan usage of ivory seals still continued in vogue durin
the early part, at least, of the present Period. Among forms now found the
hemi-cylinder is of special interest as fitting on, like the E. M. Ill 1 button-
sealsto a characteristic ' Egypto-Libyan' class of the Sixth to Tenth
Dynasty Period. The specimen Fig. 145 1 belongs in style to the latest stage
of sphragistic art represented in the tholos ossuaries. It is moreover note-
worthy as presenting a nude male figure with a dagger at his waist, corre-

1 Scripta Minoa, i. (a) p. 149, P. 1 a ; 3 See p. 145, Fig. 106.

{b) p. 150, P. 5a; (c, d), ib., P. 6, a, b. 4 Scripta Minoa, i, p. 229, from near

2 See p. 146. Knossos