DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.807#0310
276
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
' Prism '-
seals.
Many circular seal-impressions were evidently taken from signets like
Fig. 204, h, /, and one at least of these with an elaborate decorative
border, showing exceptional fineness of engraving (Fig. 205),1 has the
appearance of having been impressed by a metal matrix. One of the two
hieroglyphs on this is of exceptional interest as representing an eight-
stringed lyre. Other types of hieroglyphic signets of this class are shown
in Fig. 207, b, d.
Three- and four-sided^prism-seals were also evidently much in use, and
the more elongated types of these now in vogue (Fig. 207, c, h) were specially
adapted for containing hieroglyphic formulas. A cornelian seal of this class,
Fig. 205. Impression of
'Signet'-seal, M. M. II. (j)
Hieroglyphic Deposit.
Fig. 206. Impressions of 'Prism' and 'Signet' on
M. M. II Sealing, (f) Hieroglyphic Deposit.
here for the first time reproduced, Fig. 207, c, presents features of great
Facing interest. The facing head here seen—the counterpart of the winged symbolic
female fig"ure °f ^ace I» above referred to—with its locks flowing out on either side
costume, and terminating in coils, recalls that of Ishtar with her two side tresses and
may be clue to a suggestion from the Oriental side, where facing heads go back
to the Sumerian Age. It shows prominent teeth and small globular ear-rings.
The sex is clearly female and the two small hieroglyphs above may supply
a name, k, on another prism-seal2, presents a gowned figure with a peaked
collar—a survival of the female costume illustrated by the Petsofa figurines.
Impressions of these 'prisms' often occur on clay sealings side by side with
those of the 'signets'—as, for instance, on that presenting the portrait,
apparently, of one of the Knossian Priest-Kings (Fig. 200).
A perforated oblong seal with slightly rounded, faces (Fig. 204, r~s),3
1 Scripta Minoa, i, p. 161, P. 64 a (and 3 Cf. Scripta Minoa, i, PI. II, P. 41, and
cf. pp. 142, 146). P-I47- The specimen shown in Fig. 204, r-s has
2 Three-sided. On face 2 hieroglyphs Nos. 13 two perforations, an unusual feature. From its
(twice), 18, 64; face 3, Nos. 5, 18, 64 of Signary, style this intaglio may well be of M. M. II date.
Fig. 214.
THE PALACE OF MINOS, ETC.
' Prism '-
seals.
Many circular seal-impressions were evidently taken from signets like
Fig. 204, h, /, and one at least of these with an elaborate decorative
border, showing exceptional fineness of engraving (Fig. 205),1 has the
appearance of having been impressed by a metal matrix. One of the two
hieroglyphs on this is of exceptional interest as representing an eight-
stringed lyre. Other types of hieroglyphic signets of this class are shown
in Fig. 207, b, d.
Three- and four-sided^prism-seals were also evidently much in use, and
the more elongated types of these now in vogue (Fig. 207, c, h) were specially
adapted for containing hieroglyphic formulas. A cornelian seal of this class,
Fig. 205. Impression of
'Signet'-seal, M. M. II. (j)
Hieroglyphic Deposit.
Fig. 206. Impressions of 'Prism' and 'Signet' on
M. M. II Sealing, (f) Hieroglyphic Deposit.
here for the first time reproduced, Fig. 207, c, presents features of great
Facing interest. The facing head here seen—the counterpart of the winged symbolic
female fig"ure °f ^ace I» above referred to—with its locks flowing out on either side
costume, and terminating in coils, recalls that of Ishtar with her two side tresses and
may be clue to a suggestion from the Oriental side, where facing heads go back
to the Sumerian Age. It shows prominent teeth and small globular ear-rings.
The sex is clearly female and the two small hieroglyphs above may supply
a name, k, on another prism-seal2, presents a gowned figure with a peaked
collar—a survival of the female costume illustrated by the Petsofa figurines.
Impressions of these 'prisms' often occur on clay sealings side by side with
those of the 'signets'—as, for instance, on that presenting the portrait,
apparently, of one of the Knossian Priest-Kings (Fig. 200).
A perforated oblong seal with slightly rounded, faces (Fig. 204, r~s),3
1 Scripta Minoa, i, p. 161, P. 64 a (and 3 Cf. Scripta Minoa, i, PI. II, P. 41, and
cf. pp. 142, 146). P-I47- The specimen shown in Fig. 204, r-s has
2 Three-sided. On face 2 hieroglyphs Nos. 13 two perforations, an unusual feature. From its
(twice), 18, 64; face 3, Nos. 5, 18, 64 of Signary, style this intaglio may well be of M. M. II date.
Fig. 214.