M. M. Ill: SEAL TYPES AND GREATER ART 689

graduated base, which on the more perfect vessel from Hagia Triada acts as
support of the bull-grappling scenes.

The ' capital' shown in Fig. 507 reappears on the columns which on the Columns
parallel rhyton from Hagia Triada, of which a section is given in Fig. 508, agonistic
recur at intervals behind and between pugilistic scenes on the zone immedi- groups,
ately below that showing the bulls and cow-boys. We may therefore infer
that there was a similar disposition of zones on the Knossian specimen.

Fig. 509. Boxing Scene and Pillar
on Repository Sealing, Knossos.

Fig. 510. Fragment of Steatite Rhyton, Knossos.

In this connexion the Repository sealing, Fig. 509, has a special interest. Pugilists
We see here a highly athletic figure of a pugilist who has just knocked urrm^n
out his opponent, while behind is a similar column with part of another Seal-im-

11 ... pressions.

immediately superposed on the oblong block above it. This, as will be
shown in a later Section of this work, corresponds with the structural

arrangement of the 'Grand Stands' on either side of the Shrine on the Column

' Temple Fresco ' of Knossos, where pillars of the same peculiar character j^of

are depicted. The ' Grand Stands' there enabled crowds of spectators to prand

1 1 Stand or

look on at agonistic contests held, no doubt, in honour of the great Minoan Theatre.
1 y y