766

VARIOUS SEAL-TYPES FROM DEPOSIT

Fig. 496. Collared Mastiff with Two
Attendants on Bead-seal, Isopata. (J)

Molossian hounds in size and beauty ', that watched around the shrine
of the Sikel God, Hadranus, and executed his behests.1

To these examples may be added
a more uncertain representation en-
graved on a chalcedony bead-seal found
in Tomb I of the Isopata Cemetery (Fig-.
496).2 In this case we have to deal
with an animal of relatively colossal size
wearing a bossed collar, attended by
two male figures. Its head might
rather be taken for that of a lion, but
its tail is certainly a dog's.

Other types from the above deposit
referring to bull-grappling scenes also
I robably stand in a sacral relation.
Swallow One,unfortunately somewhat distorted, impression presents a remarkable

on string. c]esjgn (Fig. 497). A female figure—perhaps of a religious character—in
a flowery field is here seen with a swallow on the end of a line—perhaps

a string to which it is attached—apparently luring
another. Conventional flowers are seen in the field
and rock-work below. The attention that Minoan
householders paid to these birds has been already
illustrated by the remains of the clay 'nesting-
bottles' found in the ' House of the Sacrificed Oxen'.
The swallow early appears as an artistic motive, and
on the contemporary wall-paintings of Phylakopi,
executed, we may believe, by Minoan artists, is
shown among the embroidered motives of a robe."

Other subjects represented in the hoard4 may
best be referred to a Section more specifically dealing
with glyptic works. A few scattered specimens were found in two neigh-
bouring baseu ent spaces. Together with the fragments of sealings was

Fig. 497. Female Figure
and Two Swallows.

1 Aelian H. A., xi. 20.

- A. E., Tomb of the Double Axes, i&V., p. 9
(Archaeo/ogia, vol. lxv), Fig. 14.

3 Excavations at Phylakopi in J/e/os, p. 73,
Fig. 61. A flying swallow also appears on
a wall-painting from the same site (op. cit.
p. 120, Fig. 92). Compare, too, p. 379, Fig.
211, c, above, from the 'South House'. A

M. M. Ill date. For the clay suspension pots,
apparently made for swallows, see above,
pp. 306, 307, and Fig. 177.

4 Among these may be mentioned cattle
pieces, scenes of the chase, a dog seizing an ani-
mal, water-birds,and papyrus-like spraysand fish.
Onecurious specimen shows a man leaning over
some kind of barrier, and looking at the head of

swallow appears on a three sided bead-seal of what seems to be a magnificent galloping bull.