2io MINOAN ALTAR-BASES WITH INCURVED SIDES

in which it stood, had originally been coated with stucco, coloured a Venetian
red, of which, however, only scanty remains were brought to light in the small

Altars
or sacral
bases with
incurved
sides.

Fig. 161, Section of Inner Part of Chapel showing Drain leading from Alta

section that it was possible to excavate
under the new road-way.

The altar (Fig. 160), with its curving
sides thus brought into prominence, belongs
to a well-known class of what in many cases
may be rather regarded as sacral bases,
such as those beneath the forepart of the
lions of the Mycenae gate. The incurving
of the sides in this and analogous cases is
more pronounced, and bases of this class
are adopted as an architectural feature in
the facade of one of the faience ' House-
Tablets ' and again as a section of the
painted frieze on either side of the Throne

at Knossos. They seem, indeed, as has already been pointed out, to
have played a leading part in the evolution of the 'half-rosette' friezes so
characteristic of the Minoan Order.

1 P. o/M., ii, Pt. II, pp. 607, 60S; Note on the relation of half-rosette and triglyph fn^'s
to the incurved type of Minoan altar-base. -

Fig. 162.
Bead-seal
Idaean Cave.

aglio on lentoid
Rock-crystal :