WARRIOR PRINCES ON VAPHEIO SEALS

419



here in Fig. 318, brings out even more fully his character as a warrior
prince though here he bears a different weapon.

Fig. 347. Bronze Axe of

Syrian Class from Vapheio

Tomb: probably of Minoan

Fabric

Fig. 348. Sardonyx Bead-seal from
Vapheio Tomb : Long Robed Minoan
Priest-king in Chariot holding Spear.

Warrior Prince in Chariot on Vapheio Seal-stone.

He is here depicted driving a two-horse chariot of a kind that must
itself be regarded as ultimately derived from the same Oriental quarter \ and
holding the shaft of a long lance, the middle of which rests on his shoulder.
In spite of the relative smallness of the figure, it will be seen that he wears
the same long robe with its alternate diagonal folds as the other repre-
sentations of this class.

Happily, the date of the Vapheio interment—thanks to comparative
evidence from the Cretan side—can now be securely established within
close approximate limits. It is marked by a set of four painted goblets 2
belonging to the fine early phase of L. M. I 6, exhibiting the ' Ogival
Canopy' in the form equally shared by Minoan Crete and its Main-
land plantations. These might, indeed, have been by the same hand
as the similar motive on a jug from Palaikastro." A fragment with the
same design was found on the Palace site at Knossos. Like the axe-head
and the objects in precious metals, the painted clay cups were placed in
the grave cist itself, but a beautiful contemporary ' amphora' in the best

1 See § 114 b'elow. s R. C. Bosanquet, JBtS.A., ix (1902-3),

- 'Ec/j. 'Apx-, 1SS9, PI. VII, 19, and p. 154; pp. 284-6, and Fig. 5. See, too, P. of J]J.,

see P. of A/., ii, Pt. II, pp. 4S9, 490, Fig. he. at., Fig. 296 a, a.

2% a, b.

IV ** F f

Vapheio
gem with
warrior
prince in
chariot.

Approxi-
mate
date.