448 HIGH-SPOUTED EWERS ON T.ALISMANIC BEAD-SEALS

added, as usual with Cretan adaptations of Egyptian forms. In spite of
the further evolution of the pedestal this relationship can hardly be doubted
though it must be borne in mind that handled and spouted vessels, such as
the silver, teapot-like vase from the Byblos tomb,1 had continued in use on

Fig. 372. High-spouted Ewers on Talismanic Bead-seals.

the Syrian side at a time when the use of spouts was only of exceptional
use in Crete.

The coffee-pot shape of this type of vessel is usually (Fig. 372, a-l>)
enhanced by the appearance of a conical lid, similar to that so often seen
in the case of the two-handled chalices.

Here, too, the close association with vegetable motives is clearly
brought out. In Fig. 372, a, we see conventional trees rising within a fence-
like enclosure, and it is possible that libations with the general object of
promoting vegetation were often made before a sacred tree or grove. The
horn-shaped spray to the left may show the reaction of the 'Sacral Horns .
Complete ' vegetable' Horns also occur. At other times, a spray or branch
rises from within the vessel. In c this is supplemented by a similar
vegetation symbol before the spout,2 while behind is the ' mountains or
' earth' sign—a frequent hieroglyphic form 3—here on a kind of base. On
a three-sided clay sealing the branch and the ' earth' sign are coupled with
the ' plough'.■'

1 See P. of M., ii, Pt. II, p. 825, Fig.
511, a, and Hid., p. 654. (Cf. Ch. Virol-
leaud, Syria, hi, p. 273 seqq.). A later
Cretan parallel is supplied by the tea-pot-like
vase of faience from the Central Palace
Treasury at Knossos {P. of M., ii, Pt II,
p: 825, Fig. 5«, b).

- On a cornelian bead-seal obtained by me
at Girapetra (liierapytna) in 1S94.

' Scripla Minoa, i, pp. 223, 234, No. 114.
where Hitlite, Egyptian, and Babylonian
parallels are given.

■' For the connexion with the vegetable
sign, see Scripta Minoa, PI. II, P- 2&< ''•']
p. 29, <-. In PI. IV, b, p. 64, d, the ' branch
sign appears beside the 'plough', and 1
mentioned in the text.