CALF'S HEAD ON LENTOID INTAGLIO

491

The. eyes on this themselves approach the symbol of the all-seeing divinity,
such as appears in the field of more than one signaturing.

Fantasy apart, designs of this class often reveal the truest sympathy with Lentoid
natural forms and surroundings, as is seen in the design of a fish and squid j^EL
stranded in a rocky pool, on ajvnossos sealing already referred to (Fig. 422). bird-
In Fi°\ 423, on a sealing" of M. M. Ill date,1 we actually seem to have an
instantaneous glimpse of what might be willows bending to the breeze, which
stirs flood water round. Fig. 424 showing a flying bird, on a seal impression
from Hagia Triada,2 supplies another good example of this free spirit.

Lentoid showing Calf's Head.

Unfortunately, owing largely to the rarity of contemporary tombs, we
have largely to rely on clay seal impressions for our knowledge of this early
lentoid class. It is possible, however, to illustrate for the first time here
a remarkable specimen, exceptionally executed in dark steatite, from
Mirabello, East of Candia3 (Fig. 425 and Suppl. PI. LIV, d). Clearly it is
a calf's head, dressed, without the eyes, for culinary
purposes. The long lachrymatory gland is well
indicated, and the features of our old friend, the
' Mock Turtle', are clearly recognizable. The head
is here accompanied by three globules or dots,
which in the numeral system of the contemporary
Linear Script A, as in the preceding Hiero-
glyphic series, would signify 30. We may perhaps
conjecture that it was a seal for warrants for a
share of sacrificial offerings such as is usually
allotted to votaries. The modelling of the intaglio Fl<>- 425- Dark Steatite Len-

■ , , . , . ,. & ., S TOID (M.M. III) FROM MlRA-

itselt is extremely line, and it must, with great pro- BELr,0.

bability, be regarded as an early work of the Third

Middle Period. Fine illustrations of lentoid types belonging to the succeeding

Late Minoan style are supplied by Figs. 579, 580 and Suppl. PI. LV, d, //,

below, showing a stag seized by two lions and a mortal combat of two lions

for their quarry.

Contrasted Group of Three Water-fowl on Lentoid Bead-seal.

A beautiful and in many ways remarkable piece, from its naturalistic

style, belonging to the great transitional epoch M.M. III-L. M. I a, is an

lb-, p. 697, Fig. 519. * Acquired by me, through exchange, from

Doro Levi, Le Crctulc di JIagia Triada Mr. R. B. Seager. the surface is slightly

' tiZakro, p. 27, Fig. 52 and PI. IX, 28. worn.

Calf's
head pre-
pared for
cooking.

Group of
three
water-
fowl.