LION-HUNTING SCENE ON GEMS AND DAGGER-BLADE 575

case, indeed, he receives supernatural aid from a Min'oan Genius, who

grasps the

sheath of his

dirk as if to

give a magica

direction to his

stroke. On a

Spearman in Peaked
Helmet attacking Lion. (f).



Fig. 556. Warrior armed with

Spear and Shield and Archer

attacking llon. red jasper :

Kydo'nia.

lentoid bead-
seal, Fig. 555,1
a spearman at-
tacks a lion in
the same erect
position, wear-
ing a crested Fig. 555.
conical helmet
of exactly the
same shape as
is worn by the
Knossian war-
riors on a seal-
ing from the
' Archives De-
posit '. This
crested head-
piece reap-
pears on the
Mi no a n sol-
diers shown
in the course
of disembark-

ment in the siege scene on the Mycenae ' rhyton'. Contrary to statements
sometimes made, its setting with boars' tusks seems to have been common
to Crete as well as the Peloponnese.

I he military character of this form of sport has already received
full illustration from the spirited composition on the dagger-blade from
the fourth Shaft Grave (Fig. 557). There four warriors, armed with
spear, bow, and shield, attack a troop of three lions, the hindmost of

Fig. 557. Section of Inlaid Dagger-blade from Fourth Shaft
Grave, Mycenae : Warrior attacking Lion.

Military
aspect of
sport,
illustrated
by dagger
scene.

' Cabinetdes M€dailles, M. 6673. D.Lev

"/>■ at., p. 132, note 1, referring to this intaelic

describes the helmet as being provided with
cheek pieces. This, however, is not the case.