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.
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.