DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1118#0237
EVOLUTION OF ADVANCED 'LENTOID' STYLE 589
engraving'. The galloping bull of Fig. 585 with a Minoan shield below is
also very cleverly executed to fit the circle.
Lions pursue one another round their narrow orbit: in one case, at least Acrobatic
Minotaur
figures.
Fig. 586. Man-lion pursu-
ing Man-bull : Cornelian.
Fig. 587. Minotaur with Sacral
Symbols.
a man-lion seems to be after a man-bull (Fig 586). The Minotaur scheme
itself, as has been shown above, fits on to a design of an acrobatic figure
of early Nilotic origin.1 It was of its nature specially well adapted for the
circular field of the lentoid type, and the frequent occurrence of these semi-
human and semi-animal types on Late Minoan bead-seals is partly explained
by this fact. The man-bull displayed by the specimen of Spartan basalt from
the Psychro Cave (Fig. 587) derives particular interest from the occurrence
in the interspaces of the field of two symbols, the impaled triangle and
the Minoan 8-shaped shield that are known to have a religious value. A
stellar symbol appears beneath a Minotaur on a somewhat earlier lentoid of
black steatite from the Knossos district.2
In the above cases there is perceptible a deliberate effort to fill the
circular space of this class of bead-seal, and at the same time to adapt to it
the arrangement of the principal figure or figures of the design. This effort,
as is well shown by the galloping bull of Fig. 585 (Suppl. PI. LV, k), is itself
compatible with a free and beautiful effect. A similar result is achieved in
the design of the two lions in reversed positions—one seated, one leaping—
°n the lentoid (Fig. 588).;! Even where the symmetrical balance is
patently artificial, as in the case of the two lions fighting for the stag in
i*ig. 580 (Suppl. PI. LV, //,), the result at times is still a noble achievement.
Io harmonize the design with the field available is in itself a laudable aim,
1 See above, p. 505, Fig. 449, and the Com- » P. of M., i, p. 359 and Fig. 260, d.
parative Table, Fig. 448. ' At the end of the section.
Evolution
of'lentoid
style'.
engraving'. The galloping bull of Fig. 585 with a Minoan shield below is
also very cleverly executed to fit the circle.
Lions pursue one another round their narrow orbit: in one case, at least Acrobatic
Minotaur
figures.
Fig. 586. Man-lion pursu-
ing Man-bull : Cornelian.
Fig. 587. Minotaur with Sacral
Symbols.
a man-lion seems to be after a man-bull (Fig 586). The Minotaur scheme
itself, as has been shown above, fits on to a design of an acrobatic figure
of early Nilotic origin.1 It was of its nature specially well adapted for the
circular field of the lentoid type, and the frequent occurrence of these semi-
human and semi-animal types on Late Minoan bead-seals is partly explained
by this fact. The man-bull displayed by the specimen of Spartan basalt from
the Psychro Cave (Fig. 587) derives particular interest from the occurrence
in the interspaces of the field of two symbols, the impaled triangle and
the Minoan 8-shaped shield that are known to have a religious value. A
stellar symbol appears beneath a Minotaur on a somewhat earlier lentoid of
black steatite from the Knossos district.2
In the above cases there is perceptible a deliberate effort to fill the
circular space of this class of bead-seal, and at the same time to adapt to it
the arrangement of the principal figure or figures of the design. This effort,
as is well shown by the galloping bull of Fig. 585 (Suppl. PI. LV, k), is itself
compatible with a free and beautiful effect. A similar result is achieved in
the design of the two lions in reversed positions—one seated, one leaping—
°n the lentoid (Fig. 588).;! Even where the symmetrical balance is
patently artificial, as in the case of the two lions fighting for the stag in
i*ig. 580 (Suppl. PI. LV, //,), the result at times is still a noble achievement.
Io harmonize the design with the field available is in itself a laudable aim,
1 See above, p. 505, Fig. 449, and the Com- » P. of M., i, p. 359 and Fig. 260, d.
parative Table, Fig. 448. ' At the end of the section.
Evolution
of'lentoid
style'.