Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T20:46:26.440Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An Early Minoan IIA Triple-Bodied Jug from Knossos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

Abstract

From a test made in 1908 north of the Theatral Area of the palace at Knossos came a unique triple-bodied jug in a mixed Early to Late Minoan fill. The fabric, decorative style, and motifs support an EM IIA date for this unusual vase. The jug may have been meant for funerary rather than domestic use.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 I first noted this vase in 1978, while studying the Early Minoan pottery from old tests made beneath the palace at Knossos, now stored in the Stratigraphical Museum. I would like to thank the Managing Committee of the British School at Athens for initial permission to study the Arthur Evans' test material and to publish this particular vase here. My thanks also to Miss Emma Fault who drew and inked the illustrations in FIG. 1. The photographs in PLATE 53 are by the author.

2 Kept sherds from this test are now stored in the Strati graphical Museum at Knossos (henceforth SM) in Boxes V.1908: 1765–9. The triple-bodied jug (SMP6651) is from SM Box V. 1908: Test 1: 1767; it was originally discussed in my doctoral dissertation (Wilson (1984) 94–5, P239).

3 For a similar arrangement of handle and spout cf. an EM IB/EM IIA jug with double body from the Pyrgos Gave (Xanthoudides (1918) 153, fig. 8, no. 54).

4 For the cross-hatched triangle on decorated pottery from the West Court House see Wilson (1985) inter alia bowls: P95–7. 171, 175, and jugs: P188, 232–4, 237.

5 For the definition of the Koumasa style see Zois (1968). For possible south Cretan imports of pots of this style in fine painted ware at Knossos in the West Court House see Wilson (1985) 307–12, P98–106, 114, 121, 123.

6 See for example a jug from the ‘Early Houses South of Palace’ at Knossos (Evans (1921) fig. 40, top row third from right) and another from Vasilike (Seager (1904) 214 fig. 14 = Zois (1968) pl. 29).

7 My thanks to Sinclair Hood for allowing me to make mention of this example here.

8 One comes from Test 13 beneath the West Court of the palace (SM Boxes B.I.16: 278–80; Wilson (1984) 18, 177–8) and another from a test beneath the eastern area of Bay 4 of the Northeast Magazines (SM Boxes K.I.7: 915–16; Wilson (1984) 39–40, 187–9).