series is composed of figures of women with doves. Some have one dove
resting on the head; others have three doves, one on the head and the
others resting on arms. The arms in both instances are extended to the
elbow, the hands being placed on the breasts. These ornaments are also
perforated, and were evidently sewed on the dresses, although there is
some evidence that an example with three doves has been fastened with
a pin.
An extraordinary diadem was found upon the head of one of the bodies
discovered in the same tomb with many objects similar to those noticed
above. It is 25 in. in length, covered with shield-like or rosette
ornaments in repoussé, the relief being very low but perfectly
distinct, and further ornamented by thirty-six large leaves of
repoussé gold attached to it. As an example of design and perfection
of detail, another smaller diadem found in another tomb may be noted
(fig. 14). It is of gold plate, so thick as to require no "piping" at
the back to sustain it; but in general the repoussé examples have a
piping of copper wire.
[Illustration: FIG. 14.]
The admirable inlaid daggers of the IVth grave at Mycenae are unique
in their kind, with their subjects of a lion hunt, of a lion chasing a
herd of antelopes, of running lions, of cats hunting wild duck, of
inlaid lilies, and of geometric patterns. The subjects are inlaid in
gold of various tints, and silver, in bronze plates which are inserted
in the flat surfaces of the dagger-blades. In part also the subjects
are rendered in relief and gilded. The whole is executed with
marvellous precision and vivid representation of motion. To a certain
limited extent these daggers are paralleled by a dagger and hatchet
found in the treasure of Queen Aah-hotp mentioned above, but in their
most characteristic features there is little resemblance. The gold
ornaments found by Schliemann at Hissarlik, the supposed site of Troy,
divide themselves, generally speaking, into two groups, one being the
"great treasure" of diadems, ear-rings, beads, bracelets, &c., which
seem the product of a local and uncultured art. The other group, which
were found in smaller "treasures," have spirals and rosettes similar
to those of Mycenae. The discovery, however, of the gold treasures of
the Artemision at Ephesus has brought out points of affinity between
the Hissarlik treasures and those of Ephesus, and has made any
reasoning difficult, in view of the uncertainties surrounding the
Hissarlik finds. The group with Mycenaean affinities (fig. 15)
includes necklaces, brooches, bracelets (g), hair-pins (a), ear-rings
(c, d, e, f), with and without pendants, beads and twisted wire drops.
The majority of these are ornamented with spirals of twisted wire, or
small rosettes, with fragments of stones in the centres. The twisted
wire ornaments were evidently portions of necklaces. A circular plaque
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account