Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and TirynsSchliemann, Heinrich
History
Mycenæ: a narrative of researches and discoveries at Mycenæ and Tiryns
Schliemann, Heinrich
Mycenae (Extinct city); Tiryns (Extinct city)
I further found, with the three bodies whose heads were laid towards the
east, the two large golden signet rings (Nos. 334 and 335) and the large
golden bracelet (No. 336). Nos. 333 A and B show the inverse side of the
rings. The surfaces of both signets are slightly convex; the one (No.
334) represents in very archaic intaglio a hunter with his charioteer in
a chariot drawn by two stallions, whose eight feet are in the air and in
a line parallel with the ground, to indicate the great speed with which
they are dashing forward. Their bushy tails are uplifted, and are very
natural, as are also their bodies, except the heads, which are more like
camels' than horses' heads. There are no straps visible to attach the
horses to the chariot, which is of a different shape from the chariots
which we see on the Mycenean sculptures, for here the sides are cut
out in the form of a crescent and are consolidated by three projecting
beadings, which probably go round the chariot, at least on three sides.
But the wheel is exactly like those on the sculptures, for it has only
four spokes, which form a cross round the axle.
The two men are naked, and wear merely a belt round the loins; their
uncovered heads show thick but not long hair; both wear earrings; their
faces are much protruding, and are very archaic, particularly that of the
charioteer, of whose body we see the full front view, though his head is
turned to the right: his shoulders are too broad and angular, and are
disproportionate to the rest of the body. The hunter, who appears to be
much younger than his companion, leans over the chariot, holding in his
left hand a bow; with his right he has drawn the cord, and is just in
the act of shooting an arrow at a stag with long horns, which is running
before the chariot, and seems to turn its head back, full of anguish. It
deserves particular attention that the stag is represented in the air,
and that its hind-feet are on the same level with the men in the chariot,
while its fore-feet are much higher still. Otherwise the body of the
stag is made true to nature. The object just before the horses' feet is
meant to represent the flat ground, though it looks rather like a tree
on account of the curve of the ring. The object above the stag and above
the archer is a mere ornament, and is perhaps intended to represent the
clouds; Mr. Newton thinks it represents mountains.
[Sidenote: BATTLE SCENE ON A RING.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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