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The Temple Repositories of Knossos: new information from the unpublished notes of Sir Arthur Evans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2013

Marina Panagiotaki
Marina Panagiotaki*
Affiliation:
Herakleion
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Abstract

A set of notes found in the Ashmolean Museum Archives, unknown until now, and written by Sir Arthur Evans, has provided the basis for this paper. In them, Evans made annotated drawings of the most important objects recovered from the Temple Repositories of the Palace at Knossos, as well as of the Repositories themselves. Some ideas and issues developed in Evans's subsequent publications can be traced in their first forms in these notes. It is very significant that next to each drawing Evans wrote a figure, evidently the total of similar objects—something he did not do to such an extent in the publications. The section dealing with the sealings may reveal their actual number, as well as a certain confusion between the actual impressed surfaces and the sealings themselves. Reproductions of Evans's pages, transcriptions, and the author's comments on important points make up the bulk of the article. A more complete and enlarged corpus of the objects is now feasible; here an abbreviated catalogue of the newly identified objects is appended.

Type
Research Article
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 88 , November 1993 , pp. 49 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1993

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Footnotes

1

I would like to express my sincere gratitute to Sir Arthur Evans's Trustees, as well as to Mrs Ann Brown, for permission to study and publish this set of Evans's notes. I also thank Mrs Brown warmly for her help in transcribing the notes. My gratitute is also due to the Managing Committee of the British School, and to the Greek Ministry of Culture, for allowing me to study and publish unpublished material from the Temple Repositories, as well as to the curators of the Herakleion Museum, Dr J. Sakellarakis and Ch. Kritzas, for permission to study the material. I would also like to thank warmly Mrs E. Banou and Dr M. Lagoyiani for their help in the Museum; Dr D. Evely for reading the manuscript; and Miss K. Astrinaki for the drawings.

The following special abbreviations are used:

AE/NB = A. Evans, Notebook of the Knossos Excavations

AE/lp = A. Evans, loose pages

AM = Ashmolean Museum, Oxford

BSA 9 (followed by colon and page no.) = A. Evans, ‘Knossos excavations 1903’, BSA 9 (1902–3), 35–94

DM/DB = D. Mackenzie, Day Book of the Knossos Excavations

Gill = M. A. V. Gill, ‘The Knossos sealings: provenance and identification’, BSA 60 (1965), 69–71

HM = Herakleion Museum

Pini 1990 = I. Pini, ‘The Hieroglyphic Deposit and the Temple Repositories at Knossos’, pp. 46–53 of Aegaeum, v: Aegean Seals, Sealings, and Administration (ed. Palaima, 1990)

Weingarten 1986a = J. Weingarten, ‘Some unusual Minoan clay nodules’, Kadmos, 25 (1986), 1–21

Weingarten 1986b = J. Weingarten, ‘The sealing structures of Minoan Crete; MM II Phaistos to the destruction of the palace of Knossos, part I: the evidence until the LM I B destructions’, OJA 5 (1986), 279–98

Weingarten 1989 = J. Weingarten, ‘Old and new elements in the seals and sealings of the Temple Repository, Knossos’, in Aegaeum, iii: Transition du monde égéen du bronze moyen au bronze récent (ed. Laffineur, 1989), 39–52

References

2 BSA 9: 40.

3 BSA 9: 38–94; PM i. (1921), 463–523; 556–7; 694–700.

4 Mackenzie's day-books, Evans's notebooks, and Fyfe's notebooks, drawings, and plans are kept in the Ashmolean Museum.

5 My warmest thanks to Vasso Photou for pointing these notes out to me. They are now kept in an envelope in the museum. They are double pages of fine, rather shiny paper, cream in colour and of medium thickness.

6 ‘Porcelain Deposit’ was the term used by Mackenzie in his day-book (DM/DB 1903, 90: 30 May) and by Evans, in the original publication (BSA 9: 62).Google Scholar Pendlebury, mentions another ‘Porcelain Deposit’ located in the North-West Treasure House: A Guide to the Stratigraphical Museum (London, 1933), 4.Google Scholar

7 It is as if every time Evans started to draw, after an interval, he would use black ink, reverting to pencil for some drawings and ink for some of the annotations. Sometimes both ink and pencil are used for the same drawing.

8 Mackenzie had some experience of Melian ware from his excavations on Melos, : BSA 4 (1897–1898), 17–36 Google Scholar; 5 (1898–9), 3–25; 9 (1902–3), 51 n. 1.

9 For more details see my Ph.D. thesis (publication forthcoming), The Central Palace Sanctuary Area in the Palace of Knossos, as well as a forthcoming paper from the Cretological Congress of 1991.

10 DM/DB 1903, ii. 86 (28 May).

11 BSA 9: 43.

12 Evans, suggests that the red earth was ‘due to the action of fire through the floor’ (BSA 9: 40).Google Scholar Mackenzie shares the same opinion (DM/DB 1903, ii. 86: 28 May): ‘the surface earth of the deposit was of a reddish terracotta colour – produced by the action of fire through the floor’.

13 PM i. 467, fig. 335 b.

14 BSA 9: 40.

15 BSA 9:43.

16 BSA 9: 44.

17 DM/DB 1903, ii. 88 (30 May).

18 Ibid.

19 DM/DB 1903, ii. 90 (30 May).

20 BSA 9: 44.

21 BSA 9: 62.

22 PM i. 469; 480–1.

23 DM/DB 1903, ii. 86–92 (28–30 May).

24 BSA 9: 35–94.

25 BSA 9: 48, fig. 25; 50, fig. 26; PM i. 465, fig. 333; 557, fig. 404; pl. 7 (opp. p. 596).

26 My sincere thanks to Mr L. Paragamian (Biology Dept., University of Crete) for identifying the head in the Ashmolean plate as that of a member of the weasel family.

27 BSA 9: 92, fig.63.

28 PM i, fig. 377 (opp. p. 519).

29 BSA 9: 75, fig. 54 alpha, beta; 76, fig. 55; PM i. 501, fig. 359.

30 BSA 9: 92, fig. 63, right; PM i. 523, fig. 382 a, b.

31 BSA 9: 84–5.

32 BSA 9: 76.

33 BSA 9: 77, fig. 56 a, b; 79, fig. 57.

34 PM i. 504, fig. 362 and n. 1.

35 PM i. 504, fig. 362 c, d.

36 BSA 9: 2; 72.

37 BSA 9: 79–80; 92, fig. 63, right.

38 BSA 9: 74–81.

39 Foster, K. P. and Kaczmarczyk, A., ‘X-ray fluorescence analysis of some Minoan faience’, Archaeometry, 24.2 (1982), 143–57, at p. 149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

40 BSA 9: 80.

41 Ibid.

42 BSA 9, fig. 58 (opp. p. 83), left; 92, fig. 63, right; PM i. 506, fig. 364 a; fig. 377 (opp. p. 519), right.

43 BSA 9, fig. 58 (opp. p. 83), right; 92, fig. 63, left; PM i. 506, fig. 364 b; fig. 377 (opp. p. 519), left.

44 BSA 9: 81.

45 BSA 9: 81–3.

46 BSA 9: 81 and n. 1.

47 BSA 9: 83.

48 Vandiver, P., ‘Technological change in Egyptian faience’, in Archaeological Ceramics (Smithsonian Institution, 1982), 167–79, at p. 171.Google Scholar

49 BSA 9: 83.

50 BSA 9, fig. 58 (opp. p. 83), right; PM i. 506, fig. 364 b.

51 BSA 9: 83.

52 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45, centre; PM i. 500, fig. 358.

53 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45, top left; PM i. 500, fig. 358.

54 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45, top left; PM i. 500, fig. 358.

55 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45, right; PM i. 500, fig. 358.

56 Vandiver, P. and Kingery, W. D., ‘Manufacture of an eighteenth dynasty Egyptian faience chalice’, in Bimson and Freestone, (eds.), British Museum Occasional Papers, 56 (London, 1987), 79–90, at p. 81.Google Scholar

57 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45; PM i. 500, fig. 358.

58 BSA 9: 68, fig. 45.

59 PM i. 500, fig. 358.

60 PM i. 481, fig. 344 b, 3.

61 PM i. 480–1.

62 DM/DB 1903, ii. 89 (30 May).

63 PM i. 505.

64 PM i. 471.

65 PM iv. 2 (1935), 941, fig. 912.

66 The separation of the inlay from the body occasionally occurs in Middle Kingdom Egypt, but is used regularly and in a controlled manner in New Kingdom decoration. See Vandiver (n. 48), 176.

67 BSA 9, fig. 46 (opp. p. 68), top; PM i, fig. 379 (opp. p. 521).

68 BSA 9: 72, fig. 50; PM i. 498, fig. 356, left.

69 PM i. 499, fig. 357 c.

70 BSA 9, fig. 46 (opp. p. 68); PM i, fig. 379 (opp. p. 521).

71 I am grateful to Professor Eleftheriou (University of Crete) for this information.

72 BSA 9, fig. 46 (opp. p. 68); 70 n. 1 ; PM i, fig. 379 (opp. p. 521).

73 BSA 9, fig. 46 (opp. p. 68); PM i, fig. 379 (opp. p. 521.

74 BSA 9, fig. 46 (opp. p. 68); 70, fig. 47; PM i, fig. 379 (opp. p. 521).

75 PM i. 511, fig. 367.

76 PM i. 510, fig. 366.

77 PM i. 512, fig. 369.

78 PM i. 481, fig. 344 b 1.

79 BSA 9: 46, fig. 24, top; PM i. 470, fig. 337 b.

80 BSA 9: 46, fig. 24; PM i. 470, fig. 337 c.

81 BSA 9: 45.

82 BSA 9: 46, fig. 24; PM i. 470, fig. 337 a.

83 BSA 9: 46, fig. 24; PM i. 470, fig. 337 g, h.

84 BSA 9: 47; PM i. 470 and n. 1.

85 BSA 9: 47.

86 PM i. 468.

87 Platon, N., The Discovery of a Lost Palace of Ancient Crete (New York, 1971), 145 Google Scholar; Platon, M., ‘Τελετουργικαὶ σφῦραι’, Arch. Eph. 1981, 75–80.Google Scholar

88 PM i. 496, fig. 354 a.

89 BSA 9: 60; PM i. 496.

90 PM i. 496, fig. 354 b.

91 BSA 9: 60; PM i. 496.

92 BSA 9: 61, fig. 40; PM i. 548, fig. 399 a.

93 BSA 9: 60–1; PM i. 496 fig. 354 b.

94 BSA 9: fig. 46 (opp. p. 68).

95 BSA 9: 54–6.

96 Gill (n. 1).

97 BSA 9: 55; 88, fig. 59; PM i, fig. 518 b (opp. p. 697).

98 BSA 9: 54; PM i, fig. 518 i (opp. p. 697).

99 Weingarten 1989, 41–2.

100 Weingarten 1986a, 8 (nodulus = ‘without perforation or other means of attachment’); 1989, 42.

101 BSA 9: 55.

102 PM i. 620, fig. 456 b; for roundels see Hallager, , BSA 82 (1987), 55–70.Google Scholar

103 BSA 9: 55.

104 Ibid.

105 Ibid.

106 Gill 71 and pl. 6.

107 Weingarten 1989, 40, pl. 1. 9.

108 BSA 9: 55.

109 Ibid.; the drawing in PM i. 696, fig. 518 c, may be an inaccurate drawing of the bovine. Here, too, the drawing may be inaccurate; see Hallager (n. 102), 60, fig. 2 (KN Wc 30 RI).

110 BSA 9: 54.

111 BSA 9: 59 n.3.

112 Hallager (n. 102), 59.

113 Gill 70.

114 Pini 1990, 47.

115 Weingarten 1989, 42.

116 BSA 9: 54.

117 Gill 69–71; Gill suggested HM 357 as a possible one.

118 PM i. 700, fig. 524.

119 Hallager (n. 102), 59–61, fig. 2(KN Wc 41, Rj).

120 BSA 9: 54.

121 Hallager (n. 102), 59 (KN Wc 30).

122 Weingarten 1989, 44–6.

123 BSA 9: 54.

124 BSA 9: 56.

125 Weingarten 1989, 44; 46.

126 BSA 9: 55.

127 Gill 69–71.

128 BSA 9: 55.

129 Weingarten 1989, 44.

130 BSA 9: 54.

131 BSA 9: 55.

132 They were most probably joined by Prof. Pini, who has also given all the sealings their new HM registration nos.

133 BSA 9: 56.

134 Weingarten 1989, 46–7.

135 BSA 9: 55.

136 Ibid.

137 Ibid.

138 Ibid.

139 BSA 9: 56.

140 Pini 1990, 53.

141 BSA 9: 55.

142 BSA 9: 54.

143 BSA 9: 55.

144 Weingarten 1989, 46–7.

145 BSA 9: 56.

146 Weingarten 1989, 46.

147 BSA 9: 54.

148 Hallager (n. 102), 57.

149 BSA 9: 56.

150 Weingarten 1989, 40.

151 Pini 1990, 52.

152 BSA 9: 56.

153 Weingarten 1989, app. 1, 49.

154 BSA 9: 56.

155 BSA 9: 59.

156 BSA 9: 54.

157 ‘The impressions show fifty different designs, besides about a dozen in too imperfect a condition to be made out with certainty’ (ibid.).

158 BSA 9: 56; 59, fig. 37; PM i. 505, fig. 363 a.

159 BSA 9: 59 and n. 5.

160 Hogarth, D. G., ‘Note on two Zakro sealings’, BSA 17 (1910–1911), 264–5, at p. 264.Google Scholar

161 BSA 9: 56; 59 fig. 38.

162 Ibid.

163 Weingarten 1989, app. 1, 48.

164 BSA 9: 56.

165 pini 1990, 52–3.

166 DM/DB 1903, vol. ii (28 May): ‘The surface earth of the deposit was of a reddish terracotta colour produced by the action of fire through the floor’ BSA 9: 40.

167 DM/DB 1903, vol. ii (28 May); BSA 9: 39; 43.

168 BSA 9: 44.

169 DM/DB 1903, vol. ii (28–30 May).

170 BSA 9: 62.

171 BSA 9: 44.

172 BSA 9: 62.

173 DM/DB 1903, vol. ii (30 May).

174 BSA 9: 45.

175 BSA 9: 47.

176 PM i. 468.

177 Platon, M., Arch. Eph. (1981), 74.Google Scholar

178 DM/DB 1903, ii. 88 (29 May).

179 Ibid.

180 Ibid.

181 BSA 9: 40.

182 BSA 9: 41.

183 Renfrew, C., Archaeology of Cult: The Sanctuary at Phylakopi (BSA supp. vol. 18; London, 1985), 11–21.Google Scholar

184 BSA 9: 39, fig. 19; 45, fig. 23.

185 BSA 9: 54–6.

186 BSA 9: 54.

187 Ibid.

188 PM i. 496.

183 BSA 9: 55–6; PM i. 694, fig. 514; 696, fig. 518 d.

190 BSA 9: 55.

191 Ibid.

192 Ibid.

193 BSA 9: 54–6.

194 Ibid.

195 Weingarten, J., ‘The sealing structures of Minoan Crete: MM II Phaistos to the destruction of the palace of Knossos, part II: the evidence from Knossos until the destruction of the palace’, OJA 7 (1988), 1–25, at p. 3Google Scholar; Weingarten 1989, 42.

196 Weingarten 1989, 40.

197 Ibid. 40; 44.

198 PM i. 272–6; Pini 1990, 37–46.

199 Weingarten 1989, 46–7.

200 Pini 1990, 52.

201 Ibid. 52.

202 Weingarten 1989, 40–7.

203 Pini 1990, 52–3.

204 Marthari, M., ‘The chronology of the last phase of occupation at Akrotiri’, in Hardy, D.H. and Renfrew, A.C. (eds), Thera and the Aegean World, iii (London, 1990), 57–70. 63Google Scholar; Warren, P. M. and Hankey, V., Aegean Bronze Age Chronology (Bristol, 1989), 72–4.Google Scholar

205 Hogarth (n. 160), 264.

206 Weingarten 1989, 39; Pini 1990, 46.