Cretan Fresco Dates

Cretan frescoes have less importance for the study of Theran ones than those of Thera have for that of Cretan ones. But the sequence in Crete, and more specifically in the Palace at Knossos, is a long one, and it is useful to bear in mind what, in that sequence, is roughly parallel in date with Thera and what is earlier or later.

What follows is a summary of a paper for a forthcoming Volume in memory of Mark Cameron. It is based upon his work with modifications, and I am grateful to Dr Lyvia Morgan for access to the lists of Knossos frescoes which Mark Cameron incorporated in his doctoral thesis. I have only included a selection of the frescoes which he treated there, but this embraces the better known items for whose context and date there is some evidence.

The definitions of archaeological periods are in general in line with the views of Evans. MM IIB, MM IIIA and MM IIIB in particular are conceived as Evans defined them. The horizon of pottery with abundant tortoise-shell ripple decoration in the town at Knossos appears to be contemporary with that of destruction in the Palace due to earthquake according to Evans and assigned by him to MM IIIB (Hood 1996).

The earliest frescoes with figures of people and animals so far recovered at Knossos appear to date from the beginning of the Later Palace in MM IIIA. The scale and quality of the paintings and plaster reliefs of this period are impressive, however, and suggest that they had predecessors in the Early Palace of MM I-II. Paintings of animals and human figures are attested in the Chalcolithic of Palestine (Teleilat Ghasslū: Mallon et al. 1934, 129-135, pls. 56-57, 66; cf. Cameron 1981 for more recent discoveries) and are found along with painted reliefs at Neolithic Çatal Hüyük in Anatolia (Mellaart 1967). Comparable paintings and reliefs may well have existed in Crete earlier in the Bronze Age, if not back in the Neolithic there.

Much of the fragmentary fresco material recovered from the Palace at Knossos appears to have been lost at the time of the MM IIIB destruction. This may have been more or less contemporary with the penultimate destruction by earthquake at Akrotiri (Warren 1991, 338). The important and well preserved wall paintings from the House of the Frescoes at Knossos may date from this 'pre-seismic' MM IIIB period rather than LM IA. From the detailed records of the excavation kept by Mackenzie in particular it seems as if the fragments had been deliberately stacked in the space where they were found as Evans claimed (Evans 1928, 444-446, fig. 261; AE/NB 1924 and 1925 under 'H. of Frescoes'; DM/DB 1923 vol. 3, pp. 8-10 and p. 5 sketch 2 for plan). Mackenzie stresses how thin the plaster was, "hardly ever more than" 5-7 mm. thick, and "piled layer on layer, some face up, some down". He also makes it clear that the fresco stack began at floor level. In the light of such observations it is difficult to believe that these frescoes were stacked after the final destruction of the house in LM IA, and even more difficult to think that they fell from an upper floor and stacked themselves into this space at that time. Mark Cameron showed reason to think that the frescoes had adorned a room in the house used as a shrine. If that was the case, the frescoes might have been deliberately stacked, instead of being thrown aside as rubbish, after damage to the house by earthquake in MM IIIB.

Two other dumps of fresco fragments were reported in the course of the excavations in the Palace area (20 and 21 in the Catalogue which follows). Evans thought that the dump on the edge of the Domestic Quarter (21 [Fig. 1:21,22]) was for frescoes stripped from walls at the beginning of a squatter Reoccupation of the site (Evans 1930, 376 f.). I would suggest that both these dumps (20 and 21) were formed earlier, when Knossos came under Mycenaean control at the end of LM IB. The Mycenaeans made various alterations to the Palace, building new walls in the Domestic Quarter and elsewhere. In the process of adapting the Palace for their use in this way they probably stripped frescoes from the walls and replaced them with others. I have assumed that all frescoes on walls of the Palace during the period of Mycenaean occupation at Knossos in LM II-III were painted after the end of LM IB. It is possible, however, that some frescoes on walls of the Palace when the Mycenaean occupation began were left in place and not at once removed. If such frescoes had been painted in LM IB shortly before the Mycenaean occupation they might be difficult to distinguish from ones painted early in LM II, when Minoan artists trained in Crete before that time are likely to have been used for the work.

The only frescoes from the Palace area at Knossos certainly found in a deposit of LM IA are the fragments from the fill of the lustral basin in the South House (17 [Fig. 1:17]). Some of the fragments from the fresco heaps (20 and 21) may have been painted in LM IA or earlier, but much of the material probably dates from LM IB after damage to parts of the Palace by earthquake in LM IA. Such paintings, which include the Dolphin Fresco and the Dancing Lady (21 [Fig. 1:21,22]), are likely to be later than any of those at Akrotiri. The Partridge Fresco from the Caravanserai (Evans 1928, 108-116, figs. 49, 51-54 and frontispiece) across the stream south of the Palace at Knossos may also date from this period.

Relief frescoes with life-size figures of men and women and animals (notably bulls) appear to be a feature of the earliest phases (MM IIIA and B) of the Later Palace at Knossos, but continued to be made into LM I if not later. Evans finally came to regard the bulls (3 [Fig. 1:30]) from a MM IIIA context in the Loomweight Basement area as the earliest of these great relief frescoes, followed by the bull relief from the North Entrance Passage (8 [Fig. 1:2a,2b]) and the High Reliefs of athletes and griffins (9 [Fig. 1:28]) all assignable to MM IIIB, with the Priest-King (18 [Fig. 1:18]) as the latest in the series.

The decorative spiral relief (19 [Fig. 1:6a,6b]) found with the miniature frescoes in the Early Keep area may date from LM I. A comparable spiral relief fresco, but evidently forming a frieze round the top of the walls of a room, was recovered from the palace at Zakro destroyed in LM IB (Platon 1974, 158-159, fig. 96). It is interesting that the only relief fresco so far noted at Akrotiri is decorative (Doumas 1992, pls. 136-137 from Xeste 3). But relief scenes with figures were still in existence in Crete in LM IB, for example the pair of women, evidently goddesses, from the town shrine on Pseira; and Kaiser thought that relief frescoes continued to be made in the Palace at Knossos in LM II or even LM IIIA (Kaiser 1976, 293).

Isolated scraps of fresco, however, found in destruction levels or fills may be much earlier in date, coming from the make-up of later walls or upper floors. Lumps of relief plaster, more durable owing to their thickness and resembling stones in shape, were even more liable to be incorporated in later walls and survive. Fragments of relief fresco for instance were recovered from the late walls in the Court of the Stone Spout when these were removed. But the numerous fragments of plaster reliefs recorded by Kaiser from the Area of the Demon Seals, i.e. Service Stairs (29 [Fig. 1:27]), and their burnt condition, suggest that they may have been on walls of the Palace at the time of its final destruction.

The best preserved paintings from the Palace at Knossos are those which were beyond any doubt on walls at that time, and they do not include any relief frescoes. Many, if not all of them, may have breen painted at the beginning of LM II soon after the Mycenaean occupation began. The latest wall paintings from Knossos are the Camp-stool Fresco (34) from the north-west quarter of the Palace and the Captain of the Blacks from the area of the House of the Frescoes (Evans 1928, 755-757, col. pl. XIII). Both of these appear to be assignable to a mature stage of LM III.

CATALOGUE OF FRESCOES FROM THE KNOSSOS PALACE AREA

The frescoes are listed from 1 to 34 in order of suggested date. The number on the plan (Fig. 1) is added in square brackets. The items range from small isolated fragments (e.g. 10 and 11) to large scenes like the Throne Room Griffins (25) and groups of unrelated pieces from fresco dumps like 20 and 21.

LIST OF FRESCOES (Plan, Fig. 1)

       1 [1] Sponge Imprint Fresco

Cameron 1975, 28, 688-689: 5 (2); Immerwahr 1990, 22, 179 no. 2; AE/NB 1929 voL 1, p.11 right; Evans 1930, 361-363, fig. 238; Evans 1935, 109; Evans and Evans 1936, 52.

Designs made with a sponge dipped in orange paint and impressed on a dark background according to Evans. Recovered in 1929 below threshold and wall in S W corner of North-West Portico as Cameron notes. Dated by Evans to MM IIA, but pottery from soundings of 1929 below floor of North-West Portico is dominantly EM with much MM III which seems closer to MM IIIB than MM IIIA.

Date: Evans: MM IIA. Cameron: MM II. Possibly MM IIA, but more likely perhaps MM IIIA orMM IIIB.

       2 [29] Dados with curving bands

Cameron 1975, 700-701: 8 (1); Immerwahr 1990, 179 no. 3; DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, p. 62 Wednesday 2nd April, pp. 64-65 Thursday 3rd April, p. 66 Friday 4th April, p. 68 Saturday 5th April, p. 70 Monday 7th April; Evans 1901-02, 24; Fyfe 1902, 116, 109, figs. 1, 2; Evans 1921, 251-252, fig. 188a,b.

From MM IIB destruction level in Loomweight Basement area.

Date: MM IIB as Evans claimed.

       3 [30] Bull Reliefs and Spiral Fresco

Cameron 1975, 700-701: 8 (2); Immerwahr 1990, 177 Kn no. 36 (Spiral Fresco); AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum no. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), p. 23; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, pp. 18-19 Thursday 9th May, p. 20 Friday 10th May, p. 22 Saturday 11th May, p. 25 Monday 13th May, p. 29 Thursday 16th May, p. 31 Friday 17th May, p. 36 Tuesday 21st May; DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, pp. 70-1 Monday7th April, p. 77 Thursday 10th April, p. 79 Friday 11th April, p. 85 Tuesday 15th April; DM/DB 1902 vol. 2, p. 50 Wednesday 21st May (summary of results); Evans 1900-01, 87-88; Evans 1921, 369-375, figs. 269, 270 (Spiral Fresco), 375-376, fig. 273 (relief); Fyfe 1902, 121 figs. 45-46 (Spiral Fresco); Kaiser 1976, 278-279, 290, Abb. 430 left, 431-435, 437, 438 right, Taf. 36.

From MM IIIA deposit below the level of MM IIIB floors in the area, and above deposits of MM IIB, as indicated on Evans 1921, Fig. 187b. The reliefs probably from scenes of bull-leaping.

Date: Evans: MM IIIA. Cameron: MM IIIB. From their context MM IIIA as Evans claimed.

       4 [31] Spiral Fresco below floor of Magazine of the Medallion Pithoi

Cameron 1975, 700-701: 8 (3); AE/NB 1913, pp. 82, 102-103 Test 49; Evans 1921, 351 n.2, 374-375.

Found along with piece of relief fresco in tests of 1913 in pure MM IIIA context sealed by floor in use in MM IIIB.

Date: MM IIIA.

       5 [5] Saffron-Gatherer Fresco

Cameron 1975, 690, 693-695: 6 (8); Immerwahr 1990, 21, 162, 170 Kn no. 1; AE/NB 1900, p. 61 right May 3-4, p. 63, p. 67 plan; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 45; Evans 1921, 265-266, col. pl. IV; Evans 1928, 728; Evans 1930, 19 fig. 9, 21-22; Evans 1935, 718, 895; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Raison 1988, 51-59 and 52 n. 187 with extracts from the notebooks and later sources.

Scene of monkeys engaged in plucking flowers of saffron crocus. Found during first year of Knossos excavations in 1900 in area with confused stratigraphy with later floors apparently missing in places. Perhaps from above an early floor reached here then. The vessels, with red bands and white spots on a dark background, are reminiscent of clay vases of MM IIIA, and the flowers are like those on one assignable to that period.

Date: Evans: MM IIB. Cameron: LM II-IIIA. Immerwahr: MM IIIB/LM IA. Probably MM IIIA.

       6 [2c] Bull's leg in relief

AE/NB 1901, p. 37 right; DM/DB 1901 vol. 1, pp. 79-80 Friday 19th April; Evans 1930, 176.

Panned white with black spots, and compared by Evans with the MM IIIA bull's leg from the Loomweight Basement area (3 [Fig. 1:30]). Recovered in 1901 from a deep level at the foot of the early north-south wall to the east of the later North Entrance Passage. Mackenzie implies that it was foundin association with "large quantities of Mycenaean pottery prominent being the plain Mycenaean cup", but the term 'Mycenaean' was being used in 1901 for pottery later than 'Kamares ware' of MM IIB, including what was ultimately defined as MM IIIA and B.

Date: Probably MM IIIA.

       7 [34] Labyrinth Fresco and Marbled Dado

Cameron 1975, 703, 709: 16a (Labyrinth Fresco), 16b (Marbled Dado); Immerwahr 1990, 178 Kn nos. 41, 42.; AE/NB 1902, p. 35 March 2 and 3 (Marbled Dado); DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, p. 17 Monday 3rd March; Evans 1901-02, 103-104 fig. 62 (Labyrinth Fresco), 110; Evans 1921, 335 f., figs. 255, 256; Evans 1928, plan B; Evans 1935, 895-896, fig. 874; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Fyfe 1902, 112 fig. 13 (Marbled Dado); Shaw 1995, 106-110.

Found near each other in 1902 on the slope below the Hall of the Double Axes on the east. The position indicated on Evans 1928, plan B may be correct. The Labyrinth Fresco, with red fill in bold grooves against a white ground, may have belonged to a floor (Shaw 1995, 108); the Marbled Dado, with painted imitation of veined stone, was clearly from a wall. The marbled 'Cornice' of DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, p. 58 Monday 31st March, p. 60 Tuesday 1st April, was found some weeks later north of the Palace.

Date: Assigned by Evans at different times to MM IIIA or MM IIIB. Cameron: perhaps MM III.

       8 [2a, 2b] North Entrance Passage bull and olive tree reliefs

Cameron 1975, 690-692: 6 (1)-(4); Immerwahr 1990, 85-88, 162, 164, 174 Kn no. 21; AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum no. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), p. 21 May 5 and May 14 1900; DM/DB 1900, Wednesday 2nd May, Friday 4th May, Saturday 5th May, Tuesday 8th May, Monday 14th May with plan showing where head was found; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 51-52, fig. 10; Evans 1900-01, 68; Evans 1930, 158-191, figs. 109B, 110, 113-120; Evans 1935, 7-18; Evans and Evans 1936, 146; Kaiser 1976, 271-273, 287-289.

Recovered during the first year of excavations in 1900 from two separate areas: [Fig. 1:2a], fragments of bull and olive trees in embossed relief; [Fig. 1:2b] about 6 m north of [Fig. 1:2a], head and parts of body of bull. The fragments at [Fig. 1:2a] in earlier deposit, below the level of the final Palace destruction with Linear B tablets; those at [Fig. 1:2b] high in debris filling the North Entrance Passage above the great deposit of Linear B tablets there. Evans thought the reliefs were early in date, but had survived on walls until the final Palace destruction. It seems likely, however, that they were lost in the destruction of MM IIIB, assigned by Evans to earthquake, and buried in fill when the Bastions of the North Entrance Passage were built after this. The fragments [Fig. 1:2b] would have fallen into the North Entrance Passage above debris of the final Palace destruction when upper parts of the Bastions collapsed or were removed for building stone. The later olive sprays not in relief ([Fig. 1:2d]) found just south of [Fig. 1:2a] were evidently on the Palace walls at the time of the final destruction in LM III.

Date: Evans finally assigned these reliefs to MM IIIB (Evans and Evans 1936, 146). Cameron: MM IIIB/LM IA. Immerwahr following Kaiser (1976, 289): LM IB-II. Probably MM IIIB.

       9 [28] High Reliefs of Athletes and Griffins

Cameron 1975, 700, 702: 8 (5); Immerwahr 1990, 53, 85, 171 Kn no. 8; AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum no. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), p. 23 with sketch plan showing find spot at south end of North-South Corridor; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, p. 41 Thursday 23rd May (Palmer 1963, 138) with plan showing find spot above south end of North-South Corridor, p. 43 Friday 24th May, p. 45 Saturday 25th May with report of further fragments as far north as the late blocking wall across the Corridor, p. 48 sketch plan 28) 1 showing position of high reliefs at south end of North-South Corridor; Evans 1900-01, 15, 88-90; Evans 1901-02, 36; Evans 1930, 495-518, figs. 342A, 342B, 345, 348A, 348B, 350A, 350B, 351-353, 354A, 354B, 355-359, suppl. pls. XL, XLI; Cameron 1970, 165-166; Kaiser 1976, 279-282, 292, Abb. 443-458.

Recovered in 1901 at a high level in debris above south end of North-South Corridor. Perhaps from the fill piled behind the Eastern Terrace Wall on the west side of it after the MM IIIB destruction. Some relief fragments found above MM IIIB floors in this area may have belonged to the same series (Evans 1900-01, 87-88; Evans 1930, 370 n.1).

Date: Evans: MM IIIB. Cameron: MM IIIB/LM IA. Immerwahr: MM IIIB - LM IB. Kaiser (1976, 292): not before mature LM IB. Probably MM IIIB.

       10 [10] Jewel Relief Fresco

Cameron 1975, 679, 683: 3 (5); Immerwahr 1990, 161, 172 Kn no. 9; AE/NB 1901, pp. 28-29 with sketch; DM/DB 1901 vol. 1, p. 71 Wednesday 10th April; Evans 1900-01, 26-27; Evans 1921, 312 fig. 231, 525-527 fig. 383; Evans 1928, 682 n.2, 817-818, plan A; Evans 1930, 50, 485-486; Evans 1935, 285, 518; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. B fig. 2; Kaiser 1976, 265.

Found in 1901 lying face upwards on a floor which appears to have been below the latest floor in use at the time of the final Palace destruction.

Date: Assigned by Evans to MM IIIA, but ultimately (along with the Ladies in Blue (13 [Fig. 1:32]) to MM IIIB. Cameron: MM IIIB/LM IA. Immerwahr: MM IIIB. Probably MM IIIB.

       11 [11] Flowering Olive Spray

Cameron 1975, 679, 683: 3 (6); Immerwahr 1990, 179 no. 10; DM/DB 1901 vol. 1, p. 69 Tuesday 9th April (Palmer 1963, 107); Evans 1900-01, 26; Evans 1921, 263, 536 fig. 389, 537-538; Evans 1930, 168 fig. 111; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. D fig. 2; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford (AE 1711).

Recovered in 1901, apparently from debris of the final Palace destruction, but the style seems earlier. Perhaps incorporated in the make-up of a later wall or upper floor.

Date: Assigned by Evans and Immerwahr to MM IIIB, which may be correct.

       12 [13] Dress designs and jewellery from life-size figures of women below Corridor of the Procession

Cameron 1975, 673-674: 1 (3); Immerwahr 1990, 59,172 Kn no. 13; DM/DB 1925 vol. 1, pp. 15, 18-31; Evans 1928, 679-682, fig. 430; Evans 1930, 485; Evans 1935, 285; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Pendlebury et al. 1933-35, C. III. 1.

Found in 1923 in soundings below the floor of the Corridor of the Procession.

Date: Evans: MM IIIB. Cameron and Immerwahr: MM IIIB/LM IA. Probably MM IIIB.

       13 [32] Ladies in Blue

Cameron 1975, 698-699: 7 (1); Immerwahr 1990, 54, 58-59, 172 Kn no. 11; Evans 1900-01, 26; Evans 1921, 545-547, figs. 397, 398; Evans 1928, 680-681, 730-734, fig. 457, plan B; Evans 1930, 50; Evans 1935, 284-285 fig. 219, 518; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Cameron and Hood 1967, 41 pl. XIIb; Cameron 1971.

Recovered in 1901. Perhaps from the same MM IIIB destruction level as the fills in the Magazine of the Medallion Pithoi and Corridor of the Bays to the south. Possibly, however, from MM IIIA deposit below this.

Date: Ultimately assigned by Evans to MM IIIB rather than MM IIIA. Cameron: MM IIIB. Immerwahr: MM IIIB/LM IA. Probably MM IIIB.

       14 [9] Bull and Spectators

Cameron 1975, 685-687: 4 (2); Immerwahr 1990, 64, 162, 173 f. Kn no. 18, 210 f. n.5; DM/DB 1904, p. 50 Friday 8th April; Evans 1903-04, 40-43, fig. 14, pl. II; Evans 1921, 442-447 figs. 319, 321 (cf. Evans 1928, 599-600, fig. 373 a, b. (architectural)), 527-529 figs. 384, 385 (spectators and bull's head) (cf. Evans 1930, 33 fig. 15B (spectators)); Evans 1928, 603-604 fig. 377 (cf. Fyfe 1902, col. pl. II fig. 5 (half rosette and triglyph band)); Evans 1930, 61-62; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Evans 1921, 479-480 fig. 343 (cf. Fyfe 1902, col. pl. II fig. 4 (triglyph band with multi-rayed star); Evans 1921, 480 implies not from West Magazine XIII in spite of caption to ibid. fig. 343); Warren 1967.

Fragments apparently from a scene of bull-leaping before a crowd of onlookers and a shrine, with figures small in scale but not true miniatures. Recovered in 1904 from lower cists in West Magazine XIII. Pottery of LM II-IIIA date in Stratigraphical Museum at Knossos, allegedly from these, may have come from the upper cists let into them which were not entirely cleared until 1903/04 (Raison 1993, 91, 95, 173, and 95 n. 654).

Date: Consistently assigned by Evans to MM IIIB. Placed by Cameron in LM II on basis of presumed association with LM II-IIIA pottery, cf. Immerwahr 1990, 211 n.5. Probably MM IIIB as Evans believed.

       15 [12] Miniature fresco fragment from below later west façade of Central Court

Cameron 1975, 679, 684: 3 (8); AE/NB 1925, under heading "Central Court - stylobate slabs" Test 1925 (17); DM/DB 1925, pp. 34-35 under heading "Investigations under Plinth Slabs of West Façade of Central Court" Lot 17; Evans 1928, 803 n.2 with reference to Test 1925 (17); Evans 1930, 33-34, fig. 16; Evans and Evans 1936, 52.

The entablature on this scrap of fresco may be from the representation of a shrine. The deposit with it appears to be assignable to MM IIIB.

Date: Evans and Cameron: MM IIIB.

       16 (20] Miniature fresco fragments from Ivory Deposit

Cameron 1975, 703, 706: 9 (8); AE/NB 1902, p. 71 mentions the fresco fragments, but DM/DB 1902 vol. 2, pp. 50, 56 Wednesday and Saturday 21st and 24th May, while describing other finds from the same deposit, does not refer to them; Evans 1901-02, 68-70; Evans 1930, 44, 207-209, figs. 141-143; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Fyfe 1902, col. pl. II fig. 6; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. E fig. 3g, pl. IV fig. 4, pl. E fig. 3b.

Two scraps from a scene with bulls (one with head facing front) associated with a building, perhaps a shrine. From a deposit above the earliest floor in the 'Treasury' or 'Lair'.

Date: Evans: MM IIIB. Cameron: MM IIIB/LM IA. Probably MM IIIB.

       17 [17] South House

Cameron 1975, 733-734: 12; DM/DB 1924 vol. 1, pp. 42-43; Evans 1928, 378-379, fig. 211 a-c; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

Three fragments of fresco, all apparently painted by the same hand according to Cameron. Two of them, with plant decoration, recovered in 1924 from the Lustral Basin filled after the earthquake in LM IA; the third, with part of a bird, found in 1923 in the space immediately to the west of it.

Date: Evans: LM IA which seems correct.

       18 [18] Priest-King Relief Fresco

Cameron 1975, 676-677: 2 (3); Immerwahr 1990, 171 Kn no. 7; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, p. 23 Saturday 11th May, p. 24 Monday 13th May, p. 26 Tuesday 14th May with sketch plan showing where fragments of fresco found, p. 28 Thursday 16th May, p. 30 Friday 17th May; Evans 1900-01, 15-16; Evans 1928, 685, 773-795, figs. 504A, 504B, 508-511, 513-514, col. pl. XIV (frontispiece); Evans 1935, 6, 323 fig. 263, 400; Evans and Evans 1936, 146; Cameron 1970, 164-165; Kaiser 1976, 284, 292; Momigliano and Hood 1994, 142-146.

From a depth of between 0.30 and 1.50 m or more from the surface in a deposit of unknown date, but certainly earlier than the final Palace destruction. Beads of the necklace on the torso fragment in shape reminiscent of ones current in LM I.

Date: Evans: MM IIIB. Cameron: MM IIIB/LM IA. Immerwahr: LM IA(?). Kaiser: LM IB/II or LM IB at latest. Probably LM IA or LM IB.

       19 [6a-e] Miniature Frescoes and Spiral Relief from Early Keep area

Cameron 1975, 690, 692-693: 6 (5-7, 9a-d); Immerwahr 1990, 63-64, 173 Kn nos. 15-17 (miniature frescoes), 142, 178 Kn no. 38 (spiral relief); AE/NB 1900, p. 67 with plan; DM/DB 1900, Monday 30th April, Tuesday 1st May, Thursday 10th May (Palmer 1963, 119); Evans et al. 1899-1900, 10, 43-44, 46-48; Evans 1928, plan A; Evans 1930, 19 fig. 9 (plan), 29-32 col. pl. XV (spiral relief ceiling), 42-89 col. pls. XVI, XVII, figs. 28-34 and 36 (Temple Fresco), col. pl. XVIII (Sacred Grove and Dance), figs. 45 and 46 (Warriors and Captain), figs. 47 and 48,d (architecture with horns of consecration); Evans 1935, 20; Evans and Evans 1936, 52; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. B figs. 1a, 1b, pls. II, IIa, IV figs. 1, 2, 3; Platon 1955, 566; Fyfe 1902 col. pls. I, II fig. 1, 109 fig. 3, 118 figs. 41, 42; Cameron 1970, 166; Cameron 1987, 325-326; Raison 1988, 44-48; Kaiser 1976, 293 for relief spirals from other parts of the Palace.

Found in first year of excavations in 1900. Parts of two scenes with miniature figures (the Temple Fresco, and the Sacred Grove and Dance) reconstructed. Main concentration of fragments of both miniatures and spiral reliefs in south-west corner of Room of Spiral Cornice [Fig. 1:6a]. Possibly from a shrine on upper floor above. The spiral reliefs at first thought to be from a cornice, but later assigned to a ceiling. The main group of fragments not apparently found in association with Linear B tablets of the final Palace destruction, and perhaps from an earlier context.

Date: Evans: latest phase of MM IIIB after the earthquake. Cameron: MM IIIB/LM I. Immerwahr: LM I, but later perhaps than comparable miniatures from Akrotiri (Thera) which may be correct. LM II at latest.

       20 [3a, 3b] North-West Fresco Heaps

Cameron 1975, 690, 695-697: 6 (10); Immerwahr 1990, 172 Kn no. 10, 59, 172-173 Kn no. 14, 174 Kn no. 19, 177 Kn nos. 35, 37, 179 nos. 5, 6, 12; DM/DB 1900, Wednesday 16th May with plan 54, Friday 18th May, Monday 21st May; AE/NB 1901, pp. 11-12; AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum No. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), pp. 33, 38, 40, 43 (sketches of bird, cat's head, miniature boys playing game, miniature flutes); Evans et al. 1899-1900, 46; Evans 1900-01, 59; Evans 1921, 374-375 fig. 272 (Fyfe 1902, 122 figs. 47, 48) (spiral friezes), 539-541 fig. 392A,B (bird and cat's head), 548-549 fig. 399b (Fyfe 1902, 130, 127 fig. 64) (griffin's wing) and fig. 400 (miniature seated griffin); Evans 1928, 602-603 fig. 375 (Evans 1930, 59 fig. 35) (miniature of ladies at casements), 742 fig. 475 (Evans 1930, 41 fig. 25a) (miniature ox-head with elephant tusks); Evans 1930, 36-42 fig. 20 (Fyfe 1902, 117 figs. 34, 36) (embossed bands with dotted spirals), figs. 21-22 (two female figures), fig. 23 (miniature flutes), fig. 25a-f (miniature dress designs), 45 fig. 27 (seated goddess relief), 130 fig. 85 (miniature lilies), 308-309 (shields), 396 and col. pl. XXV (miniature boys playing game); Evans 1935, 875-876 figs. 865, 866 (Fyfe 1902, 125 fig. 62) (stylised lotus flowers).

From the area of the North-West Fresco Heap: Evans 1928, 681-682 fig. 431 (lady's sleeve and hair, cf. Ladies in Blue [Fig. 1:32]), 722, 724 fig. 451 (variegated stone vase); Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. C fig. 4 (miniature boys playing game), pl. D fig. 4 (plant) fig. 6 (bird), pl. E fig. 2 (embossed bands with dotted spirals) fig. 3a (pl. IV fig. 11) (miniature ox-head with elephant tusks) fig. 3c, d, h, k (pl. IV figs. 5, 16, 17) (miniature dress designs) fig. 3e, f (miniature flutes), pl. IV fig. 12 (row of miniature lilies) fig. 15 (miniature of ladies at casements). Cameron (1970, 164) suggests that the embossed bands with dotted spirals come from the kilt of a female bull-leaper.

Ceared in 1900 and 1901 from two apparently separate areas on the south side of the North-West Portico. Evans at one point (1921, 374) suggested that the heaps were formed "at the time of the L. M. II remodelling" of this part of the Palace, which may be correct. The fragment from the LM III Camp-stool Fresco (34 [Fig. 1:4]) noted by Evans as from here may have strayed from a box with these fragments which he appears to have been studying and recording alongside those from the Heaps (see under 34).

Date: Evans consistently suggested a MM IIIB date for the bulk of the material from the heaps. Cameron distributed the fragments between MM IIIB/LM IA, LM IA, and LM II-IIIA1. Immerwahr assigns key pieces to MM IIIB/LM IA. The nucleus seems to date from LM IA, but some LM II/IIIA pieces found in the area may have become incorporated with the material.

       21 [21] Dolphin Fresco and [22] Dancing Lady

Cameron 1975, 703, 708 f.: 9 (13) (12); Immerwahr 1990, 92, 102, 162, 171 Kn no. 6, 175 Kn no. 24; DM/DB 1900, Wednesday 28th March, Thursday 29th March, Friday 30th March, Saturday 31st March (Dolphin Fresco); AE/NB 1902, pp. 23-25 February 25th-28th with sketch of Dancing Lady; DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, pp. 9-13, 15, 17 Tuesday 25th-Thursday 27th February, Saturday and Monday 1st and 3rd March (the entries on pp. 20, 22 for Tuesday and Wednesday 4th and 5th March describe the continuation of work in this area but say nothing about further discoveries of frescoes); Evans 1901-02, 42, 46, 55-59 fig. 28 (Dancing Lady); Evans 1921, 542-544, figs. 394-395; Evans 1930, 364-365 fig. 242, 374-380 figs. 251-252; Evans and Evans 1936, 52 (Dolphin Fresco); Evans 1930, 70-71 fig. 40, 369-371 fig. 246, col. pls. XXV, XXVI (frontispiece); Evans and Evans 1936, 53 (Dancing Lady); Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. F fig. 2, pl. VII fig. 2 (Dancing Lady).

From a deposit of frescoes which may have been stripped from walls after the Mycenaean conquest of Knossos in LM IB. The deposit found partly overlaying the stump of a wall, the second of three successive ones bounding the East Light Well of the Queen's Megaron on the east. The latest of the three walls evidently Mycenaean work built with stones taken from the second one which the fresco deposit overlaid. The first fragments of fresco recovered in a sounding of 1900, the rest of the deposit cleared in 1902.

Date: Dolphin Fresco. Evans: MM IIIB. Cameron: LM II. Immerwahr: LM IA or later(?). Probably LM IA or B. Dancing Lady. Evans: LM IA. Cameron: LM II-IIIA1. Immerwahr: LM II. Probably LM IB.

       22 [19] Palanquin and Charioteer Frescoes

Cameron 1975, 676-678: 2 (4) and (5); Immerwahr 1990, 92-95, 175f. Kn no. 25; AE/NB 1901, pp. 34-35; AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum no. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), pp. 27, 28, 31-32, 35-37, 39, 40; DM/DB 1901 vol. 1, p. 92 Friday 26th April; Evans 1900-01, 19-20; Evans 1901-02, 32; Evans 1928, 770-773, figs. 502, 503, plan A; Evans 1935, 398-399, fig. 332; Evans and Evans 1936, 53; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. C figs. 1, 3, 6; Platon 1955, 565 (Charioteer Fresco) (cf. Alexiou 1964; Cameron 1967); Momigliano and Hood 1994, 109-112, 130-131.

Related sets of frescoes with figures on a small scale but not miniatures. The Palanquin Fresco found in 1901 in the Room of the Clay Signet, apparently in a LM II deposit, below a clay floor in use at the time of the final Palace destruction. The Charioteer Fresco recovered in the same area during repair work in 1955.

Date: Evans: LM IA. Alexiou: LM IA or LM IB. Cameron and Immerwahr: LM II/III A1. Probably LM II. 

       23 [15] Procession Fresco and [16] Cupbearer

Cameron 1975, 673-675: 1 (4) and (5); Immerwahr 1990, 55, 88-90, 174 f. Kn no. 22; AE/NB 1900, pp. 18-20 April 5th, p. 51 April 26th (Cupbearer [16], here taken by Evans to represent a girl!), pp. 75-77 May 17th and 18th/19th (Procession Fresco [15]); DM/DB 1900, Friday 6th April, Wednesday 11th April, Thursday 12th April, Tuesday 17th April (Cupbearer [16]), Thursday 17th May (Procession Fresco [15]); Evans et al. 1899-1900, 12-16; Evans 1928, 675 fig. 428, 682-684, 719-755 figs. 450, 452-454, 456, suppl. pls. XXV-XXVII [15], 704-12 figs. 441-445 and col. pl. XII [16]; Evans 1935, 880-881; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

Religious procession with life-size figures, apparently focused on a goddess or her priestess, on walls of Corridor of the Procession and its northward return at time of final Palace destruction.

Date: Evans: LM IB. Cameron: LM II. Immerwahr: LM II/IIIA. Probably LM II.

       24 [33] Taureador Frescoes

Cameron 1975, 698-699: 7 (2); Immerwahr 1990, 84, 90-92, 103, 162, 175 Kn no. 23; AE/NB 1902, pp. 18, 20; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, p. 48 Tuesday 28th May with plan showing area where fragments of fresco were recovered in angle between back wall of Court of Stone Spout and later wall (since removed) to south of the spout (for removal of later walls the following year: AE/NB 1902, p. 18; cf. DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, p. 1 Saturday 15th February (Palmer 1963, 182)); Evans 1900-01, 94-96; Evans 1901-02, 9; Evans 1930, 209-232, figs. 144-146, 148, 164B, col. pl. XXI; Evans 1935, 892; Evans and Evans 1936, 53; Cameron and Hood 1967, pl. A figs. 1, 2, pls. IX, X figs. 1-8, pl. XIIa.

Bull-leaping scenes in panels, with figures about one fifth life-size. Found in 1901 ca. 1.50 m above existing floor of Court of Stone Spout, and apparently fallen from upper storey to west of it.

Date: Evans: LM IA and LM IB. Cameron: LM II-IIIA 1. Immerwahr: LM II. Kaiser (1976, 291): LM II. Probably LM II.

       25 [8] Throne Room Griffins

Cameron 1975, 679-680: 3 (i); Immerwahr 1990, 96-98, 176 Kn no. 28; AE/NB 1900, p. 32 April 13; AE/NB 1902, p. 17 February 13; DM/DB 1900, Thursday 12th April, Saturday 14th April; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 39-42; Evans 1935, 909-913, figs. 884-886, 1011-1012, col. pls. XXXII, XXXIII(frontispiece), XXXVc; Evans and Evans 1936, 54; Cameron 1970, 163-164 (for details of frescoes and corrections to Evans's restoration).

Found partly adhering to walls of Throne Room in first year of excavations in 1900.

Date: Evans and Cameron: LM II. Immerwahr: LM II/IIIA. Probably LM II.

       26 [7] Bull in Anteroom to Throne Room

Cameron 1975, 679-680: 3 (3); Immerwahr 1990, 176 Kn no. 30; AE/NB 1902, p. 17 February 13; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 36, 37 fig. 8; Evans 1921, 5, fig. 1; Evans 1935, 892-893, fig. 872; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

Hind foot of bull facing west above frieze of painted imitation of veined marble slabs, exposed in first season of excavations in 1900 on south wall of Anteroom.

Date: Evans: LM II. Immerwahr: LM II/III. Perhaps LM IIIA rather than LM II.

       27 [14a, 14b] Dado in West Porch imitating veined stone with bull above

Cameron 1975, 673-674: 1 (1) and (2); Immerwahr 1990, 176 Kn no. 29; AE/NB 1900, pp. 75-77 16th and 18/19th May with sketch plans; DM/DB 1900, May 16th and 19th; DM/DB 1925 vol. 1, p. 6; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 12; Evans 1928, 674-677, figs. 428, 429; Evans 1935, 893-895, fig. 873; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

Parts of bull, the latest of three successive versions, found in place above dado on east wall of Porch [Fig. 1:14a]. Traces of similar dado on south wall to west of door [Fig. 1:14b].

Date (of latest version of bull): Evans: LM III. Immerwahr: LM III. Probably LM IIIA.

       28 [24] Bull on upper floor of West Portico of Hall of Double Axes

Cameron 1975, 703-705: 9 (3); DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, pp. 72-73 Tuesday 11th June with plan showing position on south face of wall; Evans 1900-01, 117; Evans 1921, 337 n.1; Evans 1930, 294, 339 fig. 225, 343 n.1; Evans 1935, 892.

Hind foot and part of leg of bull facing left against a background of 'palm plants', exposed in excavations of 1901. The only fresco painting found in position on the wall of an upper floor at Knossos.

Date: Evans: LM II on eve of final Palace destruction. Probably LM II.

       29 [27] Relief fragments from Service Staircase

Cameron 1975, 703, 705: 9 (6) along with [Fig. 1:26]; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, p. 46 Monday 27th May with plan showing position in area of landing between the two legs of the staircase; Evans 1900-01, 108; Kaiser 1976, 260, 283, 293.

Mackenzie in 1901 noted two fragments "probably belonging to the relief figure of a bull". There is a reference to these in the report published by Evans for that year, but they are not mentioned in The Palace of Minos and Cameron failed to identify them while recording pieces of fresco with bulls. Kaiser, however, reports many fragments of relief plaster from the 'Area of the Demon Seals', i.e. Service Stairs, including limbs of animals and men, mostly discoloured it seems by fire. The burning suggests that the scenes from which these fragments came may have been on the walls of the Palace at the time of its final destruction.

       30 [26] Shield Fresco

Cameron 1975, 703, 705: 9 (6); Immerwahr 1990, 99, 138-140, 177 Kn no. 33; DM/DB 1901 vol. 2, p. 50 Wednesday 29th May with plan showing position, p. 54 Thursday 30th May, p. 57 Saturday 1st June; Evans 1900-01, 108; Evans 1930, 301-314 fig. 196 and col. pl. XXIII, 518; Evans 1935, 785 n.1, 881; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

Fragments of life-size figure-of-eight shields against a spiral frieze like 32 [Fig. 1:23 A-C] recovered in 1901 from the Service Staircase. Evidently on the walls of the Palace at the time of its final desrruction.

Date: Evans: LM IA or close of LM IA. Cameron and Immerwahr: LM II. Probably LM II.

       31 [25] Argonaut Frieze

Cameron 1975, 703-704: 9 (2); Immerwahr 1990, 177 Kn no. 32; Evans 1901-02, 36; Evans 1930, 294; Evans 1935, 888-892, figs. 870-871, suppl. pl. LXIV; Evans and Evans 1936, 54.

Fragments of decorative fresco recovered in 1902 and eventually restored by Gilliéron as tentacles of a giant Argonaut. Evidently on walls of Palace at time of final destruction. Evans perhaps right in original view that fresco had adorned walls of Lower rather than Upper East-West Corridor.

Date: Evans and Cameron: LM II, which may be correct.

       32 [23] Spiral Friezes in Domestic Quarter: A. Corridor of the Painted Pithos; B. Queen's Bathroom; C. Hall of the Double Axes.

General: Immerwahr 1990, 179 no. 13; Evans 1930, 518; Evans 1935, 889; Evans and Evans 1936, 53.

A. Corridor of the Painted Pithos: Cameron 1975, 703, 707: 9 (9); DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, pp. 60-61 Wednesday 1st April with plan showing exact position on west wall; Evans 1901-02, 61; Evans 1930, 383, 387-388, fig. 259; Fyfe 1902, 111, fig. 8.

B. Queen's Bathroom: Cameron 1975, 703, 707: 9 (10); AE/NB 1902, p. 38 March 10-11 (Palmer 1963, 144); DM/DB 1902 vol. 1, p. 29 Saturday 8th March, p. 30 Tuesday 11th March; Evans 190-102, 52-54, fig. 27a; Evans 1921, 333; Evans 1930, 367, 381-384, figs. 253-255; Fyfe 1902, 120, fig. 44 above).

C. Hall of the Double Axes: Cameron 1975, 703, 710: 9 (21); Evans 1900-01, 115; Evans 1930, 343-345, fig. 229, col. pl. XXIV; perhaps the spiral frieze drawn by Fyfe (1902, 120, fig. 43) (below).

All evidently on walls at time of final Palace destruction. Parts of [Fig. 1:23A] and [Fig. 1:23B] found still in place on ground floor walls during excavations of 1902. Compare the Shield Fresco (30 [Fig. 1:26]) with a similar spiral frieze as background, from an upper floor in this area. Probably all part of a Mycenaean scheme of redecoration in the Domestic Quarter.

Date: Evans: LM IA. Cameron: LM II. Probably LM II.

       33 [2d] Olive sprays

AE/NB 1900, p. 61 right May 3-4 ("myrtle rather than olive"); DM/DB 1900, Wednesday 2nd May with sketch plan 40, Thursday 3rd May; Evans et al. 1899-1900, 44 (called "myrtle"); Evans 1930, 166 f., figs. 109B, 110 (wrongly grouped with the olive sprays in embossed relief associated with the bull reliefs (8 [Fig. 1:2a, 2b]) (ibid. 169, fig. 113)); Boardman 1963, 42, fig. 8 (2); Raison 1988, 49-50.

Two large fragments, recovered during the first year of excavations in 1900. The first piece found just above the latest floor here with Linear B tablets around and below it. Evidently on a wall of the Palace at the time of its final destruction.

Date: Probably LM II.

34 [4a, 4b] Camp-stool Fresco

Cameron 1975, 685-686: 4 (1); Immerwahr 1990, 95, 176 Kn no. 26; AE/NB 1901, p. 10; AE/NB 1900-1917 (Ashmolean Museum no. 40, 'Fresco Notebook'), p. 19 (sketch of seated woman); DM/DB 1901 vol. 1, p. 57 Tuesday 2nd April; Evans 1900-01, 55-56, 57 fig. 17 (La Parisienne); Evans 1903-04, 39, 38 fig. 13; Evans 1921, 433, fig. 311 (La Parisienne); Evans 1928, 605; Evans 1935, 359, 365 fig. 305c, 379-396 figs. 318, 319, 323-325, 330, col. pl. XXXI A-H, and plan 380 fig. 316; Evans and Evans 1936, 53; Cameron and Hood 1967, pls. C fig. 5, F fig. 1, V figs. 3-5, VI figs. 1-7; Platon 1959, 319-345 (for new reconstruction); Cameron 1964, 38-53, and 1970, 164, for addition to La Parisienne sketched by Evans as from North-West Fresco Heap at [Fig. 1:3a].

Fragments recovered in 1901 at north end of West Magazines and beyond west outside wall of Palace in that area. Pieces of La Parisienne from space between North-West Treasury and North-West Buttress at [Fig. 1:4a]. The important addition to the dress of La Parisienne noted by Cameron was sketched by Evans as from [Fig. 1:3a] and described by him as "grasses", but may have come from [Fig. 1:4a] and been transferred by mistake to the group of fragments from [Fig. 1:3a] when Evans was making his notes. Two goblets, painted yellow for gold and blue for silver, appear to have been of the high-stemmed type not current before mature LM IIIA. Evans originally sketched the 'gold' goblet like this, but later (wrongly it seems) restored it as an earlier type resembling the Cup of Nestor from the Mycenae shaft-graves.

Date: Ultimately assigned by Evans to LM IB. Cameron: LM IIIA1. Immerwahr: LM II/IIIA. Probably not earlier than LM IIIA2.

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