WHAT PICK AND SHOVEL REVEAL 243 



The many-storied palaces of the Minoan priest- 

 kings in their great days, by their ingenious plan 

 ning, their successful combination of the useful 

 with the beautiful and stately, and last but not 

 least, by their scientific sanitary arrangements far 

 outdid the similar works, on however vast a scale, 

 of Egyptian or Babylonian builders. What is 

 more, the same skilful and commodious construc 

 tion recurs in a whole series of private mansions 

 and smaller dwellings throughout the island. Out 

 side broad Knossos itself flourishing towns spring 

 up far and wide on the country sides. New and 

 refined crafts were developed, some of them, like 

 that of the inlaid metal work, unsurpassed in any 

 age or country. Artistic skill, of course, reached 

 its acme in the great palaces themselves, the corri 

 dors, landings, and porticoes of which were deck 

 ed with wall paintings and hi^h reliefs, showing in 

 the treatment of animal life not only an extra 

 ordinary grasp of nature but a grandiose power of 

 composition such as the world had never seen be 

 fore. Such were the great bull-grappling reliefs 

 of the sea gate at Knossos and the agonistic scenes 

 of the great palace hall. 



&quot;The modernness of much of the life here re 

 vealed to us is astonishing. The elaboration of 

 the domestic arrangements, the staircases story 

 above story, the front places given to the ladies at 

 shows, their fashionable flounced robes and 

 jackets, the gloves sometimes seen on their hands 



