WHAT PICK AND SHOVEL REVEAL 243 



The many-storied palaces of the Mmoan 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 high 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. 



"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 



