468 



NATURE 



[April 15, 1922 



crystal, and the polychrome pottery which in " M.M. 

 IL" attained a marvellous perfection of both form 

 and design, but fell off in the succeeding period when 

 other arts, notably that of the gem-engraver, were 

 making rapid progress. Apparently the growing 

 wealth of the new dynasty provided an abundance 

 of table-ware in more precious materials, and pottery 

 " was nothing accounted of " ; the same cause led 

 to the formation of a Palace Treasury in the west 

 wing. Some of the magazines were walled off, and a 

 series of lead-lined strong boxes was built under their 

 floors. All were plundered when the palace was 

 sacked, only scraps of gold foil and fragments of inlaid 

 caskets being left. The author shows that the richest 



of the Mycenae shaft-graves belong to this period, and 

 that their contents, gold, silver, and faience, may be 

 part of the spoils of Knossos. 



The book lights up many other problems ; it makes 

 known an early art of extra- 

 ordinary freshness and beauty, 

 and since it justifies in detail 

 the " Minoan " system of 

 classification and nomencla- 

 ture, it lays a broad founda- 

 tion for future research. 



R. C. BOSANQUET. 



FLM- ffOOE 



SCALE 



CHP/ST/AN C.TOOLL 

 20 



=1 FEET 

 to 



SCALE QFMETffES 



Fic;. 2.— Reconstructed Elevation of the Grand Staircase at Knossos. Fi 



' The Palace of Minos at Knossos." 



NO. 2737, VOL. 109] 



