ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ETHNOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN CRETE. 323 
was discovered. One hundred tombs were here opened, the contents of 
which showed that the bulk of them belonged to the period immediately 
succeeding the fall of the palace. The civilisation was, however, still 
high, and the character of the art displayed by the relics found showed 
the unbroken tradition of the Later Palace Style. Among the objects 
brought to light were a number of bronze vessels, implements, and arms, 
including swords, some of them nearly a metre in length. One of the 
shorter swords has a gold-plated handle engraved with a masterly design 
of lions hunting wild goats. The jewellery and gems discovered were of 
the typical ‘mature Mycenzean’ class, and a scarab found in one of the 
graves is of a Late Eighteenth Dynasty type. Among the painted ware 
‘stirrup vases’ were specially abundant, some with magnificent decorative 
designs. The tombs were of three main classes: (a) Chamber tombs cut 
in the soft rock and approached in each case by a dromos ; in many cases 
these contained clay coffins, in which the dead had been deposited in cists, 
their knees drawn towards the chin. (6) Shaft graves, each with a lesser 
cavity below, containing the extended skeleton, and with a roofing of 
stone slabs. (c) Pits giving access to a walled cavity in the side below ; 
these also contained extended skeletons. Unfortunately, owing to the 
character of the soil, the bones were much decayed, and only in a few 
cases has it been possible to secure specimens for examination. <A certain 
number of skulls are to be sent to England. 
On a high level called Sopata, about two miles north again of this 
cemetery and forming a continuation of the same range, a still more 
important sepulchral monument was discovered. This consisted of a 
square chamber, about 8 by 6 metres in dimensions, constructed of lime- 
stone blocks, and with the side walls arching in ‘Cyclopean’ fashion 
towards a high gable, though unfortunately the upper part had been 
quarried away. The back wall was provided with a central cell opposite 
the blocked entrance. ‘This entrance, arched on the same horizontal 
principle, communicated with a lofty entrance hall of similar construction, 
in the side walls of which, facing each other, were two cells that had 
been used for sepulchral purposes. A second blocked archway led from 
this hall to the imposing rock-cut dromos. In the floor of the main 
chamber was a pit grave covered with slabs. Its contents had been rifled 
for metal objects in antiquity, but a gold hairpin, parts of two silver 
vases, and a large bronze mirror remained to attest the former wealth of 
such. A large number of other relics were found scattered about, 
including repeated clay impressions of what may have been a royal seal. 
Specially remarkable among the stone vessels is a porphyry bowl of 
Minéan workmanship but recalling in material and execution that of 
the Early Egyptian dynasties. Many imported Egyptian alabastra were 
alse found, showing the survival of Middle Empire forms beside others 
of Early Eighteenth Dynasty type. Beads of lapis lazuli were also found, 
and pendants of the same material, showing a close imitation of Egyptian 
models. Four large painted ‘amphoras’ illustrate the fine ‘ architectonic’ 
style of the later Palace of Knossos, in connection with which the 
great sepulchral monument must itself be brought. The form of this 
mausoleum, with its square chamber, is unique, and contrasts with that 
of the tholos tombs of mainland Greece. The position in which it lies 
commands the whole South Aigean to Melos and Santorin, and Central 
Crete from Dicta to Ida. It was tempting to recognise in it the traditional 
tomb of Idomeneus ; but though further researches in its immediate 
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