EVENING DISCOURSES. 417 



laying before it a preliminary scheme for such a classification. I ventured to 

 give the culture as a whole the name of ' Minoan,' and divided its whole extent 

 into three main Ages, the 'Early,' 'Middle,' and 'Late,' each in turn sub- 

 divided into three Periods. I am glad to say that this system, which I have 

 since been able to elaborate further, together with the name of ' Minoan,' has 

 now received a general acceptance in this country, on the Continent, and in 

 America. 



It is, of course, on this occasion only po.s.sible to give a very brief and frag- 

 mentary! conspectus by means of lantern slides, but some of theee may have a 

 special interest as representing results and restorations only now arrived at after 

 many years of work in which I have received the greatest aeeietance from my 

 collaborators. Dr. Mackenzie, the two architects of the excavation, Mr. Theodore 

 I'vfe, and Mr. Christian Doll, and from many other fellow-workers. 



As a preliminary to the remains of the Minoan Age proper a section was 

 shown of the Neolithic Strata, going down nine metres below the Palace at 

 Knossos, and displaying characteristics which enable it to be subdivided into 

 TTnper, Middle, and Lower Neolithic stages. An extraordinary family of clay 

 female idols brought to light from these deposits must be recognised as proto- 

 types of a Cretan TNlother Goddess, and wide oriental parallels to these figures 

 were passed in review. 



In illustrating the 'Early Minoan Age.' (c. 3500-4000) an overwhelming mass 

 of evidence was adduced demonstrating connections with Egypt from the late 

 prehistoric Period onwards. Among the proofs of this was the discovery at 

 Knossos of imported diorite and syenite vases of the early dynasties, together 

 with their Cretan imitations. Egyptian seals and copper vessels were also shown 

 to have been copied. For the first time a direct connection of the earliest 

 European civilisation with that of the Nile Valley was thus establi.shed. Speci- 

 mens were also shown of beautiful Early Minoan gold work, some of it distantly 

 foreshadowing that of Mycenae. 



The ' Middle Minoan Age,' dating from c 2200 to 1580 B.C. was roughly 

 contemporary with the Middle Kingdom in Egypt, and gave evidence of con- 

 tinued inter-relations. An Egyptian Twelfth Dynasty monument was actually 

 found in the Palace. It is from the beginning of this Period that the foundation 

 of the existing Palace dates. Towards its close a great restoration took place to 

 which the Domestic Quarter of the Palace belongs — with its grand staircase and 

 halls and modern sanitary arrangements. Illustrations were given of the fine 

 polychrome ceramic art of this Age, and of the marvellous ' egg-shell ' pottery. 

 Much of it was shown to imitate vessels in precious metals, the prototypes of 

 those of the Mycenae graves. Proof was afforded of a curious link with the 

 Libyan shores, the use of ostrich egg vessels for libations from which orginated 

 a whole family of clay and stone forms. Lantern slides were also exhibited 

 illustrating the earlier class of Fresco paintings and the beautiful faience figures 

 found in the shrine of the Snake Goddess. 



The ' Lafe Minoan Age ' from c. 1580 presents in its earlier phase the acme 

 of naturalism in art, of which examples were given in the high reliefs of painted 

 stucco, belonging to agonistic and bull-grappling scenes. Further illustrations 

 were shown in an ivory figure of a ' taureador ' and a stone vessel in the form 

 of an ox's head. To this time belonged the most developed form of linear 

 script, of which several documents were reproduced. The extraordinary modern 

 stv'e of the civilisation appears from the miniature frescoes of the Court ladies 

 and restorations were given, warranted in almost all details by the existing 

 remains of the ' Room of the Thmne ' and the Queen's Chamber or ' Megaron,' 

 with the frescoes on the walls. The constantly recurring bull-grappling scenes 

 remains of which, in painted stucco, were found by the North Gate, and a maze 

 pattern, that had covered the walls of a corridor by the Water Gate of the 

 Palace, helped to explain the actual genesis of the old stories of the Minotaur 

 and Labvrinth. 



