12 
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 
by a stop-ridge that ran round the out- 
side of each narrow end a few inches 
from the mouth, while the inside of the 
butt, or broader end, was provided with 
a raised collar that enabled it to bear the 
pressure of the next pipe's stop-ridge, 
and gave an extra hold for the cement 
that bound the two pipes together." — 
Dr. A. J. Evans. 
Indeed, the hydraulic science of the 
Minoan architects is altogether wonder- 
ful in the completeness with which it 
provided for even the smallest details. 
On a staircase near the east bastion, on 
the lower part of the slope, a stone run- 
nel for carrying off the surface water 
follows the line of the steps. Lest the 
steepness of the gradient should allow 
the water to descend too rapidly and 
flood the pavement below, the runnel is 
so constructed that the water follows a 
series of parabolic curves, and the 
rapidity of its fall is thus checked by 
friction. 
The main drains are duly provided 
with manholes for inspection, and "are 
so roomy," says Dr. Evans, "that two 
of my Cretan workmen spent days within 
them clearing out the accumulated earth 
and rubble without physical inconven- 
ience." Those who remember the many 
extant descriptions of the sanitary ar- 
rangements, or rather the want of sani- 
tary arrangements, in such a town as the 
Edinburgh of the eighteenth century 
will best appreciate the care and fore- 
thought with which the Minoan archi- 
tects, more than 3,000 years earlier, had 
provided for the sanitation of the great 
Palace of Minos. 
We are, unfortunately, without any 
evidence as to the appearance of the 
great palaces in their finished state. The 
inner plan can be traced, but it is difii- 
cult to arrive at any idea of what these 
huge buildings must have looked like 
from the outside. It is fairly evident, 
however, that there cannot have been 
any symmetrical balancing of the differ- 
ent architectural features. 
The palaces were more like small 
towns than simple residences, and the 
impression made upon the eye must have 
been due more to the great mass and 
extent of the building than to any sym- 
metry of plan. Probably we must con- 
ceive of them as great complex blocks 
of solid building, rising in terrace above 
terrace, the flat roofs giving the appear- 
ance of squareness and solidity to the 
whole. On a closer approach the eye 
would be impressed by the wide and 
spacious courts, the stately porticoes, the 
noble stairways, and the wealth of color 
everywhere displayed ; but, on the whole, 
so far as can be judged, it was only from 
within that the splendor of the Minoan 
palaces could be fairly estimated. 
A palace such as that of Knossos 
sheltered an extraordinary variety and 
complexity of life. An abundance of 
humbler rooms served for the accommo- 
dation of the artists and artisans who 
were needed for the service and adorn- 
ment of the palace, and of whom whole 
companies must have lived within the 
walls, "dwelling with the king for his 
work," like the potters and foresters 
mentioned in Scripture. Several shrines 
and altars provided for the religious 
needs of the community. Rooms of 
state were set apart for public audi- 
ences and for council meetings. In fact, 
the building was not only a king's dwell- 
ing place, but the administrative center 
of a whole empire, and within its walls 
there was room for the housing of their 
records. 
THE THRONE OF MINOS 
The discovery of the very throne of 
Minos — for such we may fairly term 
it — was surely the most dramatic and 
fitting recompense for Dr. Evans' pa- 
tience and persistence. No more ancient 
throne exists in Europe, or probably in 
the world, and none whose associations 
are anything like so full of interest. 
The throne-room still preserved among 
its debris many relics of former splen- 
dor. Fragments of blue and green porce- 
lain, of gold-foil, and lapis lazuli and 
crystal were scattered on the floor, and 
several crystal plaques with painting on 
the back, among them an exceedingly 
fine miniature of a galloping bull on an 
azure ground, while an agate plaque 
bearing a relief of a dagger laid upon a 
folded belt almost equalled cameo-work 
in the style and delicacy of its execution. 
