Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ix. (1916), No. 8. 5 



excrescence, and behind the votary another tree. From 

 this gem it appears that the conch-shell trumpet per- 

 formed a ritual function in summoning the divinity." 



At Palaikastro, and elsewhere, real Triton shells were 

 found which had been used for purposes of cult. 18 



R. C. Bosanquet points out in his " Excavations at 

 Palaikastro, I." that "the Triton-shell occurs as frequently 

 in early deposits in Crete as it does in Mycenaean orna- 

 ment — for the so-called Murex on the later pottery is only 

 a degradation of the Triton?™ 



A. J. Evans, in his account of the Knossos Excava- 

 tions, 1903,- illustrates a Minoan clay seal impression, on 

 which two Triton -shells are represented. He also records 

 the discovery of an alabaster vase in the shape of a Triton- 

 shell.- 1 Miniature clay models of the same conch-shell, 

 with remains of a little terra-cotta Sanctuary, were also 

 found in an early basement on the East side of the 

 Palace. 22 



This Early Minoan rite spread in the Mediterranean 

 region, for eighteen unbroken specimens of the same 

 shell, Triton nodiferus, were found by Don Morelli in 

 the Caverna delle Arene Candide, besides two hundred 

 broken ones; and as they all had the apex removed it 

 can be concluded that they were sounded like trumpets. 23 

 Other Triton shells were found in the Caverna dei Balzi 

 Rosso, in the Cave of Galuzzo and the Cave of Pollera. 24 



1S Ann. Brit. Sch. Athens, viii., (1901-2), pp. 32, 89, 244, 296, 

 305, 308 ; ix., (1902-3), pp. 275, 291, 312, and 335 ; x., (1903-4), pp. 197, 

 and 202. 



19 Ibid, viii., (1901-2), p. 296. 



20 Ibid, ix., (1902-3), p. 56, f. 34. 



21 Ibid, ix., (1902-3), p. 36. 



22 Ibid, viii., (1901-2), p. 32. 



23 N. Morelli, " Resti organici rinvenuti nella Caverna delle Arene 

 Candide," Geneva, 1901, p. in. 



24 Mosso, op. cit., 1910, p. 363. 



