New-York tribune., 1900-09-23

Ciently preserved to enable US to distinguish
landscapes, flowing water and Towering plants;
on either side OF a door leading into a smaller
apartment are two grifins seated on baskets and
apparently engaged in Matching.
FRESCOS OF FRESH COLOR
On the southwest side of the palace we d.d
another and larger paved area leading to what
appears to have been the principal portal of tAe
structure as distinguished from the royal en-
trance on the eastern front We enter a long
corridor, on each side Of which are q series ~
freScoS representing male and female figures
arrayed in rich costumes UnfortunateIy In
many cases only the lower parts of the bodies
nave been preserved, but a large fallen piece
SHOWS the hgures Of two men to above the waist
uIaped IN long, flowing mantles- On the left
sue Ine central hgure IS woman distinguished
from the rest by her wide ffounces and evident
y a queen. In a room near the northeast corner
"eIe Iound parts or a freSCO in entirely new
miniature style, showing groups Of elaboratsiy
dressed young women. seated in what seems 70
nave been the haremlik of the palace and CT
gagged IN animated conversation. Most interest
ing Of all is the well preserved form of a grace
luI youth or maiden-it is not easy TO determine
the sex-holding aloft a tall. slender vase and
- 4appaFerLy waking IN sacrificial procession
The color IS still wonderfully fresh and the out
INES are clear and well drawn. A stranse
fascination Is attached to the beautiful lifeiike
hSure, this visitant from a long forgotten world
recaLed TO the light Of day and the gaze OF ma1-
KIND from a night Of three thousand years.
On the same side Of the palace are also The
royal magazines or stOrerOoms, approached by q
long corridor which leads to a succession OF
OF enormous OIL vases five feet in height. sOrre
highly ornate and furnished with numerous
small handles through which ropes or bands
were possibly drawn; one has a pair OF handles
on the inside, perhaps intended for the inssr-
llon OF a strap TO cOuuteract the pressure Whel
the vessel full Beneath the floors of sc-le
OF the chambers and passages are curious recep-
tacles Of closely fitted stOnework one above tte
other, apparently designed for the conceaIment
a siege
PREHISTORIC CRETAN SCRIPT
But Of all the discoveries hitherto made IN the
course OF the excavations the most important
IS that OF the prehistoric Cretan script by which
the long debated question Of the existence OF
writing III the Mycenaean age has been definitely
solved A series of signs both of the linear
ana OF the Photographic class, had already besn
observed on early Cretan seal stones and other
OBJECTS, which suggested the conclusion that a
regular system of writing was in use among the
prehistoric Cretans. number Of clay tablets
nave now been brought TO light bearing inscr.p-
tons in the Indigenous linear character and No
ward OF thousand examples have been secured
These tablets, which were found at various times
during the excavations. are in all probability
palace archives or lists of stores and munitions
or war in the royal arsenal: some Of them are
Illustrated with representations Of chariots and
horses heads Within the last few days OF the
operations a new discovery OF extraordinary III
terest was made A deposit OF clay bars sEd
perforated tablets was uneaTthed inscribed with
Photographic characters resembling the Egyptian
heTogly phicS and corresponding with those al
ready found the early Cretan seals Thus
we obtain conclusive evidence that two distinct
systems Of writing-the linear and the picts-
sTaphic-were employed in the island during the
"HOmeric" age.
It is impossible to describe at present more
than few Of the other interesting objects found
IN the course OF the excavations Numerous
remnants of the Stone Age. ObSidian tools and
specimens Of early rude pottery have been dis
covered, some at the lowest levels. others in
the immediate vicinity OF the walls. having ap-
parentiy been dug UP when the foundations Gt
the Mycenaean buildings were being laid These
indicate the existence Of a still earlier city On
the same site A vast amount of pottery Of the
Mycenean and geometric types has been Cb-
taIned, together with specimens Of the peculiar
Cretan ware of which the cave AT Kamares has
hitherto supplied the best examples. Among the
numerous handsome stone vases are several cf
the graceful. tapeTing form depicted IN the
head Of a Molossian hound. executed in the finest
white marble, some ffOriated mOuldings very
delcately carved and a beautiful clay ever With
spiral ornamentation may also be specially no
ticei. The cT0Wning discovery. however. was
made in the last few days of the excavations
when the remains of painted StuccO bull 2
marvellouSly realistic work, were brought to
light in the northeast proPylaa- The head,
which Is fortunately in perfect preservation. =
u0Iu=Stln nna.hly the most remarkable specimen Cf
MyCensPGu plastic art as vet discovered. Herr
We have, perhaps. the efisy Of the beautiful
animal which won the heart Of Pasiphae OF OF
the equally famous quadruped that transported
Europa To Crete.