The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-15

site was marked by wall of Cyclic
pean masonry the only vestige of the
structure remaining above the surface
| A considerable portion of the building
has now been brought to light. The
entrance. which is approached from a.
| paved court on the eastern side, IS
| thanked by two columns and leads into
/ a large ante-chamber furnished with
stone benches. Hence we pass into a
singularly interesting apartment, which
adopting the system of nomenclature
initiated by DR.. Schliemann, we may
designate the Council Chamber of Mi
nos" Against the wall on the right
stands throne Of gypsum-the Oldest
throne in Europe by about two thou
sand years-wth q low seat and tall,
curiously carved back, which still
shows traces of painting. Along the
walls on either side are continuous
stone benches like the seats in an old
fashioned family pew; on the opposite
side, protected by a high parapet to
which seats are also attached, is an
oblong rectangular depression, con-
| Structed with finely compacted slabs
and evidently intended to cantain wa
ter This was probably a kind of orna-
mental impluvium, open to the sky; 1T
is approached by gradually descending
steps, but no outlet for the water is
visible The walls of the council cham
Der are ornamented with frescoes, still
sufficiently preserved to enable us to
distinguish landscapes, flowing water,
and Towering plants; on either side of
door leading into a smaller apart
nc,
and apparently engaged in Matching.
On the southwest side of the palace
we find another and larger paved area
leading to what appears to have been
the principal portal of the structure,
as distinguished from the royal en-
trance on the eastern front. We enter.
long corridor, on each side of which
are a series of fre9coes representing
male and female figures arrayed in
rich costumes. Unfortunately in many
cases only the lower parts of the bod
les have been preserved, but a large
fallen piece shows the figures of two
men to above the waist, draped in long
flowing nantes. On the left side the
central figure is a lady. distinguished
from the rest by her wide t1ounces, and
evidently queen. In room near the
northeast corner were found parts of
frescoe in an entirely new miniature
style, showing groups of elabora tely
dressed young women seated in what
seems to have been the haremlik of the
palace and engaged In animated con-
versation. Most interesting of all is
the well-preserved form of graceful
youth or maiden-it is not easy to de-
termlne the sex-holding aloft a tall,
slender vase, and apparently walking in
sacrificial procession. The color is
etill wonderfully fresh, and the out
lines are clear and we'll drawn. A
strange fascination is attached to this
beautiful life Pike ggure this vistant
from a long-forgotten world, recalled
to the light Of day and the gaze of
mankind from night of three thou
sand years.
On the same side of the palace are
also the royal magazines or store
rooms approached by long corridor
which leads to a succession of twelve
apartments. In many of these stand
rows of enormous oil vases five feet in
height, some highly ornate and fur
nished with numerous small handles
through which ropes or bands were
possibly drawn; one has pair of han
dies on the inside, perhaps intended for
the insertion of a strap to counteract
the pressure when the vessel was full
Beneath the floors of some of the
chambers and passages are curious re-
ceptacles of closely fitted stonework
one above the other, apparently de-
signed for the concealment of treasures
or the storage of supplies in case of
siege.
But of all the discoveries hitherto
made in the course of the excavations
the most important Is that of the pre-
historic Cretan script, by which the
lang-debated question of the existence
of writing in the Mycenaen age has
been definitely solved A series of
signs both of the linear and of the pic
tographic class had already been OBJ
served on early Cretan seal-stones and |
other objects which suggested the con- I
clusion that a regular system of writ
ing was in use among the prehistoric |
Cretans, A number of clay tablets |
have now been brought to light bearing |
in the indigenous linear |
character, and upwards of a thousand ,
examples have been secured. These |
tablets, which We're found at various
times during the excavations. are in all
palace archives or lists of
stores and munitions of war in the roy
al arsenal; some of them are illustrated
with representations of chariots and
horses heads With in the last few
days of the operations new discovery
of extraordinary interest was made.
A deposit of clay bars and perforated
tablets was unearthed inscribed with
characters resembling the
Egyptian hieroglyphics and correspond
ing with those already found on the
early Cretan seals. Thus we obtain
evidence that two distinct
systems of writing-the linear and the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS employed in the is
land during the 'Momeric" age.
1t is impossible to describe at present
more than a few of the other interest
ing objects found in the course of the
excavations. Numerous remnants of
the stone Age" obsidian tools, and
|