[ΚΕΝΟ]



Sealing with bull-leaping scene

Σ-Τ396
Clay
Intact
Length: 2.1 cm. Width: 1.65 cm. Thickness: 1.3 cm.
Knossos
Palace
Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Late Minoan I period.:
1600 - 1450 BC:
Gallery:
VI
Case:
61
Exhibition thematic unit:
Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). Private and public life. Bread and circuses
Athletes and acrobats
Description
Clay sealing (nodulus) with a bull-leaping scene, impressed by a stone flattened cylinder seal of the Late Minoan IA period. This type of sealing was a sort of docket for the execution of an administrative act. This is one of many similar noduli found in the East Treasury of the Central Sanctuary of the palace of Knossos, evidence of the sanctuary’s participation in administrative affairs. This is the only sealing with a bull-leaping scene from Knossos, although others have been found at various Neopalatial sites such as Zakros, Gournia, Sklavokambos, Agia Triada and Chania, and also outside Crete, at Akrotiri Thera. Most of these were impressed by gold signet rings, while some sealings from different sites have even been stamped by the same ring. Sealings are documents of the administrative system of Neopalatial Crete. The theme of bull-leaping, in particular, seems to have been an emblem of the political authority which had its seat in Central Crete, most probably at the palace of Knossos.
Bibliography:
Gill, M.A.V., W. M?ller and I. Pini. Corpus der Minoischen und Mykenischen Siegel II.8,1. Iraklion Arch?ologisches Museum. Die Siegelabdr?cke von Knossos. Mainz, 2002, 359. Hallager, B. and E. Hallager. "The Knossian Bull. Political Propaganda in Neopalatial Crete." In R. Laffineur and W.-D. Niemeier (eds), Politeia. Society and State in the Aegean Bronze Age. Aegaeum 12. Li?ge and Austin, 1995, 547-556. Tsagaraki, Ε. "Ο Ρόλος της Σφραγιστικής Εικονογραφίας στο Διοικητικό Σύστημα της Νεοανακτορικής Κρήτης: Η Περίπτωση των Σφραγισμάτων με Σκηνές Ταυροκαθαψίων." In Ν. Merousis, E. Stefani and M. Nikolaidou (eds), Ίρις. Μελέτες στη Μνήμη της Καθηγήτριας Α. Πιλάλη-Παπαστερίου. Thessaloniki, 2010, 305-326.
Author:
E. S.


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