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La Parisienne Fresco

Τ27
Plaster
Fragmentary, joined from fragments
Height: 38 cm.
Knossos
Palace
Late Bronze Age. Final Palatial period, Late Minoan ΙΙΙA period.:
1400 - 1350/1300 BC:
Gallery:
XIII
Case:
141
Exhibition thematic unit:
Minoan wall paintings
The world of the court
Description
Fresco fragment depicting a young woman in profile, probably a priestess, as she is wearing a "sacral knot" on her back. The “sacral knot”, a long strip of cloth tied in a noose, appears in various religious scenes, often attached to the garments of priestly figures. “La Parisienne” forms part of the larger composition known as the “Camp Stool Fresco” or the “Libation Fresco”, depicting men and women in a ceremonial banqueting scene. This particular piece was named “La Parisienne” shortly after its discovery, because the face of the young priestess with her white skin, bright red lips, large black eyes, shapely eyebrows and elaborate hairstyle with wavy locks was reminiscent of the elegant Parisian ladies of the early 20th century, when Paris was the centre of fashion, good taste and the arts.
Bibliography:
Evans, A.J. The Palace of Minos: A Comparative Account of the Successive Stages of the Early Cretan Civilization as Illustrated by the Discoveries at Knossos. Volume IV, part 2. London, 1935, 381-386. Dimopoulou, Ν. "Οι Τέχνες". In S. Mandalaki and G. Rethemiotakis, Μινωικός κόσμος. Ταξίδι στις απαρχές της Ευρώπης, Heraklion, 2015, 194-195. Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki, N. Το Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ηρακλείου. Athens, 2005, 122. Lenuzza, V. “Dressing priestly shoulders: suggestions from the Campstool Fresco”. In M.-L. Nosch and R. Laffineur (eds), Kosmos. Jewellery, adornment and textiles in the Aegean Bronze Age, AEGAEUM 33, 255-264, pl. LVIII-LIX.
Author:
E. S.


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