Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/243

Primitive Greeck: Mycenian Ak hand, and a bronze statuette uncovered at Tortosa, in Northern Phcenicia." The movement is the same, and the head-dress and costume have many points in common. It is very possible that, like the nude goddess pressing her breasts, the type of an armed god may have come from Asia Minor ; do not we find features that would suit a warlike character in a certain class of bronze statuettes — in make vastly inferior to those of Phcenicia and Argolis — in which we recognized the work of Syro-Cappadocian tribes?- At any rate, even if we accept the hypothesis of a plastic theme which was carried across the ^gean on to the European continent, we have no reason to believe that the two specimens we have just described came to Argolis from without. The workmanship of these three bronzes is both different and superior to that of the Phcenician piece. There the figure stands well ; the limbs are fuller, and the body has greater breadth. Greek genius seems to have begun to put its individual mark on all it makes its own. Notable differences are also observable in the costume. The shape of the helmet is not alike in both. The loin-cloth of the Tortosa specimen does not cling to the form as at Mycenre, nor is there a band which serves to fix the garment in front. Like the Egyptian sJienii, it is no more than a piece of stuff fastened round the waist. The three pieces 1 Histury of Art. ^ Ibid.