Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/342

Glyptic Art. 289 middle and lower classes, and on the other hand, stones such as the hematite, steatite, agate, sardonyx, cornelian, onyx, chalce- dony, amethyst, jasper, and rock-crystal, which lent themselves kindly to be engraved, were common enough in some parts of Greece, or easily obtained by traffic. Eveh those which we call semi-precious were much lower in price than gold. The fashion for seals became so general that the poorest would not be with- out signets of their own. To meet this ever-increasing demand, they accustomed themselves to treat stones by the intaglio pro- cess. As a natural consequence, engravers were multiplied and became more and more skilful, whilst the country far and wide was ransacked for the finest materials to be engraved. The wealthy liked certain stones because of their soft and delicate hues ; they sought others for their semi-pellucidness, and rock-crystal for its perfect transparency. If intaglios in metal have become rare in the domed- and bee-hive graves, it is because both classes of buildings belong to the last days of the Mycenian period, but engraved stones are very plentiful. The proportion of engraved gems at Vaphio, as against gold signets, was forty to three. This holds good with Menidi and the vaults of the lower city at Mycenae. The popularity of engraved stones is explained by the fact that they not only served as seals set in a ring or worn loose about the person, but also as ornaments, like those at Vaphio, where they were found mixed with amethyst beads, balls, etc., in the necklaces and bracelets which adorned the skeleton. All the stones, whether their purpose was practical or ornamental, had a hole drilled into them, with the exception perhaps of some which the sculptor never finished. In it was formerly inserted either a stem to fix the stone to the bezel, or a pivot on which it turned, or a wire to thread the gems along with the other elements of the unit. Those at Vaphio had tiny gold wire run through them and rounded off at either end. Among the instances of this glyptic art, we scarcely ever come across more than two distinct forms ; these, however, offer many varieties. The most common of all is in the shape, or thereabouts, of a greatly magnified lentil, with a tendency to a more or less elongated oval. The second form is longer and narrower, and not very unlike a sling ball or acorn (Fig. 421, 18-21). Some rare specimens of triangular tablets and imperfect cylinders are also mentioned. The employment at an early date VOL. IL * u