Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/400

Painting. 347 the three ass- headed monsters, was also picked up a tablet of agglomerated chalk, about two centimetres thick (Fig. 433), which had never been let into a wall. We infer its having been placed on some conspicuous place or projection of the wall, from the fact that the edge is adorned throughout by a pattern of alternating red and white stripes. The external face is enclosed by a double border, within which there are traces of three figures painted yellow on a blue ground. The painting is shockingly mutilated ; yet enough remains to make us realize the interest which attaches to the subject. The arrangement of the image was symmetrical. In the centre we divine an idol similar to that of a Mycenae gold ring (Fig. 418). The figure is recogniz- able from the huge spherical shield, curved in at the sides, which entirely covers the body. The feet are not visible, and the head is indicated by evanescent vestiges. Left of the place once occupied by the figure are streamers : hair floating in the wind, or the long plumes of a helmet. One of the arms is stretched westwards, and may have held a spear. To the right is an altar, and behind it a woman, and, judging from several bits of colour, we may assume that the design was repeated on the left. The shape of the altar is known to us from other monuments (PI. XIV.; tail-piece, Chap. VI.; Fig. 367; PI. XVI. 11, 20; Fig. 421, 17). The woman stands upright, both hands raised above the altar. The upper part of the body is covered by a close-fitting garment, whilst sweeping down from the waist is an ample skirt trimmed with several tucks, which detach themselves black from the yellow ground. We have here proof positive that figures thus accoutred are nowhere to be supposed as having their bosom exposed, no matter how prominent the breasts may be. To the left is a second woman in the same attitude, before another altar. The only remaining portions are the bust and the head, bound with a fillet or diadem. The face and neck are painted in white. The black selvage around the neck of the yellow bodice shows exactly how far the dress extended. Although, on account of the poor state of the fragment, many details escape us, the general drift of the picture cannot be mistaken. The scene depicted here is analogous to that of many intaglios (Figs. 418 ; 421, 23 ; 422). The two women are offering their homage, mayhap a sacrifice, to an armed-god, Ares or a primitive Zeus. The picture, being a movable one, has been