Page:History of Art in Phœnicia and Its Dependencies Vol 1.djvu/238

 21 S HISTORY OF ART IN PIKI.NHTA AND ITS DEPENDENCIES. centre of the chamber. In some cases an earthenware dish turned upside down was placed pillow-wise under the head. There was no trace of coffins, and the tomb was closed by a small slab fitted into the opening. The oldest of all these tombs, according- to Cesnola, are those he opened in that part of the cemetery which lies near the village of Alambra. 1 They represent the earliest period in the civilization of the island. This seems to be proved by the extreme rudeness of the objects found, objects of earthenware decorated entirely with geometric patterns, incised and not painted figures, so coarsely modelled with the thumb as to be thoroughly grotesque. Among Flu. 14$. 1'lan of a tomb at Dali. From Cesnola. these figures and earthen vessels many bronze objects were also found, fragments of blades, short-swords, knives, hatchets, tools, mirrors, needles, and round cups. And, we are told, a constant relation could be traced between the character of the statuettes and the bronze instruments by which they were accompanied. Arms were found in the same tombs as figures of horsemen, of charioteers, or of foot-soldiers with shield and helmet (Fig. i^g and Plate II.) ; on the other hand, whenever mirrors, needles, and long hair-pins were encountered, they were sure to be accompanied by images of that mother-goddess, who is figured sometimes with her hands on her breasts, sometimes with them laid on her 1 CKSNOI.A, Cyprus, >. 87.