Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/265

 2i8 Primitive Greece: Mycenian Art. nize in them town buildings, which the artist wished to show above the fortified works. They appear superimposed one above the other — according to the simple notions of perspective of that early period, to which reference has frequently been made — but we must conceive them as standing side by side on the slope, each with three windows. The entrance to these abodes is indicated on the right by serried parallel lines, answering to the boards of the door. On the rampart are five women watching the battle which is being waged ; the presence of a sixth is clumsily implied by an arm outstretched above the heads of her companions. Their dress consists of a tunic with sleeves that reach the elbow, and a turban-like head-gear. The attitudes are exceedingly varied. All are in despair : one is tearing her hair, others raise their hands to heaven, as if to take the gods to witness and implore their intervention ; we seem almost to hear their cries and vociferations, as they encourage their friends and heap contumely on the foe. The besieged stand on lower ground, outside the enclosure wall ; they fight with bows and slings, and kneel to take a sure aim. The slingers are figured just as they whirl the sling about their head preparatory to throwing ; they all fight in a state of complete nudity. The three men on the right are dressed ; two wear a short stiff cloak, perhaps skins, which covers the body and is passed under the left arm, leaving it exposed.^ Apparently they are non-combatants interested in the issue of the battle. They bring to mind the Trojan elders who are seated with Helen on the Scaean Gates and are looking on at the fight. The upper part of another clothed figure is seen below ; was that a cuirass he had on ? It is difficult to say. The helmet covering the head was fastened by a strap under the chin, and recalls those of the two ivories from Spata and Menidi respectively (Fig. 359). This personage was also a slinger in the act of stretching the cord. Had not the piece been broken off here, we should find at this point other soldiers better provided with defensive arms than those of the first group. Hence the force that defended the place was divided into several corps, whose equipment served to differentiate them. Before Troy, in like manner, were the young men from Ilium, led by the sons ^ This is the x^a^a o( the classic period. It is worn to this day by the Greek peasantry ; it consists of a thick woollen stuff made of goats' hair.