Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/320

 Animal Representation. 267 bands with incised strokes on the body of the pot are perhaps intended to represent the bristles. Whether moles, hippopota- muses, and cats furnished models for other vases is by no means so clear. The far-off resemblances said to exist to those animals may be merely due to lack of skill on the potter's part. His master-piece in this domain is a boar's head which formed part of a vase (Fig. 385). The characteristic physiognomy of the beast is rendered with a certain degree of sincerity. The eyes, which are expressed by two small stones, prove that special care was bestowed on its execution. Next come diminutive cows of clay (Fig. 386), and dogs (Fig. 387) ; these were attributed by Schlie- mann to what he calls the fourth city. Although still belonging to Fir.. 386.— Tena-colia cou'. Three -foiirlhs. Fic 387.— Terra- col I a <ic^. the archaic period, they would of course be younger than the pieces just described. It is highly probable that we have here those mock sacrifices which were offered in place of live victims. Should a sacrificial or idol character be ascribed to a certain class of small animal figures, either bronze, lead, or especially clay, which have been found in such profusion at Mycen^ (Fig. 38S),' and in the ' 'E^tlfiipit, 1891.