Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/344

 Glyptic Art. 291 During the space of time which intervenes between these and the domed-buildings, execution became more correct and broader ; yet the engraving exhibited on the gold bezel of many a signet- ring from the shaft-tombs reveals a full-blown arL The fourth grave has given us two such rings. Although the exploits they represent are quite distinct, judging from their size they can only have belonged to women ; for they are so small that they [Fiu. 413.— Gold ring wilh beiel. will not go beyond the middle of the little finger of a man's hand of ordinary size. On the first intaglio are two men in a chariot hunting a stag (Fig. 413).' The hunter leans over to shoot at the animal. He grasps the bow with his left hand, and with his right lets fly the arrow from the string. The other man stands erect behind ; his hands are half raised to gather the reins, which, however, cannot be seen in the field. The stag is figured bound- FlG. 414. — Guld riti); with bcicl. ing onwards above the horses, and turning round his head. But the spectator conceived it at speed in front of the horses. The stel.-e have made us familiar with the shape of the chariot (Fig- 355)- The second ring shows a battle scene (Fig. 414). Four ' These intaglios are all reproduced, except one or two, from drawings made upon impressions for which we arc indebted to MM. Koumanoudis, Murray, Furtwangler, and Babelon, of the museums of Athens, London, Berlin, and the Paris Cabinet respectively. The drawings are of the same size as the originals.