Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/485

 428 Primitive Greece : Mycenian Art. ones. Altogether, the rings of these chains and leaves amount to 1750 and 364 respectively. The general arrangement of the second diadem, though simpler, is identical. From a large gold bar depend eight long chains, four on each side, strung together with fine wire. At the end of each one hangs an amulet ; whilst the short chains terminate in small pendentives which imitate two spear-shaped leaves growing together on one stem (Fig. 507). Leaves and tiny plates were all cut with puncheons out of thin gold laminae, and the extremely fine wire which we find here must have been passed through a drawing-frame. Fig. 509. — Bracelet. Actual size. The otherwise rich and varied Mycenae ornaments have nothing approaching these diadems. The wealth and undefined character of the design, though savouring somewhat of barbarism, lend themselves kindly to enframe a fair young face. Mdme. Schliemann's portrait, given above (Fig. 508), shows how these diadems were worn. To complete the effect of the attire, the draughtsman has added other ornaments that lay together in the biggest of the silver vases, that which contained the most valuable objects of the treasure ; ear-rings, made up of the same chains and pendants as the diadems, a necklace composed of many chains which Schliemann strung together