Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/513

 456 Primitive Greece: Mycenian Art. ivory, rock-crystal, or metal ; either rounded off into a ball, or decorated with serpents' heads. They were held in the hand by kings, those sceptre-bearers {a-xyiTrrou^^oi) mentioned by Horner.^ Wind and string instruments are found in a fragmentary condition at Troy and Mycenae, and are also represented in sculpture (Figs. 353, 354)." To these may be added profusely decorated combs and mirrors (Figs. 280, 379-381), and razors, of which four are to hand.^ Dress, In the course of this study we have so often had occasion to describe the costume of the folk represented by sculpture, that all we propose to do in this place is to define the general character of the apparel affected by either sex. Generally the men, notably in scenes of battle and the chase, are depicted with drawers that reach to about the middle of the thigh, and are drawn in at the waist. Now and again the artist has neglected to indicate this article of dress, and his figures look quite naked (Fig. 358). Drawers had one great advantage : they allowed the body perfect freedom of movement. That they were found all too cool in winter, and a sheep s-skin or cloak made of some coarse thick material was worn over them, may be safely inferred from a cape of this description covering the men who watch the fight which is raging outside a beleaguered city (Fig. 358). The feet were protected by sandals, and the legs covered with leggings, both of which were fastened with many thongs. The hair was worn long, and bound with a leather band to prevent its falling over the eyes. Such was the primitive costume, and in despite of its drawbacks in a country which cannot boast of an even temperature, many generations were satisfied with it The tunic affected by the soldiers represented on a Mycenae vase (Fig. 488) was an enormous improvement on this. The represent- ation of a tunic was perhaps intended on a monument of much earlier date (Fig. 358, at the bottom, to the right). Its Greek ^ ScHLiEMANN, Mycence. - Schliemann, //ios. ^ TSOUNDAS, MvKtjyai,