chapter xx. the transition to greece - Oriental Institute - University of ...

H. J. Kantor - Plant Ornament in the Ancient Near East, Chapter XX: The Transmission to Greece
original designs have been transformed into graceful palmette-tipped tendrils, the original
theme is not completely obscured. Double volutes placed vertically served as the axis
between pygmies on the Northhampton
amphora. 118
It is to Jacobsthal, too, that we owe
the recognition of modified examples of this same
motive as representations of lightning. 119
Fig. XX.101
GREEK INVENTIONS
With the discussion of the double volute we have exhausted the motives that can be
traced back to probable north Syrian prototypes. Besides the motives which, as a whole
have either Phoenician or north Syrian prototypes, there are others, often completely
Hellenic tendril or spiraliform compositions, which use motives of eastern derivation --
South-flowers or palmettes -- as accessories. In such cases it is impossible to determine
from what source Greek artists were borrowing, even though they are obviously using
foreign elements.
Fig. XX.102
Fig. XX.103
The large isolated South-flowers of Fig. XX.98 illustrate the use of generalized oriental
patterns in early Cretan and Boetian fabrics; highly spiralized examples occur on Melian
ware. 120
Such South-flowers could be used to elaborate Geometric patterns, as in the
118
Jacobsthal, op. cit., p. 37. Pfuhl, op. cit., para. 266. E. Gerhard, Auserlesene griechische vasenbilder
(Berlin, 1840-58), p. 317. Burlington Fine Arts Exhibition Catalogue 1904, Pl. XCI.
119
Jacobsthal, op. cit., p. 28. Kunze, op. cit., p. 120.
120
C. Dugas, La Céramique des Cyclades (Paris, 1925), Pl. IX.
Revised: August 11, 1999
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