Ægean archæeology; an introduction to the archæeology of prehistoric Greece . hwhich they could be lacedup at the back of the leg(Fig. 102). Their Minoandate is not absolutely cer-tain, as they may belong to the very end of the Bronze Age, or even be a little later ; but we have proof that the Minoans did use greaves, or at any rate protective gaiters, in the representations of a Mycenaean fresco (Fig. 69), and in the golden gaiter- or greave-holder found in Grave IV at Mycenae. The band of the holder was fastened round the leg just below the knee, and a vertical strip hanging down in front he
Ægean archæeology; an introduction to the archæeology of prehistoric Greece . hwhich they could be lacedup at the back of the leg(Fig. 102). Their Minoandate is not absolutely cer-tain, as they may belong to the very end of the Bronze Age, or even be a little later ; but we have proof that the Minoans did use greaves, or at any rate protective gaiters, in the representations of a Mycenaean fresco (Fig. 69), and in the golden gaiter- or greave-holder found in Grave IV at Mycenae. The band of the holder was fastened round the leg just below the knee, and a vertical strip hanging down in front held up the greave or gaiter by means of a loop which fastened on to a button or peg on the greave. The true Minoan, the man of the figure-of-eight shield (Fig. 103), car-ried spears, sometimes of the usual type, but often of remarkable and very beautiful form; and a very characteristic sword, straight, long, thin, and rapier-like, intended for the thrust alone and useless for cutting (Fig. 104). It is quite different from the* Excavations in Cyprus, PI. I; see p. 24, Fig. 103. — Seal-impression ; mancarrying shield andspear. size. COSTUME, ARMOUR, ETC. 247 heavy broad-bladed sword which is given to the Shar-dana by theEgyptian artists,^ or from the leaf-shapedweapon of the Bronze Age people of Central Europe,which was brought into Greece by the Northern in-vaders. We have splendid specimens of it, and of thesmaller broad-bladed dagger that was used contempor-aneously with it, from the graves at Mycenae and laly-SOS, and in Crete and Isopata and Zafer Papoura. The history of the development of this sword hasalready briefly been referred to. It was developedfrom the dagger, which continued to be used side byside with it. The Early Bronze Age people of Crete,the Cyclades, and Cyprus, used a copper weapon whichlooks more like a broad spear-blade than a dagger (p. 47).It may have been either or both—fastened by its tang toa small handle for use as a dagge
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