The palaces of Crete and their builders . eatres have not the circular form, andthis was to be expected, for there is no circular construction inany of the Minoan palaces, II. In 1903 Dr. Evans discovered at Knossos another theatre otMinoan date, but rather later and differently shaped. There isa flight of eighteen steps (seen to the left of Fig. 154). Anotherflight of six steps is visible on the right. Into the angle wasbuilt a square paved bastion, which most probably formed asupport for the seats of distinguished spectators. Evans calls itthe Royal Box. The steps below it, where the public
The palaces of Crete and their builders . eatres have not the circular form, andthis was to be expected, for there is no circular construction inany of the Minoan palaces, II. In 1903 Dr. Evans discovered at Knossos another theatre otMinoan date, but rather later and differently shaped. There isa flight of eighteen steps (seen to the left of Fig. 154). Anotherflight of six steps is visible on the right. Into the angle wasbuilt a square paved bastion, which most probably formed asupport for the seats of distinguished spectators. Evans calls itthe Royal Box. The steps below it, where the public sat, are16 metres long. The entrance to the theatre and the causeway, which servedas approach, are still in existence. The photograph (Fig. 154) was taken after the restorations,and it is easy to see that the form of the theatre is more ^ On carefully examining the steps of the theatre I was surprised to find atthe angle the threshold of a door which formed a communication between thetheatre and the palace. 2 Vitr., Architectura, v. en THE THEATRE A AW MUSIC 313 developed than the simple one at Phasstos with its single flight ofsteps, the two large staircases on the right being of later the smoothly-cemented area gymnastic games took place,such as the bull-fights and dances which we see representedon vases. When the poet describes the shield of Achilles he was think-ing of some such building. A dancing-place like unto thatwhich once in wide Knossos Dasdalus wrought for Ariadne ofthe lovely tresses. ^ It was formerly difficult to understand why Homer, indescribing the shield of Achilles, said that Dasdalus made a dance for Ariadne. Dasdalus was famed for his architectureand sculpture. Homer mentions him once only—-as a ballet-master ! The theatres we are now studying have solved theriddle. The word used in the Iliad is choros^ and should there beunderstood to mean dancing-place, the more because thedance, as described by Homer, contains nothing which could berati
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