| From the large Mycenean city at Grotty and the | | | | man, with hands raised, in the shape of the Greek |
| extensive graveyards at Aplomata and Kamini we | | | | letter psi. The imagery may be depicting a |
| have finds of gold, seal rings and, chiefly, vessels | | | | powerful sea demon (Nereus) or a hero |
| with inscribed decoration from the end of the | | | | traditionally held to have descended to the depths |
| Mycenean period (Late Mycenean 111 C). | | | | of the sea (Theseus). In the Naxos style, since |
| Of the gold finds, it seems that the rosettes | | | | the creatures in the spaces between the |
| were used to decorate clothing or shrouds, whilst | | | | tentacles of the octopus are confined to fishes |
| lions were also for decoration, probably of | | | | and sea birds, the decoration suggests the depths |
| wooden pyxides. Among the vessels, and. very | | | | of the sea and some mythical tree of the deep. |
| characteristic of the period, are the | | | | Naxiot pottery decoration of the Late Mycenean |
| 'false-mouthed' amphorae and the water pitchers | | | | III C phase, that is, from c. 1200 to 1050 BC, has |
| with sculpted snakes and a lateral 'spoon-shaped, | | | | been described as «the style of the ship |
| perforated '" spout'. The snakes are indicative of | | | | owners of the island, after the manner of the |
| earth-cult offerings (libations poured to the dead). | | | | ,palace style of Agamemnon of Mycenae pottery |
| Some of the vessels have simple decoration with | | | | decoration no palace has so far been found on |
| undulating or straight bands hooks and spirals. | | | | Naxos. It would seem that the Aegean region, |
| However, a large group of vessels has decoration | | | | and Naxos in particular, was thriving commercially |
| based on the motif of the octopus, in many | | | | during this period and was in contact with other |
| varied forms, on most of the body and a part of | | | | centres of maritime trade. |
| the shoulder. This is known as the polypodic or | | | | This prosperity is reflected in the finds from the |
| dense polypodic style of pottery decoration. | | | | tombs at Aplomata. These seem to have been |
| The spaces between the tentacles are decorated | | | | directed towards the needs of a community |
| with a variety of subjects: free, abstract design, | | | | which flourished particularly in the years after |
| line decoration and plants and animals. In one case | | | | 1200 BC, and which continued its trends towards |
| there is even a human form and mythical beings, | | | | Mycenean nature-worship. However, new |
| perhaps the earliest form of the Greek Pegasus. | | | | compositions and new subjects, of Eastern origin |
| Among the abstract designs the rhombus, the | | | | in spite of their Mycenean veneer, make their |
| pentagon, the rosette, representing the sea | | | | appearance. As a theme for pottery decoration, |
| anemone, wheels and spirals predominate. Among | | | | the octopus design evolved in Crete and |
| the subjects drawn from plants are those | | | | subsequently spread through the Aegean, with |
| suggested by palms, papyrus, ivy, the calyx of | | | | Rhodes as the central point. Even so, this design is |
| flowers, and particularly of the lotus. | | | | to be found fully developed and with an |
| The human form is encountered once only, and | | | | indisputable local character in Naxos (Late |
| then as a small supplementary subject on a | | | | Mycenean Ill C). The Cyclades, especially Naxos, |
| 'false-mouthed' amphora which has as its principal | | | | eventually became the centre for its production |
| decoration a large octopus. This is the form of a | | | | and distribution. |