Tsipopoulou, M. 2017. Ceremonial Area 1 - Identity and dating of a special ritual space in the Petras cemetery (original) (raw)

Excavations at the EM to MM cemetery at Petras have revealed two courts associated with tombs. Both of them contained large numbers of votive offerings. One of these courts, associated with House Tomb 2, is flanked on the south by an elaborate façade. It is positioned against a wall that forms the south side of the court, facing the open space to the north. Only the lower part of the construction survives. The façade consists of four pilasters set against the wall, creating three niches between them. Each pilaster was constructed of stone masonry with vertical wooden timbers at the corners. The three niches between the pilasters were empty, so any items that were between the vertical members did not survive. The best parallels for a group of three niches defined by vertical stone and wood architectural elements are the tripartite shrines shown in later Minoan art. In the artistic representations the central niche is taller than the ones at the sides, and the roofs are always given horns of consecration. Two different sizes of stone horns of consecration come from the cemetery, but they were not found in association with this façade. The façade would have been an impressive monumental background for ceremonial activities within the court in association with a complex group of benches around the tomb.