Excavations at Palaikastro. II: § 5.—The Houses. Block γ

Abstract

Block γ lies South of β on the other side of the main street. An L-shaped area, nearly 900 sq. metres, has been uncovered.Rooms1–12 form the most important house in the block. The entrance, which faces the centre of the façade of Block β, and part of the vestibule were uncovered in 1902. The façade of this house, as far as it is preserved, is built of large squared freestone blocks. On the left-hand side of the entrance they have been removed, yet enough of the sill-course remains to shew that the house-wall had several insets, and these insets occur at the places where the partition walls, that divide the rooms inside, meet the main wall. This massive style is confined to the front wall, where it was adopted to present a fine appearance on the main street.Immediately inside the threshold with its plinth and finely squared freestone blocks on both sides is a small vestibule with a recess on the left, containing a stone bench, under which passes a drain, and a threshold on the right. Facing us is a fine threshold; at each end of it is a pivot-hole, perhaps as at Tiryns once lined with bronze. This being the main door of the house the vestibule was like a porch. An earthenware bath-tub was found here in 1902.Passing through these doors we turn to the left, and passing the foot of the stairs, find ourselves in 3, a central room (megaron ?), floored with the usual pebble-concrete, from which access is gained to the other rooms. Near the remains of a slab pavement are two circular pillar bases, the only remains of the four that no doubt once existed here.