| During the excavation of a chamber tomb in the suburb of Aghios Ioannis in Heraklion, Geometric sherds were found bearing a depiction of an octopus. Similar depictions have been observed on finds from the tombs of Knossos and Fortetsa. The appearance of this typical Minoan theme on Early Hellenic vessels from Crete is one of the most important survivals of Creto-Mycenaean decoration in Early Hellenic art. The way in which the theme survived is studied through the comparative analysis of finds of Minoan, Mycenean and Early Helladic art, as well as certain motifs from Oriental circles. It is therefore argued that some of the decorative themes of Cretan Geometric pottery were drawn from the relics of the Minoan world but other motifs survived through continuous reproduction. |