Two Cups with Incised Decoration from Kommos, Crete

Two black-glazed cups with unusual figurative scenes, executed by incision, were found in a temple of eighth-seventh century B. C. date at Kommos, Crete. Possible interpretations of the scenes are considered, but emphasis is placed on an analysis of their motifs in the context of Cretan seventh century art. Incised and repoussé metalwork appears to have been a major source of inspiration, with specific parallels indicating a date in the second half of the seventh century.