Knossos: Throne (figures showing scale)

Department Archive
Collection BSA SPHS Image Collection
Reference No. BSA SPHS 01/0268.1492
Level Item
Description Glass negative, quarter plate size, a copy negative taken from a photographic print pasted to the SPHS Index Card.
Dimensions 10.5 x 8 cm
Place Palace of Minos
Knossos
Dates 1901
Donor/Creator Caton, Dr Richard C.
Scope and Content Part of a group of images donated by the Argonaut Camera Club, taken on excursions and cruises in Greece and Asia Minor. The original description in the SPHS register reads: "Cnossos: throne, shews scale wall".
Notes Image must date to 1901 since a roof was constructed over the throne room later in 1901 (pers. comm. V. Fotou 2019). The image may come from an Easter cruise of the Hellenic Travellers Club on the S.Y. Argonaut ca. 1901-1904. Young man in right is wearing a typical Harrow (school) hat. He is the same boy in BSA SPHS 01/0272.1496. The S on the index card shown in the photograph indicates that a slide would have been available. Also text on card reads: "Knossos: Figures showing scale"
Further information Hellenic Travellers Club
The Hellenic Travellers Club consisted of school teachers and others interested in educational cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean. Initiated by Henry Lunn, the club was formalised in 1905, but grew out of experimental cruises called Argonaut Cruises (after the steam yacht) - first in 1901 and then in 1903 and 1904. Annual spring cruises began in 1905, continued until the First World War and resumed in 1924 before finally halting with advent of the Second World War

Many of the passengers from 1901 onward were keen photographers - initially referred to as the Argonaut Camera Club - and a number of their images were donated to the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies or made their way into private collections. The Hellenic Travellers Club produced annual proceedings which published many of the lectures given on board, illustrated with photographs from the tours. See: Harlan, D. 2018. "More than Armchair Travellers" ARGO 8: 19-21.
Reference 1909 JHS 29: 5th accession to 1904 slide catalogue. lxxx.SPHS 1492. Link to article
1913 JHS 33: Catalogue of Slides. 24.SPHS 1492. Link to article