Knossos: Grand staircase

Department Archive
Collection BSA SPHS Image Collection
Reference No. BSA SPHS 01/2068.5515
Level Item
Description Film negative, approximately quarter plate size, an original negative. Written on the border: "L. James. 10 Cnossos - stairway".
Dimensions 9 x 8.5 cm
Place Palace of Minos
Knossos
Dates 1901-1904
Donor/Creator James, Lionel
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: "Knossos: quadruple staircase".
Notes The image may come from an Easter cruise of the Hellenic Travellers Club on the S.Y. Argonaut ca. 1901-1904.
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 1904 JHS 24: Catalogue of Slides. xcii.SPHS 5515. Link to article
Baikie, J. 1910. The sea-kings of Crete. facing 128, pl. XVI (left).
1913 JHS 33: Catalogue of Slides. 24.SPHS 5515. Link to article
1913 JHS 33: Catalogue of Slides. 64.SPHS 5515. Link to article
1913 JHS 33: Slide Lists. 149.SPHS 5515. Link to article