Rock crystal rhyton This small elegant vase, unique in its kind, is justly considered a masterpiece of Minoan stone carving. It has an elongated body with pointed bottom made of an unusually large piece of rock crystal. The neck and splaying rim, also of rock crystal, are joined to the body by a crystal ring decorated with vertical rings of gilt fa?ence. The tall handle is formed by fourteen beads of gilt crystal, threaded onto a bronze wire. This vase is a characteristic example of the originality and refinement of Minoan craftsmen. It was found in the Temple Repository of the Zakros palace together with other unique ritual vessels of the Neopalatial period and was beautifully restored by the conservators of the Herakleion Archaeological Museum from hundreds of tiny fragments found in excavations. #rock #rockcrystal #vassel #minoan #knossos #crete #ancient #ancienttattooing #dotwork #dotworktattoo