Minoan Thera Wallpainting Exhibition: Two Ikria, 17th C. BCE

"The West House
Room 4, south wall
H: 1.80 / W: 2.12 m

‘Ikrion’, ‘Half Ikrion’, ‘Two Ikria’,
‘Ikrion’, ‘Two Ikria’, ‘Ikrion’
West House
Room 4b, West wall, H. 1.90 / W. 1.02 m.
Room 4, East wall, H. 1.80 / W. 0.50 m.
Room 4, North wall, H. 1.96 / W. 2.14 m.
Room 4, South wall, H. 1.80 / W. 2.12 m.
Room 4, East wall, H. 1.80 / W. 0.50 m.
Room 4, West wall, H. 1.95 / W. 1.98 m.

Room 4 contained large-scale representations of the cabin-like structures (Ikria) found on the ships in the ‘Miniature Frieze’ of room 5.

From the pictorial depictions of Ikria, we assume them to be light constructions made out of wooden frames half-covered with ox skin. Located at the stern of the vessels depicted in the ‘Miniature Frieze’, these structures are likely to have been used to protect the captain and the team who controlled the stern rudder-gear.

Also important to observe is the variety of colours, shapes, and motifs used by the painter. A possible interpretation is that each symbol, image, or combination thereof might represent a form of heraldry distinct to the captains who were part of this expedition. This decorative vocabulary can best be seen on the vessels depicted in the ‘Miniature Frieze’."

-taken from therafoundation link below

Minoan Thera Wallpainting Exhibition: Two Ikria, 17th C. BCE.

Source:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120309144258/http://www.therafoundation.org/wallpaintingexhibition/two-ikria2/wallpainting