From the top
Lid from above - Allard Pierson Museum - Photo by Cees de Jonge
The lid has the shape of a gable roof. This was a common shape for larnax lids on Crete, and it seems they were exclusively used there, as no examples have been found on other islands or in mainland Greece. This gable roof might be modelled after roofs of Cretan houses.
On top of the lid there is a ridge beam, which is slightly longer than the top of the lid. It is one of the clear signs that this clay larnax was modelled after wooden ones. The ridge beam also makes it easier to lift the lid.
Another interesting feature are the loops on the rim. Presumably, ropes or straps were put through the loops to fasten the lid and the body to each other. On first sight, the larnax seems to form a nice and complete entity. But upon closer inspection, you may detect some differences. Do the box and lid really belong together? Find out in the next step!