Chapter 2 Aegean civilizations 1 Historical overview

Chapter 2 Aegean civilizations

1. Historical overview n The origins of Classical Greek culture:

1. Historical overview Aegean cultures: n Minoan: – Crete and Thera – 3000 -1100 BCE. n Mycenaean: – Mainland Greece – 1900 -1100 BCE.

2. Minoan Civilization: Geography Thera today (Santorini) Effects of the volcanic eruption of 1623 BCE

2. Minoan Civilization: Geography Santorini (Thera) Crete

2. Minoan Civilization: Geography What civilizations did Minoans interact with? n Crete acted as a link between three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. n

3. Minoan Civilization: economy n Economy: – It was a civilization based on sea trade: (thalassocracy) Naval expedition. Akrotiri, Thera, 1500 BCE.

4. Minoan Civilization: society n Socio-political structure: – A federation of cities. The most important was Knossos (centralized government? ) – There was a king and a nobility, merchants, bureaucracy, laborers, and slaves? – Peaceful society ? (no city walls or weapons)

5. Minoan civilization: palaces n n n What are the main features of a Minoan Palace? Large asymmetric complex built around a central courtyard. (labrys/ labyrinth (maze)) Residence of the royal family Religious buildings Storage areas

5. Minoan civilization: palaces Post and lintel constructions n Wooden painted inverted columns n Decoration of walls with frescoes n

5. Minoan civilization: palaces

5. Minoan civilization: houses n Akrotiri, Thera, c. 1650.

5. Minoan civilization: palaces Themes: Human figures (performing rituals? ), scenes of nature (marine life, flora)

6. Minoan religion Cult of Earth Goddess. Matriarchy? n Worship a sacred tree and a sacred pillar (column) n Images of the epiphany of a god. n Cult of the bull? n Earth goddess with Snakes, Knossos, ca. 1600 BCE

6. Minoan Religion n The Earth Goddess: Prehistory Mesopotamian Egyptian Minoan

6. Minoan Religion Feminine deities

6. Minoan religion Minoan seal Fresco from Knossos, 1500 BCE Representations of bull-leaping ritual?

6. Minoan religion n Modern bull leaping (Spain): n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=X 6 n 81 X 9 hpvs&feature=related n http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Pj. Tyf 2 Idc. ZU

7. Minoan painting The Minoan canon “Prince” from Knossos, ca 1600 BCE

7. Minoan painting

7. Minoan painting Bull leaping, Knossos, ca. 1600 BCE Boxers, Thera, 1650

7. Minoan painting n The Minoan canon § Egyptian influence in the posture § Narrow waist § Attention to anatomical features § Representation of movement

7. Minoan painting Hagia Triada, c. 1400 B. C. What does the image represent? Where have you seen something like this before?

7. Minoan painting

7. Minoan painting River Landscape, Thera, 1500 BCE.

7. Minoan painting

7. Minoan sculpture Rhyton bull, Knossos, ca. 1500 BCE.

7. Minoan sculpture

8. The Myth of the Minotaur

8. The Myth of the Minotaur Labrys (double ax) Labyrinth: house of the Double Axes Floor plan of Knossos “Palace of king Minos”

9. Language and writing n Minoans were not Greek – Pictographic writing – Linear A: undeciphered script. – Linear B: Greek (Mycenaean domination of Knossos)

9. Mycenaean Civilization It developed in mainland Greece around 1900 -1100 BCE. n Important cities were Mycenae, Tiryns and Pilos. n It flourished after the decline of Minoan civilization. n

9. Mycenaean Civilization Militaristic society n Cities protected by “cyclopean” walls and gates. n

10. Social structure: n Feudal system: King and noblemen offering protection while they exacted material resources from the “nonwarriors”.

11. Religion They worshiped divinities which became gods in the Greek pantheon: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon… n They also established a cult to their heroes. n Funerary mask, 1500 BCE

12. Architecture Lions Gate, Mycenae, ca. 1300 BCE Post and lintel construction with relieving triangle.

12. Architecture Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, 1300 -1200 BCE Funerary tholos (circular tomb)

12. Architecture

13. Conclusion n Minoan civilization synthesized elements from Egypt and Asia Minor. n Their cultural and artistic knowledge was inherited by the Greeks from the mainland: the Mycenaeans. n After a period of turmoil (Dark Ages), elements of the Mycenaean civilization reemerged in the culture of Archaic Greece.

14. Conclusion n The Greeks of the Archaic period considered that the Mycenaeans were their ancestors. n Homer’s epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, narrate the deeds of the Mycenaean heroes.