Post on 24-Feb-2016
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The Civilization of the Greeks:
1. Minoan2. Mycenae
3. Dark Ages
Chapter 4
A bust of Pericles
Palace at Knossos
Minoans (2000 – 1450 BCE)
Detail of Throne
• Minoan Crete, 2000-1450 B.C.E.– Named for
legendary King Minos, centered on the Island of Crete
4 major Complexes
• 3 functions of the palace:– Royal residences– Centers for religion and ritual– Headquarters for administering the Creten
economy• Powerful, efficient government-controlled trade• Strength based on trade in the Eastern
Mediterranean
Trade With Egypt
Grand Stair case with frescos beyond on walls.
Palace columns at Knossos showing two levels
Dolphin fresco from queen’s Megaron
Dancing girl from
Queen’s Megaron
• Bull leaping Games Fresco at knossos
Female Statuettes
• thousands of distinctive marble figurines– vast majority of female.– Suggests women’s
status• Very few male figurines
– musical activity, playing a lyre or double pipes.
• Mountain Mother– Worshipped at
mountain peak ceremonies
– Numerous rings and paintings depict rituals of ecstatic song and dance in her honor
Bull’s head
Knossos,
gold and faience
Bull’s Horns Gate
at Knossos
• Crafts people of crete
• Highly developed art forms
• Bronze tools• Gems• Fine – egg shell-
pottery for export
• Golden double headed axes from cave near Knossos
Minoan Ewer
Golden bee
Minoan culture
Inlaid bronze knife – Belonged to a woman.
Interior drainsSewage System
Water works outside hall of the double axes
Storage at Knossos
• Pictograph by 2000 BCE
• Syllabic Writing by 1700 BCE
– Linear A
Linear A
Not yet deciphered
•New Script – •linear B • Transcribes
Greek• Minoan
characters with early form of Greek
• May have become the official language of Crete
•
Linear B logograms
Linear B Syllabry
End of Minoan• 1450 - destruction of 3 major palaces.
– Volcano Thera - too early. • 1370 - Palace at Knossos also destroyed
• Crete was incorporated into Mycanae, the leading city state of Mainland Greece
p94
B. Mycenae: 1st Greek State
Mycenae Named for Mycenae
the principle palace site and stronghold
Militaristic culture Intent on conquest,
raiding & obtaining gold
Active traders Colonies in Eastern
Mediterranean
3
Mycenaeans Small kingdoms
Dwellings centered around a heavily fortified hill top palace or citadel
Mycenae - capital of the legendary king, Agamemnon Administrative center Cemetery Wall
Reconstruction of Megaron
Massive entrance gate - huge stone lions
Mycenae: War Culture
War-related artifacts and vase paintings depicting war abound
Grave goods evidence wealth of some kings
Dominance of Men Mycenaean Gods, Zeus and Apollo
established over the sanctuaries of female deities worshipped before conquest
Earlier predominance of female deities replaced with male images
Gold death mask tomb IV Mycenae
Gold Lion Head Mycenae
p95
Greek “Dark ages” 1150 – 750 BCE A period of general upheaval
throughout much of the eastern Mediterranean Mycenaean commerce, culture, government &
writing declined lost knowledge of how to write
850 BCE people emerged from time of darkness settling, building towns, trading overseas new waves of immigration increased population restored written culture
p96