1. The Minoans & Crete

Crete and the MinoansAegean: Greek Mainland, Islands, Crete - 3000-1000 BC - Bronze AgeMinoans - Sir Arthur Evans - Late 1800s - Looking for Minos - Knossos - 1900 Excavation - Uncovered Palace of "Minos" - Created Many Fake Replicas Many Palaces, 6 or 7 - History of Inhabitation: 2000BC-1250 BC: 3 Major Periods: 1st Palatial Period 2000-1700BC; Major Earthquake, Destroyed Palaces 2nd Palatial Period 1700-1400 BC; Invasion, Greek Mainland, Mycenaean's - 1450 BC 3rd Palatial Period 1400-1200 BC; Mycenaean Period; Later defeated by sea people - Enter Dark AgesKnossos - Larger than Others; Many Rooms; Storage Areas; Living Place of Ruling Family and Redistribution CenterLinear A Alphabet - UntranslatedPottery - Distinctive: Flora, Fauna, Nautical Themes: Fish, Birds, Octopus - Kamare's Ware: Orange, Black, White; Popular in Egypt through TradeBurials - Gold - Religious Significance - Minoans Double Axe - Snake Goddesses/Priestesses/Queen?: Ivory-made Women Figurines, Holding Snakes - Most Are ForgedNeo-Palacial Crete - Knossos - Similar - Ruins Gave Rise to Theseus and Minotaur - 800 BC, Like a Maze - Created The Myth?Knossos: Evans Excavated - Rebuild and Reconstructed - MistakesPalace is light and open - Pillars with open corridors - Connected with nature - Large Courtyard - Unfortified: Thucydides: "Minos had a sea empire"Unafraid of civil war; Peaceful people? - One family rules all Crete - Crete ruled by women/matriarchy?Throne Room - Largest room w/ Throne - Paintings of GriffinsDrainage System - Indoor Plumbing - Window PanesQueens Magron/Throne Room - Dolphin Fresco, 5 dolphins and fishCentral Courtyard - Entertainment - Bull-Leaping: Grab horns and flip over to friend. Perhaps basis of myth - 7 boys and 7 girls.Painting found in Egypt of MazeStorage - Barley, Wheat, Grain, Olives, OilPainting: Priest King, Evans: Portrait of Ruler; Mistake! Rope attached to bull; Reconstructed from 3 different paintings.Thriving Maritime Power- 1700-1400 Height - 1450: Disaster overtook entire island, the Mycenaean. New graves, weapons, writing: Linear B - Translated; Counting SystemQuestions:What are some suggestions that have been made to explain why there were no fortification walls around Knossos? There are a few possible answers, but archaeologists don't precisely know. One of the theories developed in the 1960's was that the Cretans were a peaceful civilization. Some suggest Crete was a matriarchal society, but this does not explain why there was no war or need for fortification. Some of the more likely theories suggest Crete had a large navy and was surrounded by allied islands, which protected it from invasion.What is wrong with some the reconstructions at Knossos by Evans? As Evans began his excavations at Knossos, he also began reconstruction. While his reconstructions were impressive, they were not entirely accurate. Some of the most popular examples include the painting of two dolphins, which Evans reconstructed by moving them to a large wall and painting an additional three dolphins surrounded by leaping fish. We know now that Minoans were popular for their floor paintings, and it is likely the dolphins belonged on the floor and not the wall. Additionally, in the impressive throne room, a painting of a griffin was found. Evans painted a season griffin beside it, although there is no evidence there should have been a second griffin.Suggested Readings:Castledon, Rodney - Minoans: Life in Bronze Age CreteFitton, J. Leslet - MinoansHiggins, Reynold A - Minoans and Mycenaean ArtPreziosi, Donald - Aegean Art and Architecture