The Aegeans

1
The Aegeans
2
Aegean Sea

• 3 distinct cultures
• 3000-1200 BCE
• Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean
• Overlapped the ancient Egyptian eras cultural
  influence
• Remembered only in myths and legends
  rediscovered around 1850.

3
Cycladic Civilization

• 3000-1200 BCE
• Group of islands in southern Aegaean sea
• Accomplished sailors, fisherman, and traders
• No writing systemvery prehistoric
• Earliest surviving artistic evidence includes
  metalwork, pottery, and marble sculpture
• Bronze, copper, and tin

4
Cycladic Art

• Female Cycladic Idol
• 2700-2300 BCE
• Made of marble
• 5 ft tall
• Objects of worship
• Most found lying in graves
• Mainly female figures, but some male
• Exhibit divine female power

5
Minoan Civilization

• 3000-1500 BCE
• Includes the island of Crete
• Culture was destroyed twice, once in 1700 BCE by
  an earthquake and again three centuries later by
  an invasion
• Culture was completely lost until Sir Arthur
  Evans decided to search for it in 1900
• Named the culture Minoan after the legendary King
  Minos

6
Palace of Knossos

• Traditional residence of King Minos
• Largest known palace on Crete
• Considered a labyrinth because of its winding
  hallways and rooms.

7
Palace

• Commercial and religious center
• Had an advanced shipping and receiving system for
  receiving imported goods

Artists rendition of then palace
Today
8
Terracotta Pots

• Much of the wealth and goods were distributed in
  terracotta pots
• Served as storage and filing systems

9
Pottery Jars

• Storage jars also called a pithos
• Octopus Vase
• Shows that Minoans were seafarers and understood
  the creatures of the sea

10
Toreador Fresco

• Wall painting in the palace (1500 BCE)
• Displays a ritual sacrifice of a bull
• Boy somersaulting over beast to try to capture
  it.
• 2 women are depicted with lighter skin to show
  gender

11
Minoan Religion

• Little is known about their religion because
  their language is difficult to decipher
• Images of bulls, trees, priests, and priestesses
  are prominent
• Priestess holding snakes common
• Snakes associated with fertility and the earth

12
Thera

• Island north of Crete
• Volcaniccovered with thick layers of ash and
  pumice
• Eruption occurred around 1500 BCE, when Minoans
  were flourishing
• Showed a high standard of living with paved
  streets and mud-brick homes
• Displayed working plumbing and drainage systems
• Highly advanced

13
Thera Frescoes

• Ship Fresco
• Many home a palace walls exhibited frescos
• Tell stories decoration

14
Mycenaean Culture

• Dominated the Aegean after the volcanic eruption
  at Thera
• Conquered Crete and took over Palace of Knossos
• Palace was built on a hilltop and called megaron

15
Citadel

• Lions Gate
• Crowned the entrance to the citadel/palace
• Displays lions being obedient to the Nature
  Goddess
• Heads missing due to time and elements

16
Royal Tombs

• Tombs built in round shape called tholos
• Enormous size indicates tombs were used for
  royalty
• Buried dead with treasures, much like Egyptians
• Same beliefs in afterlife

17
Greek Myths

• Mycenae is home to King Agamemnon, brother of
  King Menelaus of Sparta who married Helen of Troy
• Trojan War began in this area

Fresco of Greek Goddess
18
Mask of Agamemnon

• Made of pure gold
• Often used in royal art
• Had to be imported, not readily found on island
• Death Mask
• Used to positively identify the dead in the
  afterlife