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Agamemnon's mask
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Aegean 1: Minoan and Mycenean
Agamemnon's MaskAEGEAN:Minoan and MyceneanAsia Minor, Crete, and Greece. The islands and coastal regions. Maritime society and exchange of artististic ideas with Egypt and the Near East.
A. Crete: The Minoan Period (2000-ca.1400BC)
The first major civilization of the Aegean, destroyed ca. 1400BC (volcanic eruption? of Thera). Palaces: Myth of King Minos and the Minotaur. Daedalus: first mythic architect. Etimology of Labyrinth. Occupied by Myceneans after 1500 B.C. then invaded by Dorians
Landscape elements (according to V. Scully):
Enclosed valley: natural "megaron."
Gentle mound or conical hill on axis with palace.
Siting of building along N/S axis.
Higher double peak and/or cleft mountain on same axis (horns, breasts, raised arms of godesses depicted in clay figurines).
Elements of palaces (according to V. Scully):
Labyrinthine passages.
Open court.
Columned pavillions.
Pillared cave. Theater stairs.
Palaces
Knosos (explored by Sir Arthur Evans 1900-41)
Images of Knossos
Phaistos
Mallia
Agia Triada
B. Mycenae (Helladic Period) (1600-1200BC)
Rise of powerful local dynasties. Precursor of Greek civilization product of Aryan invasions. Similar to Minoan in many aspects. Single family houses (megaron plan). Citadels built with Cyclopean masonry. Tholos (round, also beehive) tombs.
Mycenae (citadel ca. 14th c. B.C.): discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870s. Dates from 14th c. B.C.
Take a tour of the Citadel, study its plan
Lion Gate
Circular Shaft Graves
Tholos (Treasury of Atreus): dromos, beehive chamber, corbelled vault.
Cyclopean walls.
Megaron.
Tiryns, (ca. 13th c. B.C.)
Cyclopean walls.
Megaron.
Indirect entry and axial layout of palace itself.
General aspects of Minoan Culture
Chonological aspects
Iraklion Museum
History of Greece from Perseus
Some images of Mycenae and Tiryns from the Classics Dept. of Darmouth University
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