Transcript Document

BASIC INFORMATION
•Greek Civilization is known through 3 sources:
a. Monuments themselves,
b. Roman copies
c. Literary sources- (these often conflict)
•Greek civilization started out as tribal groups - the Dorians, who
settled mostly on the mainland, and the Ionians who inhabited the
Aegean islands and Asia Minor
•Greeks remained divided into small city-states (the polis) but united
themselves for all-Greek festivals. Rivalry between states stimulated
the growth of ideas
AEGEAN ART
Term used to describe the Bronze Age that occurred in
the land in and around the Aegean Sea.
Three basic periods:
CYCLADIC (Cyclades Islands) 3000-1600 BCE
MINOAN (Crete) 3000-1400 BCE
MYCENEAN (Mainland Greece) 1400-1100 BCE
Cycladic Art
Most examples are from the NEOLITHIC period and
are usually female
Cycladic Islands rich in metal ores and marble
(Parian Marble from Paros considered some of the
best in the world)
Very abstracted, geometric figures found in stone
burial chambers
Minoan Art
Artwork found on the island of CRETE –
called Minoan because of the legend of King
Minos
Very rich civilization with many references to
bulls and ocean themes
PALACE OF KNOSSOS – Huge palace about 6
acres in size! 1st excavated by Sir Arthur
Evans in 1900
Amphora – two handled
vase used to carry wine, oil,
olives, etc.
Amphi ("on both sides") +
phoreus ("carrier")
Aerial View of Knossos
Artist rendering of the Palace of Knossos
Pictures taken from
the Palace of
Knossos – Note the
repeated bull and
Marine Themes…
Octopus Vase ca. 1500 BCE
Marine Style - Minoan
Snake Goddess – found at
Palace of Knossos
ca. 1600 BCE 1’ 1-1/2” high
Minoan Female Figurines
The Discovery of Akrotiri….
(Late Cycladic, possibly Early Minoan)
Akrotiri is located on the island of Thera. This civilization was
buried in volcanic pumice and kept many of its items intact.
Mycenaean Period
The people of Mycenae lived richly in large citadels that had to be
built with strong walls to prevent attacks, such as:
The Treasury of Atreus
The Citadel of Tiryns
The Citadel of Mycenae
Treasury of Atreus
Once believed to be the location of Royal storage, it was actually
built as a tomb. Until the creation of the Roman Pantheon, it was
the largest domed interior ever.
Treasury of Atreus
Terms to know: CYCLOPEAN, CORBELLED VAULT, THOLOS TOMB
Treasury of Atreus
Citadel of Tiryns
Lion Gate of Mycenae
Excavated by German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann in
1876, who used the writings of Homer to find the ruins
Lion Gate of Mycenae
Guardian-like lions that guarded the entrance to the
Citadel… Heads are now gone.
Corbelled Arch
Post & Lintel
Palace of Knossos
(Artist’s Rendering)
Citadel of Mycenae
(Artist’s Rendering)
Mycenaeans = “Rich In Gold”
Thanks to tombs such as “Grave Circle A”, graves excavated in
Mycenae find many kings and their families buried with gold,
much like the Egyptians…
Woman with jewelry, Men with weapons and golden cups.
Mask of Agamemnon
Grave Circle A
Excavation started by Heinrich Schliemann in 1877