Minos and the Heroes of Homer: The Art of the Prehistoric Aegean

Minos and the Heroes of Homer:

The Art of the Prehistoric Aegean

The Prehistoric Aegean

Homer

The Iliad

Heinrich Schliemann

Troy

Mycenae

The prehistoric Aegean is divided into three geographic areas:

Cycladic Islands (so called because they circle around Delos)

Cycladic ArtEarly, Middle, Late

CreteMinoan Art

Early, Middle, Late

The Greek MainlandHelladic Art

Early, Middle, Late (Mycenaean)

Cycladic Art

Cycladic Figurine of a Woman

Syros, Greece

2500-2300 BC

Marble

1’ 6” high

Cycladic Male Lyre Player

Keros, Greece

2700-2500 BC

Marble

9” high

Minoan Art (Crete)

The Palace at Knossos, Crete, 1700-1400 BC

The Palace at Knossos, Crete, 1700-1400 BC

Plan of the Palace at Knossos, Crete, 1700-1400 BC

Stairwell in the Residential

Quarter of the Palace at Knossos

Knossos, Crete

1700-1400 BC

Stairwell in the

Residential Quarter of the Palace at Knossos

Knossos, Crete

1700-1400 BC

Bull-leapingThe Palace of Knossos, Crete

1450-1400 BC, Fresco, @ 2’ 8” high

Bull-leaping (detail)

Griffin Fresco in the “Throne Room” at Knossos

Boxing Fresco at

Knossos

Miniature Ships FrescoFrom Room 5, West House,

Akrotiri, Thera (Cycladic Islands)1650 BC

Fresco, @ 1’ 5” high

Miniature Ships Fresco from Room 5, West House,

Akrotiri, Thera (Cycladic Islands)1650 BC

Fresco, @ 1’ 5” high

Spring FrescoAkrotiri, Thera (Cycladic Islands)1650 BC, Fresco, @ 7’ 6” high

Spring FrescoAkrotiri, Thera (Cycladic Islands)1650 BC, Fresco, @ 7’ 6” high

Kamares ware

Kamares Ware (Jar)

From Phaistos, Crete

1800-1700 BC

@ 1’ 8” high

Minoan Vase

in the

Kamares Style

from

Phaestos

1800 BCE

Kamares Ware

from the

Palace

at Phaestos

1800 BCE

Minoan Krater with Plastic Decoration

1800 BCE

Minoan Krater with

Applied Floral Decoration

1800 BCE

Minoan Jar in the

Marine Style “Octopus Jar”

Palaikastro, Crete

1500 BC

@ 11” high

Minoan Vase in the

Marine Style

Crete

1500 BC

Harvester Vase

Hagia Triada, Crete

1500 BC

Steatite

Greatest Diameter@ 5”

Snake Goddess

Palace at Knossos

1600 BC

Faience

@ 1’ 1 1/2” high

Helladic Art

"The Greeks appear apt to regard with greater wonder foreign sights than sights at home. For whereas distinguished historians have described the Egyptian pyramids with the minutest detail, they have not made even the briefest mention of the treasury of Minyas and the walls of Tiryns, though these are no less marvellous."

[Pausanias, Description of Greece 9.36.5]

Citadel of Tiryns Greece

1400-1200 BC

Citadel of Tiryns Greece

1400-1200 BC

Citadel of Tiryns Greece

1400-1200 BC

Citadel of Tiryns Greece

1400-1200 BC

Corbeled passageway in the walls of the citadel at Tiryns

Three methods of spanning a passageway:a. post and lintel

b. corbeled arch

c. arch

Aerial View of Mycenae,

Greece

Mycenae, Greece

1300-1250 BC

Cyclopian Walls at the Lion’s Gate to Mycenae

Lion GateMycenae, Greece, 1300-1250 BC

Limestone, relief panel @ 9’ 6” high

Lion Gate

Mycenae, Greece,

1300-1250 BC

Limestone,

relief panel @ 9’ 6” high

Back of Lion Gate Mycenae, Greece, 1300-1250 BC

Limestone, relief panel @ 9’ 6” high

Treasury of AtreusMycenae, Greece

1300-1250 BC

Vault of the Tholos of the Treasury of

Atreus

Mycenae, Greece

1300-1250 BC

@ 43’ high

Funerary Mask

from Grave Circle A

Mycenae, Greece

1600-1500 BC

Beaten Gold

@ 1’ high

Repousse’ Technique

Warrior VaseMycenae, Greece

1200 BC@ 1’ 4” high

Mycenaean Pottery

14th to 13th Centuries BCE