Aegean Greece

Aegean GreeceAegean Greece


Main Periods of Greek HistoryMain Periods of Greek History

3500 – 1100 BCE – Helladic Age3500 – 1100 BCE – Helladic Age 1100 – 800 BCE – Doric Dark Ages1100 – 800 BCE – Doric Dark Ages 800 – 400 BCE – Classical Greece800 – 400 BCE – Classical Greece 332 – 30 BCE – Hellenistic Civilization332 – 30 BCE – Hellenistic Civilization


Ancient Aegean History – ChronologyAncient Aegean History – Chronology 3000 – 2000 BCE – Cycladic Civilization appears 3000 – 2000 BCE – Cycladic Civilization appears

and develops on Cycladic Islandsand develops on Cycladic Islands 3000 – 1450 BCE – Minoan Civilization appears 3000 – 1450 BCE – Minoan Civilization appears

and develops on Crete – use of Linear Aand develops on Crete – use of Linear A 1623 BCE – Eruption of volcano on Thera1623 BCE – Eruption of volcano on Thera 1600 – 1100 BCE – Mycenaean Civilization 1600 – 1100 BCE – Mycenaean Civilization

appears on Peloponnesian Peninsula (southern appears on Peloponnesian Peninsula (southern part of mainland Greece) part of mainland Greece)

1460 BCE – Mycenaeans invade and conquer 1460 BCE – Mycenaeans invade and conquer Minoan capital of KnossosMinoan capital of Knossos


1400 BCE – Mainland Greeks destroy Knossos – 1400 BCE – Mainland Greeks destroy Knossos – and most traces of Minoan culture disappear. and most traces of Minoan culture disappear. Linear B in general use at this timeLinear B in general use at this time

1250 – 1240 BCE – Trojan war 1250 – 1240 BCE – Trojan war 1100 BCE – Dorian invasion, fall of Mycenaean 1100 BCE – Dorian invasion, fall of Mycenaean

civilization; Beginning of dark agescivilization; Beginning of dark ages 800 BCE – The Iliad and The Odyssey written 800 BCE – The Iliad and The Odyssey written

down as Greeks adopt Phoenician alphabet and down as Greeks adopt Phoenician alphabet and dark ages enddark ages end


Cycladic Civilization Cycladic Civilization Cycladic Islands are so-named because Cycladic Islands are so-named because

they ‘cycle’ around the birthplace of Apollo they ‘cycle’ around the birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemisand his twin sister Artemis

No written records, so their artwork is a No written records, so their artwork is a main source of information about themmain source of information about them

Their culture was mainly NeolithicTheir culture was mainly Neolithic


Minoan civilizationMinoan civilization The Minoan civilization is named after the The Minoan civilization is named after the

legendary king Minos who was the fabled ruler of legendary king Minos who was the fabled ruler of CreteCrete

Minoans were mainly a maritime culture : dealing Minoans were mainly a maritime culture : dealing with trading and fishingwith trading and fishing

The center of Minoan culture was the palace some The center of Minoan culture was the palace some examples are at Knossos, Phaistos and Malliaexamples are at Knossos, Phaistos and Mallia

Knossos was the center of political life (the capital)Knossos was the center of political life (the capital)


Characteristics of Minoan Art:Characteristics of Minoan Art: Dynamic ColorsDynamic Colors Swirling PatternsSwirling Patterns Organic themes – Marine life the Organic themes – Marine life the

predominant motifpredominant motif Playful Playful Decorative DesignsDecorative Designs

Minoan vs. Egyptian PaintingMinoan vs. Egyptian Painting


Mycenaean CivilizationMycenaean Civilization Culture is named after the major city Culture is named after the major city

Mycenae, although sometimes called Mycenae, although sometimes called Achaeans - especially by Homer in the Iliad Achaeans - especially by Homer in the Iliad and Odysseyand Odyssey

Art was heavily influenced by Minoans, with Art was heavily influenced by Minoans, with an additional focus on power by the an additional focus on power by the MycenaeansMycenaeans

Mycenaeans were warlike and aggressiveMycenaeans were warlike and aggressive

Aegean Greece - CorbellingAegean Greece - Corbelling


Mycenaean and Archaic Greek CivilizationsMycenaean and Archaic Greek Civilizations Developed on mainland GreeceDeveloped on mainland Greece First true Greek speakersFirst true Greek speakers Archaic Greeks Divide into 3 groups:Archaic Greeks Divide into 3 groups: AeoliansAeolians Ionians Ionians DoriansDorians

Aegean Greek - ArtAegean Greek - Art

Cycladic Female FigureCycladic Female Figure 33rdrd Millennium BCE Millennium BCE Cycladic Islands, Cycladic Islands,

GreeceGreece SculptureSculpture Thought to have a Thought to have a

connection with fertility connection with fertility and also with deathand also with death

Appears similar to Appears similar to modern artmodern art

Statuette of Seated Harp Player

ca. 2,800-2,700 B.C.E.

Cyclades

Sculpturemarble11 1/2 in. highPossibly related to mythology / Orpheus

Minoan ArtMinoan Art

Spring Fresco Spring Fresco (Landscape)(Landscape)

1630 – 1500 BCE1630 – 1500 BCE Akrotiri, TheraAkrotiri, Thera PaintingPainting Natural world is focus, Natural world is focus,

use of coloruse of color Landscape with FlowersLandscape with Flowers Not an attempt at Not an attempt at

exactitude and realismexactitude and realism


Palace of KnossosPalace of Knossos 1700 - 1300 BCE1700 - 1300 BCE Knossos, CreteKnossos, Crete ArchitectureArchitecture Palace structure with Palace structure with

courtyard – first courtyard – first building with running building with running plumbingplumbing

Also had a labyrinthAlso had a labyrinth

Palace at Knossos (plumbing)

Crete, Greece

ca. 1,700-1,300 B.C.E.

KnossosKnossos


Palace of Knossos Palace of Knossos (Minos)(Minos)

1700 – 1300 BCE1700 – 1300 BCE Knossos, CreteKnossos, Crete ArchitectureArchitecture The Minoans used The Minoans used

inverted columns that inverted columns that tapered down rather tapered down rather than up than up


Bull Leaping Fresco (Toreador Fresco)Bull Leaping Fresco (Toreador Fresco) 1550 – 1450 BCE1550 – 1450 BCE Knossos, CreteKnossos, Crete PaintingPainting Fresco Fresco is a painting technique using wet plasteris a painting technique using wet plaster Coming of age trial or religious ceremonyComing of age trial or religious ceremony

Dolphin Fresco

ca. 1,450-1,400 B.C.E.

Knossos, GreeceFresco PaintingLocated in the Queen’s megaron (bedroom)Marine life was key Minoan theme

Marine style octopus jar

ca. 1,500 B.C.E.

Palaikastro, GreecePottery11 in. highMarine theme the focus even in pottery


Kamares WareKamares Ware (Three handled pithos)(Three handled pithos) 1800 BCE1800 BCE Phaistos, CretePhaistos, Crete PotteryPottery Made of terra cottaMade of terra cotta Kamares ware is Kamares ware is

recognized by its colorrecognized by its color Most pottery motifs Most pottery motifs

were related to the seawere related to the sea


Palace Style 3 Handled Palace Style 3 Handled VaseVase

1400 BCE1400 BCE Knossos, CreteKnossos, Crete PotteryPottery Made of terra cottaMade of terra cotta Design is more linear than Design is more linear than

circular – plants seem to circular – plants seem to sprout up the vasesprout up the vase

Natural world is a main Natural world is a main motifmotif

Snake Goddess

ca. 1,600 B.C.E.

Knossos, Greece

Sculpture faience13 1/2 in. highMade of ivory – proves trade was going on with EgyptRelated to some goddess cult – different types

Flotilla, detail of Miniature Ships Fresco from Room 5, West House ca. 1,650 B.C.E.

Akrotiri, Thera, GreecePainting Frescoapproximately 17 in. highIsland was destroyed by volcanic eruption, shows how important the sea was to daily life



Mycenaean Art CharacteristicsMycenaean Art Characteristics Heavy use of goldHeavy use of gold Large stone buildings and fortifications Large stone buildings and fortifications

(Cyclopean Stones)(Cyclopean Stones) Painting is same as Minoan, except for Painting is same as Minoan, except for

themesthemes Focus on power and aggressionFocus on power and aggression

Mycenaean ArtMycenaean Art

The Lion GateThe Lion Gate 1250 BCE1250 BCE Mycenae, GreeceMycenae, Greece Architecture/Relief SculptureArchitecture/Relief Sculpture Example of Cyclopean Example of Cyclopean

stones (large stones thought stones (large stones thought be Greeks to be built by be Greeks to be built by Cyclops)Cyclops)

Lion’s used to portray power, Lion’s used to portray power, intimidate and protect cityintimidate and protect city

Entrance to city of MycenaeEntrance to city of Mycenae


Treasury of AtreusTreasury of Atreus 1300 – 1250 BCE1300 – 1250 BCE Mycenae, GreeceMycenae, Greece ArchitectureArchitecture Believed to be the tomb of Believed to be the tomb of

the Atreus family - King the Atreus family - King Agamemnon from Homer’s Agamemnon from Homer’s IliadIliad

Called Bee-hive tombs Called Bee-hive tombs because of their shapebecause of their shape

Use of corbelled roofingUse of corbelled roofing



Mask of AgamemnonMask of Agamemnon 1250 – 1200 BCE1250 – 1200 BCE Mycenae, GreeceMycenae, Greece Relief SculptureRelief Sculpture Made of gold, actual death Made of gold, actual death

mask of the deceasedmask of the deceased Attributed to Agamemnon Attributed to Agamemnon

but not verified – if true it but not verified – if true it would be the only artifact would be the only artifact of a man involved in Trojan of a man involved in Trojan WarWar

Inlaid dagger blade with lion hunt from Grave Circle A

ca. 1,600-1,500 B.C.E.

Mycenae, Greece

Craftworkbronze, inlaid with gold, silver and niello9 in. longSymbols of power prevail and use of precious metals


Early GreeceEarly Greece

1000 – 800 BCE – Rise of the Greek city-states1000 – 800 BCE – Rise of the Greek city-states 900 – 725 BCE – Geometric Style is used900 – 725 BCE – Geometric Style is used 776 BCE – First Olympic Games (Greeks 776 BCE – First Olympic Games (Greeks

measured time from this occasion)measured time from this occasion) 750 BCE – Phalanx with Hoplites is used as basic 750 BCE – Phalanx with Hoplites is used as basic

battle formationbattle formation 750 – 550 BCE – Greeks begin to colonize 750 – 550 BCE – Greeks begin to colonize

MediterraneanMediterranean 725 – 650 BCE – Orientalizing Style is used725 – 650 BCE – Orientalizing Style is used

Archaic PeriodArchaic Period

650 – 480 BCE – Archaic Period650 – 480 BCE – Archaic Period 621 BCE – Draco establishes Athenian laws621 BCE – Draco establishes Athenian laws 594 BCE – Solon elected Archon begins 594 BCE – Solon elected Archon begins

democratization of Athens “Architect of democratization of Athens “Architect of Democracy”Democracy”

570 BCE – First silver coins minted in Athens 570 BCE – First silver coins minted in Athens (Attic Silver Drachma)(Attic Silver Drachma)

518 - 438 BCE – Pindar’s life – Ancient Greece’s 518 - 438 BCE – Pindar’s life – Ancient Greece’s greatest lyric poetgreatest lyric poet

510 – 508 BCE – Athens created the first 510 – 508 BCE – Athens created the first democracydemocracy

Archaic vs. Egyptian SculptureArchaic vs. Egyptian Sculpture

Archaic Art – Classical OrdersArchaic Art – Classical Orders

Archaic Greece - ArtArchaic Greece - Art

Dipylon KraterDipylon Krater 750 BCE750 BCE Athens, GreeceAthens, Greece PotteryPottery In geometric style – In geometric style –

shapes are predominant shapes are predominant motif – motif –

Even animals and Even animals and people are in shapes people are in shapes rather than realisticrather than realistic

Archaic Greek ArtArchaic Greek Art

HorseHorse 88thth century BCE century BCE Athens, GreeceAthens, Greece SculptureSculpture Even sculpture of the Even sculpture of the

period was in period was in geometric stylegeometric style

Forms of nature were Forms of nature were simplified into shapessimplified into shapes


Levy OinochoeLevy Oinochoe 650 BCE650 BCE Eastern GreeceEastern Greece PotteryPottery Orientalizing style breaks Orientalizing style breaks

from geometric shapesfrom geometric shapes Eastern motifs like lotuses, Eastern motifs like lotuses,

rosettes derived form rosettes derived form Egypt and MesopotamiaEgypt and Mesopotamia

Figures become more Figures become more importantimportant


Achilles and Ajax Achilles and Ajax 550-525 BCE550-525 BCE Athens, GreeceAthens, Greece PotteryPottery Artist: ExekiasArtist: Exekias Black figured style – Black figured style –

showing scene from showing scene from mythologymythology

Painted with black glaze Painted with black glaze on red clayon red clay


Death of SarpedonDeath of Sarpedon 515 BCE515 BCE Athens, GreeceAthens, Greece PotteryPottery Artists: Euxitheos and Artists: Euxitheos and

EuphroniusEuphronius Red figure style – Red figure style –

replaced black figure replaced black figure style as is allowed for style as is allowed for more emotional scenes more emotional scenes to be portrayedto be portrayed


Paestum TemplesPaestum Temples Hera I and Hera IIHera I and Hera II 560 BCE & 500 BC560 BCE & 500 BC ArchitectureArchitecture Paestum, ItalyPaestum, Italy Doric Temple styleDoric Temple style Best preserved early Best preserved early

Greek templesGreek temples


Hera I is in Hera I is in enneastyleenneastyle – 9 columns on sides– 9 columns on sides

Hera II is in Hera II is in hexastylehexastyle – 6 columns on sides– 6 columns on sides

Hera I and Hera IIHera I and Hera II


Standing Youth (Kouros)Standing Youth (Kouros) 600 - 590BCE600 - 590BCE Attic, GreeceAttic, Greece SculptureSculpture First nude in ancient art; note First nude in ancient art; note

again similarities to Egyptian again similarities to Egyptian sculpturesculpture

Although foot is forward weight is Although foot is forward weight is still equally distributedstill equally distributed

Note almost fully free standing as Note almost fully free standing as opposed to Egyptianopposed to Egyptian

Known as New York Kouros Known as New York Kouros because of its location todaybecause of its location today

Kouros means standing male Kouros means standing male nudenude


Kore from ChiosKore from Chios 520 BCE520 BCE Chios, GreeceChios, Greece SculptureSculpture The stiffness is gone, the The stiffness is gone, the

drapery is refined and even drapery is refined and even flows about her body; she is flows about her body; she is wearing a garment called a wearing a garment called a Chiton; traces of color exist; Chiton; traces of color exist; considered the best Koreconsidered the best Kore

Kore mean standing femaleKore mean standing female

Temple of Aphaia

ca. 500-490 B.C.E.

Aegina, Greece

Architecture

Typical Early Greek/Classical Temple

Open on all sides, 3 steps up

Unique because ramp for livestock still exists

Temple of Aphaia

Plan

West pediment of the Temple of Aphaia

ca. 500-490 B.C.E.

Aegina, Greece

Relief Sculpture

marbleapproximately 5 ft. 8 in. high at center

Sculptures were arranged to fit inside pediment triangle exactly

Dying warrior from the West pediment Temple of Aphaia

ca. 500-490 B.C.E.

Aegina, Greece

Relief Sculpturemarbleapproximately 5 ft. 2 1/2 in. long

Note the emotionless and even the smile

Dying warrior from the East Pediment Temple of Aphaia

ca. 490-480 B.C.E.

Aegina, Greece

Relief Sculpturemarbleapproximately 6 ft. 1 in. longDramatic change in art in a short 10 year span

Ancient colorsAncient colors

Aegean ArtAegean Art

The End . . . The End . . . Next Lecture . . .Next Lecture . . .

Classical and Hellenistic GreeceClassical and Hellenistic Greece

Aegean Greece

Documents

bce minoan civilization

bce cycladic civilization

bce mycenaeans

bce mycenaean civilization

dark ages800 bce

bce classical greece332

bce helladic age1100

bce dorian invasion