Chapter 4
The Civilization
of the Greeks:
1. Minoan
2. Mycenae
3. Dark Ages
A bust of Pericles
Minoans (2000 – 1450 BCE)
Palace at Knossos
• Minoan Crete,
2000-1450 B.C.E.
– Named for
legendary King
Minos,
centered on the
Island of Crete
Detail of Throne
4 major Complexes
• 3 functions of the palace:
– Royal residences
– Centers for religion and ritual
– Headquarters for administering the Creten
economy
• Powerful, efficient government-controlled trade
• Strength based on trade in the Eastern
Mediterranean
Trade With Egypt
Grand Stair case with frescos beyond on walls.
Palace columns at Knossos showing two levels
Dolphin fresco from queen’s Megaron
Dancing girl from
Queen’s Megaron
• Bull leaping Games Fresco at knossos
Female
Statuettes
• thousands of distinctive
marble figurines
– vast majority of female.
– Suggests women’s
status
• Very few male figurines
– musical activity, playing
a lyre or double pipes.
• Mountain Mother
– Worshipped at
mountain peak
ceremonies
– Numerous rings
and paintings
depict rituals of
ecstatic song and
dance in her honor
Bull’s head
Knossos,
gold and faience
Bull’s Horns Gate
at Knossos
• Crafts people of
crete
• Highly developed
art forms
• Bronze tools
• Gems
• Fine – egg shellpottery for export
• Golden double
headed axes from
cave near
Knossos
Minoan Ewer
Golden bee
Minoan culture
Inlaid bronze knife –
Belonged to a woman.
Interior drains
Sewage System
Water works outside
hall of the
double axes
Storage at Knossos
• Pictograph by
2000 BCE
• Syllabic
Writing by
1700 BCE
– Linear A
Linear A
Not yet deciphered
•New Script –
•linear B
•Transcribes
Greek
•Minoan
characters
with early
form of
Greek
•May have
become the
official language
of Crete
Linear B logograms
Linear B Syllabry
End of Minoan
• 1450 - destruction of 3 major palaces.
– Volcano Thera - too early.
• 1370 - Palace at Knossos also destroyed
• Crete was incorporated into Mycanae, the
leading city state of Mainland Greece
B. Mycenae:
st
1
Greek State
p94
Mycenae

Named for Mycenae
the principle palace
site and stronghold
Militaristic culture
 Intent on conquest,
raiding & obtaining
gold
 Active traders
 Colonies in Eastern
Mediterranean

3
Mycenaeans

Small kingdoms


Dwellings centered
around a heavily
fortified hill top palace or
citadel
Mycenae - capital of
the legendary king,
Agamemnon



Administrative center
Cemetery
Wall
Reconstruction of Megaron

Massive entrance gate - huge stone lions
Mycenae: War Culture


War-related artifacts
and vase paintings
depicting war
abound
Grave goods
evidence wealth of
some kings
Dominance of Men


Mycenaean Gods, Zeus and Apollo
established over the sanctuaries of
female deities worshipped before
conquest
Earlier predominance of female deities
replaced with male images
Gold death mask
tomb IV Mycenae
Gold Lion Head Mycenae
p95
Greek “Dark ages”

1150 – 750 BCE A period of general upheaval
throughout much of the eastern Mediterranean



Mycenaean commerce, culture, government &
writing declined
lost knowledge of how to write
850 BCE people emerged from time of
darkness



settling, building towns, trading overseas
new waves of immigration increased population
restored written culture
p96