Chronology of Crete Early Minoan Period - EBA Prepalatial period 3300 BC Middle Minoan Period – Protopalatial period 2100 BC. Middle Minoan Period IIIB – Neopalatial period 1700 BC. All palaces were destroyed by an earthquake c. 1700 BC. Eruption of Thera volcano and tsunami 1630 BC? Late Minoan Period 1600 BC Still Neopalatial period All palaces except Knossos burned 1450 BC. – Interpreted as an invasion by Myceneans. They establish capital at Knossos. Late Minoan II Period – Post Palatial Period 1425 BC. Final destruction of Knossos palace 1200 BC. Mycenean civilization collapses at this time. Social Chronology Early Minoan Period: beginnings of social stratification. Large EMII Tomb, Mochlos Island, excavated 1908. Middle Minoan period/First Palace Period “Palaces” at Knossos , Malia and Phaistos established. Minoan Facts The Term “Minoan” was coined by Sir Arthur Evans, the excavator of Knossos, inspired by the Greek legends concerning King Minos of Crete. Where did they come from?: Who knows? Some hold that they were Semitic language speakers from the Levant. Others hold they were Luwian speakers, Greek speakers, etc. The Egyptians of the New Kingdom period referred to them as Keftiu. Some think this can be matched with the Semitic Caftor. This is highly contentious. Greek references Homer refers to a people he calls Eteocretans living on the island. This means “true Cretans.” Homer’s statement would have originated centuries after the fall of Minoan civilization. Strabo cites this passage and goes to say that the Eteocretans and another people called the Cydonians were indigenous inhabitants of Crete. Strabo lived in the 1st century BC. Sir Arthur Evans (1851-1941) “Horns of Consecration” Minoan Scripts Minoan hieroglyphic – represented on the famous and enigmatic Phaistos disk. 1625-1500 BC. Some symbols are found in Linear A. Not deciphered. Linear A – Not deciphered, though some think the sound qualities of the symbols are the same as those of Linear B. 18th century BC -1450 BC. Linear B – Represents the first written form of an archaic version of Greek – hence the language of the Mycenean invaders. 1375-1200 BC. Linear B was deciphered by Michael Ventris in 1951-3. Minoan Religion: Epiphany What is called in the Classical literature “epiphany” is what is called more generally “spirit possession.” Gold ring from a tomb at Isopata, Crete. Lustration Above: Lustral Basin, Knossos. Left: “Adorants” fresco, Akortiri. Libation Rhyton Minoan Libation table with Linear A inscription Mountain Top Shrines and Caves Shrines in Buildings Shrine of the Double Axes, Knossos Bull Sacrifice Ritual Goddesses and Gods Deities are difficult to recognize in Minoan art as they were rendered with few characteristics to set them off from ordinary humans. Upraised arms may be one characteristic, holding a staff or spear another. Scholars have long wondered whether the religion was female-centric, given the many representation of females engaged in ritual acts. Was Minoan religion gynocentric? Crocus Gatherers Fresco, Akrotiri, ‘Mountain Mother’ sealing, Knossos. Akrotiri on Thera Minoan Thalassocracy? Described by Herodotus (5th cent. BC) and Hesiod (8th century BC). Akrotiri was buried under 20’ of ash as a result of a volcanic eruption that possibly occurred in 1628 BC or earlier, based on radiocarbon and dendrochronology dates. Under excavation since 1967 – complete excavation may take 300 years. www.therafoundation.org Mycenean Greece Civilization named after the kingdom of Mycenea, the capital of Agamemnon (head of the most dysfunctional family, ever). It is depicted in Homer’s oral epics Iliad and Odyssey, committed to writing in the 8th - 6th century BC. The decipherment of Linear B revolutionized our understanding of how Mycenean states were organized. Tholos Tomb: “The Treasury of Atreus” Mycenae Mycenean king: Wanax Chief administrator: Lawagetas. Equetas: governors. Damokoro: administrator of a damos. Qa-si-re-u: local chieftain who later became the basileus (prince) in Classical Greece.