Download Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

The Minoan World: 2800 B.C.E.-1400 B.C.E.
Linear A
The Abduction of Europa
Zeus
Rembrandt’s Painting of the
Abduction (1632)
The Legacy of Europa Today
King Minos
Coast of Crete
MACEDONIA
^ Mt.
Olympus
THERMOPYLAE
Troy
AEGEAN
SEA
*
LESBOS
ASIA MINOR
(TURKEY)
Thebes
ATTICA* MARATHON
Plataea
Corinth
IONIAN
SEA
*
Athens
Mycenae
Miletus
PELOPONNESUS
Sparta
RHODES
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Knossos
CRETE
Deck over
rowers
“Bireme” ship
Minoan Ships
Mast
Prow
Now that’s a
lot of oil!
Palace of King Minos at Knossos on Crete
Double Axes Found on Crete
Labrys = Greek
for “double axe”
Labyrinth =
Greek for “the
House of the
Double Axe”
The Throne of King Minos
The Queen’s rooms, with blue dolphins
Minoan Artistic “Motifs”
Water System at Knossos
Storage containers at Knossos
Minoan People & Religion
Minoan Priest
Minoan Snake
Goddess
Religious procession
Women were important to Minoan religion.
BULL-LEAPING
Bull Cult
Polytheistic
Poly= many
•
• Theistic= gods
Like the Egyptians the Minoans had many
gods. So would the Greeks, but the Greek
gods won’t have animal qualities.
Snake
“goddess”
-goddess?
-priestess?
-worshipper?
Theseus and the Minotaur
The Mycenaean World: 16001100 B.C.E.
Metalworking
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
Palaces
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
Pottery
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
Religious Practices
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
Water Systems
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
WRITING
Minoans
vs.
Mycenaeans
END OF MINOAN CIVILIZATION
• Civilization came to an end around
1400 BC
– All palaces destroyed and never
rebuilt
• Theory 1
– Invaded by Mycenaeans in 1400
BC
• Destroyed Crete to eliminate
Minoans as trade rivals
• Theory 2
– Massive volcanic eruption on
island of Thera showered Crete
with debris, ash, and poison gas
• Destroyed fleets with tidal
waves
• Mycenaeans arrived after
catastrophe and destroyed
what was left
Mycenae
Near the sea
Walled city
Access to fresh
water
Mycenae
The Lions Gate:
entrance to the city
Lions Gate
MYCENEAN AGE
• 1600-1150 BC
• Had some contact with
Minoan civilization by at
least 1600 BC
• Typical of the very warlike,
semi-barbarian cultures
that extended over most of
Europe
– Only difference was that
contact with Minoans
gradually caused the
Mycenaeans to lose
some of their barbarism
and allowed them to
develop a more
sophisticated culture
WARRIORS
Brutal Combat
Homer’s Great Epics
Homer, the Blind Poet
The Trojan War
Wall of Troy Recreated
Plan of the City of Troy
The “Trojan Horse”?
Hector
Achilles
Troy
DORIC COLUMNS
IONIC COLUMNS
CORINTHIAN COLUMNS