Quiz/Test1 Greek Art/Arch

Palace at Knossos

Bull Leaping Fresco from Knossos 1550-1450

Snake Goddess/Priestess from Knossos

Vapheio Cups

Why was the sea so important to the ancient Greeks?

Connected to trade and communication as it is mainly surrounded by water.Mountain ranges made travel difficult

Was ancient Greece a unified country?

Not a unified country, made up of independent city-states that each had their own governor

Definition of polis

Major urban center and the territory that it controlled

What factors united all the Greeks?

City states shared common culture, religion, language, mythology, and institutions

What were the 3 most important Greek crops?

Olives, grain and grapes

When/where did most ancient Greeks eat meat?

During religious festivals, meat was killed and sacrificed as the gods would enjoy the smell.

Uses of olive oil?

Ate the fruit, extracted oil for lamps and cooking. Athletes also applied before competing

: Linear A

Ancient syllabic script/language of the Minoans, it has yet to be deciphered. Would be written on a small unbaked tablet.

Arthur Evans

British archaeologist and pioneer in the study of Aegean civilization in the Bronze Age. The first excavations at the Minoan palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete

5 functions of the palace at Knossos

residence, administrative center, manufacturing and storage center, agricultural goods, religious center

what does the fact that it was unfortified reveal?

It means that the people within the palace did not fear of any danger or that there would be any attacks

pithos (pithoi)

Tall, terracotta storage for olive oil and grain

functions of Knossos central court

Used to bring light and air into the rooms.Possible to also be the location for bull leaping

horns of consecration

coined by Sir Arthur Evans. Symbolic motifs representing horns of a bull of the Minoans. Used in religious rituals

lustral basin

within the throne room. sunken rectangular chamber. most likely used for religious functions or initiation

griffin

mythical animal of lion body, eagle wings and head

pier-and-door partitions

permanent stone piers, originally had pairs of wooden doors that would open for light and air, and be closed for warmth and privacy

light well

unroofed airshaft. function is to bring light and air into the lower rooms

why do Minoan columns look odd to modern viewers?

shaft becomes larger towards the top, unlike past columns.

what were the Knossos columns made of?

unknown, most likely made out of wood.

fresco

pinted image onto a wall, most of the time showing appreciation for nature