Minoan and Mycenaean Cultures Overview

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70 Terms

1

Myrtos, Crete

An Early Minoan settlement located on the southern coast of Crete, defined by distinctive pottery, advanced urban planning, and the development of trade and cultural connections.

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2

Knossos, Crete

The most famous of the Minoan palaces, serving as the political and religious center of the Minoan civilization.

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3

Throne Room

A central room in Knossos with a large stone throne, symbolic of Minoan religious and royal life.

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4

Shrine and Figurines

Contained in Knossos, these were used for religious ceremonies, with many figurines depicting deities or worshippers.

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5

Frescoes

Brightly colored wall paintings in Knossos depicting scenes from daily life, such as bull-leaping, suggesting Minoan cultural values.

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6

Great Courtyard

A vast open area in Knossos for public events, ritual activities, and gatherings.

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7

Magazines

Storerooms in Knossos for grain, oil, and other commodities, showcasing the palace as a redistribution center.

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8

Linear A

The undeciphered script used by the Minoans for administrative and religious purposes, with symbols representing syllables.

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9

Kamares Ware

A pottery style known for its smooth surfaces, bright colors, and intricate patterns, associated with the peak of the Minoan civilization.

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10

Marine Style Ware

A pottery style recognizable by its depictions of marine life, emphasizing the Minoans' close relationship with the sea.

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11

Tomb of Rekmire Frescoes

Frescoes in the tomb of an Egyptian vizier providing insight into interactions between Egypt and the Aegean world during the New Kingdom.

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12

Minoan Frescoes, Tell el-Dab'a Palace

Frescoes in Egypt reflecting cultural exchanges between Egypt and the Minoans, showing Minoan artistic techniques.

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13

Shrine and Chryselephantine Cult Statue, Palaikastro

A shrine containing a gold and ivory cult statue, reflecting the Minoan's dedication to religious iconography.

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14

Gold Rings with Cultic Scenes

Minoan gold rings depicting religious or mythological scenes, demonstrating the importance of religion in Minoan society.

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15

Limestone Painted Sarcophagus, Ayia Triada

A sarcophagus featuring detailed frescoes and carvings depicting funerary rituals and religious themes.

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16

Aegean Sea

The body of water separating Greece from Turkey, playing a central role in the development of Aegean civilizations.

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17

Cyclades

A group of islands in the Aegean Sea, known for their early Bronze Age settlements and distinctive marble figurines.

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18

Crete

The largest Greek island, home to the Minoan civilization, famous for its palaces like Knossos and its advanced culture.

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19

Knossos

The largest Minoan palace complex, located on Crete, with significant architectural and artistic achievements.

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20

Thera

An island in the Aegean Sea, where a volcanic eruption around 1600 BCE had a profound impact on the Minoan civilization.

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21

Egypt

A major ancient civilization located along the Nile River, known for its monumental architecture, rich culture, and interaction with Aegean civilizations.

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22

Avaris (Tell el-Dab'a)

An ancient city in the Nile Delta, where Minoan influences have been found in art and material culture.

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23

Hellenes

Ancient Greeks, the people who gave rise to classical Greek culture and civilization.

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24

Linear A

The undeciphered Minoan script used for administrative and ceremonial purposes.

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25

Sir Arthur Evans

The British archaeologist who excavated the palace of Knossos and coined the term 'Minoan' for the ancient Cretan civilization.

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26

Minoan Palace

A complex structure used for administrative, religious, and ceremonial functions, such as the palaces at Knossos and Phaistos.

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27

State Formation

The process through which a centralized government or authority develops within a society, as seen in the rise of Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.

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28

King Minos and the Labyrinth

A legendary figure in Greek mythology, said to have built the labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur. The palace at Knossos is often associated with this myth.

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29

Faience

A type of glazed ceramic, often brightly colored, used extensively by the Minoans.

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30

Fresco

A wall-painting technique in which pigments are applied to wet plaster, commonly used in Minoan art.

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31

Lustral Basin

A ritual bathing structure found in Minoan palaces, indicating the importance of purification in religious practices.

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32

Thalassocracy

A maritime-based empire or sea power, like the Minoans, who controlled trade routes in the Mediterranean.

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33

Redistribution Center

A central location where goods, particularly agricultural produce, were collected and distributed, as seen in the palaces of Crete.

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34

The Theran Volcanic Eruption

A catastrophic volcanic eruption that occurred around 1600 BCE on the island of Thera (Santorini), which significantly impacted Minoan society.

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35

Post-Palatial Period

The period following the fall of the Minoan palaces, around 1450 BCE, marked by a decline in Minoan civilization.

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36

Sarcophagus

A stone coffin, often elaborately decorated, used in ancient burial practices.

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37

Tholos Tomb

A circular tomb with a corbelled roof, typically used by the Mycenaeans for royal burials.

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38

Shaft Graves, Grave Circles A and B, Mycenae

These graves, located at Mycenae, are among the most important archaeological finds of the early Mycenaean period.

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39

Cuirass Tomb, Dendra

A monumental Mycenaean tomb that contained armor in the shape of a human torso (cuirass), revealing advanced metalworking and warrior culture.

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40

Tomb of the Griffin Warrior, Pylos

The tomb of the Griffin Warrior is one of the most important Mycenaean burial sites, containing elaborate grave goods and artistic treasures.

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41

Linear B Documents

Linear B is the script used by the Mycenaeans, a deciphered form of writing that represents early Greek.

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42

Citadel and Tholoi Tombs, Mycenae

The citadel of Mycenae, with its massive walls and impressive architecture, served as a central hub for Mycenaean power.

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43

Tholoi Tombs

Large, beehive-shaped structures used for elite burials, often filled with lavish grave goods.

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44

Lion Gate

One of the most famous examples of Mycenaean architecture, showcasing their advanced stone-cutting techniques.

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45

Egyptian Faience Plaques

Plaques found in Mycenae indicating cultural and trade links between Egypt and Mycenae.

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46

Palace of Nestor

A large Mycenaean palace complex, rich with architectural and artistic remnants.

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47

Ulu Burun Shipwreck

A famous Bronze Age shipwreck discovered off the coast of Turkey, containing a vast array of artifacts from across the Mediterranean.

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48

The Amarna Letters

A collection of diplomatic correspondence between Egypt and other ancient kingdoms, including Mycenaean states.

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49

The Aegean List

A record of various Aegean states and their rulers, found in Amenhotep III's mortuary complex.

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50

Peloponnesos

The peninsula in southern Greece, home to the Mycenaean civilization.

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51

Aegean Sea

The body of water between Greece and Asia Minor, crucial for trade and cultural exchange during the Bronze Age.

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52

Pylos, Mycenae, Argolid

Important Mycenaean sites in Greece, known for their palaces and burial practices.

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53

Asia Minor, Troy, the Hittite Empire

Regions that interacted with the Mycenaeans, particularly in trade and warfare.

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54

Amarna

The capital city of Egypt during the reign of Akhenaten, known for its diplomatic correspondence with Aegean rulers.

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55

Heinrich Schliemann

Archaeologist credited with the discovery of the ancient city of Troy.

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56

Linear B

The script used by the Mycenaeans, an early form of Greek, which has been deciphered.

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57

Wanax

The term for the Mycenaean king, often associated with military and political power.

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58

Basileus

A term for a local leader or ruler in the Mycenaean world.

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59

Lawagetas

A high-ranking military leader or commander in Mycenaean society.

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60

Warrior Burial

A form of burial where individuals, often of high status, were buried with weapons and other grave goods.

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61

Postern Gate

A secondary or hidden entrance to a Mycenaean fortress or citadel.

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62

Cistern

An underground tank used to store water, often found in Mycenaean palace complexes.

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63

Tholos Tomb

A circular, domed burial structure used for elite Mycenaean burials.

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64

Ashlar Masonry

Large, carefully shaped stones used in the construction of Mycenaean buildings.

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65

Cyclopean Masonry

Massive stonework used in Mycenaean architecture, named for the legendary Cyclopes.

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66

The Hittites

A powerful empire in Anatolia that interacted with the Mycenaeans and Egyptians.

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67

Ahhiyawa

The term used in Hittite records to refer to a Mycenaean-like people.

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68

Luwian

An ancient Anatolian language, often used in the Hittite Empire.

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69

Cuneiform

A script developed by the Sumerians, used for writing in ancient Mesopotamia.

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70

Gift Exchange

A diplomatic practice where goods were exchanged between rulers, common in the ancient world.

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