Intro Classical arch

Knossos

• Center-ish on Crete.

• Palace of Minos/Knossos

• Late Bronze Age

• Largest Minoan palace, Excavated by Sir Arthur Evans.

• Long, labyrinth hallways, Evans thought it was related to Minotaur.

• Reconstructions based on frescos, clay models.

Akrotiri (Thera)

• On Santorini

• Late Bronze Age

• Buildings with material culture

• Well preserved from Thera eruption of 1650-1530 BCE which led to Minoan Civilization collapse.

• Atlantis connection when central part of island collapsed underwater after earthquake.

• Many frescos found, similar to Knossos.

• Minoan

Phaistos

Palace of Phaistos, in Crete. 2nd largest palace.

• Repetitive architectural pattern- elongated rectangular courtyard like Palace of Knossos.

• Pithoi found within them.

• Incomplete since it was on a cliff, damaged by fire/earthquakes

• Middle Bronze Age

• Phaistos disk found here.

• Minoan

Mycenae

• Excavated by Schleimann

• Located on Peloponnese

• Major Late Bronze Age civilization

• Supposed home of Agamemnon

• Circle Grave A, Megaron, Lion’s gate located here

• It is a large fortified hilltop

Tiryns

• Late Bronze Age

• Peloponnese

• Mycenean

• Heavily fortified citadel

• Expands after Pylos and Thebes are destroyed.

• Known for Cyclopean masonry

Pylos

• Late Bronze Age

• Peloponnese

• Nestor’s Palace: Megaron, No fortification wall, many Linear B tablets

• Mycenaean

Grave Circle A

• 1500 BCE

• Mycenae

• 6 shaft graves: rich, 20 bodies identified. Bodies of members of elite. Gold/precious artifacts. Tells us about social status, hierarchy.

• Mask of Agamemnon found here

Lion’s Gate

• Late Bronze Age

• In Mycenae (Northeastern Peloponnese)

• Excavated by Schleimann

• Cyclopean masonry

• Top formed by corbelling

Treasury of Atreus (Tomb of Agememnon)

• Outside Mycenae

• Late Bronze Age

• Cyclopean masonry

• Long entrance called dromos / beehive tomb

• Corbel vaulting technique

Corbelling

• Stones stacked to create false arch/vault

• Stacking, overlapping materials (stone/brick) inward to support weight

• Acts as a support for beams, arches, shelves, overhangs

• made from stone, wood, or metal

Cyclopean Masonry

• “Stones so big only cyclops could have moved them”

• Characteristic of monumental mycenean architecture

• Lion’s Gate/Tomb of Agamemnon/Tiryns built this way

Megaron

• “Big room” in greek

• Central of political, administrative part, connected to king (reception room?)

• Mycenae has one

• All look very similar architecturally

Phaistos Disk

• Found in Crete, Palace of Phaistos

• Clues to how Minoans write/speak, syllables/sounds

• Early/Middle Bronze Age Greece

• Hieroglyphics, no one knows what they mean. Spiral design, both sides. 

Marine Style Pilgrim Flask

• Minoan

• 1500-1450 BCE

• Palikastro, Crete

• Sea creatures, octopi, fish

Bull leaping Fresco

• From Palace of Knossos

• Late Bronze Age

• Bulls in Minoan world: Important in their society. Many bull related activities on frescos and other architecture.

• Unknown if bulls are related to religion/sport

Snake Goddess Figurine

• A Potnia Theron (Mistress of animals) Represents Minoan Divinity

• Made of tin. Dress, boobs, snakes, cool hat consistent.

• Bronze Age

• Seen in Palace of Knossos in Crete

Mask of Agamenmon

• Found by Schleimann in Grave Circle A, Mycenae

• Late Bronze Age

• Gold funerary mask, within shaft graves

• Pushed against dead persons face, hammered for details

Linear A

• Middle Bronze age

• Used by Minoans

• Undeciphered, thought to be used for counting/recording

• Influences later writing system

Linear B

• Late Bronze Age

• Has been deciphered

• Early form of Greek writing, records deities names/documents trade

• Mainland Mycenean region