Aegean 1: Minoan and Mycenean
Agamemnon's Mask
AEGEAN:Minoan and Mycenean
Asia Minor, Crete, and Greece. The islands and coastal regions. Maritime society and exchange of artististic ideas with Egypt and the Near East.
A. Crete: The Minoan Period (2000-ca.1400BC)
The first major civilization of the Aegean, destroyed ca. 1400BC (volcanic eruption? of Thera). Palaces: Myth of King Minos and the Minotaur. Daedalus: first mythic architect. Etymology of Labyrinth. Occupied by Myceneans after 1500 B.C. then invaded by Dorians
Landscape elements (according to Vincent Scully):
Enclosed valley: natural "megaron."
Gentle mound or conical hill on axis with palace.
Siting of building along N/S axis.
Higher double peak and/or cleft mountain on same axis (horns, breasts, raised arms of godesses depicted in clay figurines).
Elements of palaces (according to Vincent Scully):
Labyrinthine passages.
Open court.
Columned pavillions.
Pillared cave.
Theater stairs.
Palaces:
Knosos (explored by Sir Arthur Evans 1900-41)
See:
Phaistos
Mallia
Agia Triada
Consult METIS,a QTVR interphase to view Greek ancient architectural sites.
B. Mycenae (Helladic Period) (1600-1200BC)
Rise of powerful local dynasties. Precursor of Greek civilization product of Aryan invasions. Similar to Minoan in many aspects. Single family houses (megaron plan). Citadels built with Cyclopean masonry. Tholos (round, also beehive) tombs.
Mycenae (citadel ca. 14th c. B.C.): discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870s. Dates from 14th c. B.C.
Lions' Gate
Circular Shaft Graves
Tholos (Treasury of Atreus): dromos, beehive chamber, corbelled vault.
Cyclopean walls.
Megaron.
Tiryns, (ca. 13th C B.C.)
Cyclopean walls.
Megaron.
Indirect entry and axial layout of palace itself.
Check:
Last reviewed: August 2004