Chapter 2: The Minoans, The Mycenaeans, and the Greeks of the Arcahic Age

The tradition of Greece is often the first in which Westerners feel they can recognize themselves. Greeks were the first to place human beings at the center of the universe. However, preceding the Greeks in the Aegean Basin were the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations.

Prelude: Minoan Civilization 3000 1100 BC

This civilization was developing on the island of Crete while Egypt and Mesopotamia were flourishing
This civilization was named after legendary King Minos, whose father was said to be Zeus

Aegean Basin

Eastern Mediterranean

 As with Egyptians, the Minoans were organized into a complex caste system: Nobles, Merchants, Artisans, Bureaucrats, and Laborers Life for Minoans was unusually peacefulvery few weapons found at archeological sites

Palace at Knossos

Sophisticated Palace Architecture

A complete plumbing and drainage system Multi-level structure with complex layout of rooms and passageways Below ground storage of grains, oils, and wines Beautiful friezes and frescoes No walls protecting Minos palace

Langauge
Pictorial forms gave way to: 1. Linear A script from 1800 BC to about 1400 BC. Undecipherable even to this day. 2. Linear B from 1400 to decline in 1100. Was an early form of Greek and not used for political, social, and philosophical aspects of life; only commercial transactions

Religion
Most Minoan life revealed through its religious practices and art. 1. Matriarchal society 2. Center of worship was a mother goddess 3. Earth goddesses portrayed in various forms.

Mother Goddesses

Art
Bull a significant element of Minoan life; bull leaping, maybe a sport or ritual. Males painted in red, sometimes in female clothing

Females in white

Art Examples

Photos by Edith Fuchslocher

Agamemnon Mask and PHI

Minoan Bull and god?

Dancing Antelope & Gold Ceremonial Cup

Poseidon

Bull Leaping

Decline of Civilization
Minoan trade dominated eastern Mediterranean until about 1380 BC Something happened, maybe a volcanic eruption or other natural disaster Culture was further weakened by Mycenaean attacks and influences between 1400 and 1100 BC

Cultural Beliefs & Influences

Crete is traditionally the place where Zeus was born Minoans worshipped Zeus, and in their culture, he eventually died Later, Greeks were incensed that Minoans believed that Zeus died. Though Greece eventually dominated the area, Minoan beliefs largely influenced Greek thinking, language, social organization and economic pursuits

Beginnings: Mycenaean Civilization 19001100 BC

Mycenae

Mycenaeans
The civilization named by archeologists after the fortress city, Mycenae, in the lower rugged region of the Greek peninsula, Peloponnesus Mycenaeans were war-like and may have come from Russia or parts of Mesopotamia. Arrived about 1900 BC and by 1500 ruled entire peninsula

Mycenae Data
Ruins of Mycenaean palaces reveals them to be mole like structures with massive double walls and narrow escape passages Most well know Mycenaean monument is the massive Lion Gate constructed from four massive hewn stones (ashlars) Bronze lions heads now gone, maybe stolen. Design likely to remind citizens who ruled and to intimidate visitors.

Lions Gate

Mycenaean religion
Seems to have been a mixture of Minoan influences and local deities. There were two types of deities 1. Some were predecessors of Olympian gods and goddesses worshipped by later Greeks and bore the same names 2. Others were nature divinities and spirits.

Religious Images

Mycenaean Data
It was Mycenaeans who tried to topple Troy. The long siege weakened the civilization and inspired Homers later Iliad and Odyssey It was the Mycenaeans who gave the Greeks many of their ideals and inspired the age of heroes established by Homer

Dark Ages: 1100800 BC

After collapse of Mycenaean civilization, a 300 year period called Dark Ages
Life becomes more agrarian Transitional timechanges happening behind the scenes Power shifting from kings to families Bronze gives way to iron Mycenaeans flee to Asia Minor. Early Greeks establish life around Aegean and Mediterranean Seas

The Archaic Greek Age: 800479 BC

After the Dark Ages, the Greeks emerged with a common language, heroic stories, myths, religious practices and trading interests. They claimed a common mythical parent, Hellen, who fathered three sons, the ancestors of the three major Greek tribes: Ionians, Aeolians, and Dorians.

 The development of Greek culture lasted three centuries, and by the end of it they had laid the foundation of a new worldours!!!

Important Words
Archaic: Greek for ancient or beginning Polis: where people began to migrate from the farms. Small, well-defined city state. Acropolis: fortified hilltop from which rulers governed Agora: open area where some temples were built, and where people gathered for business and to socialize. It was the center of the polis

Sparta & Athens: Contrasting Ways Of Life

Sparta:
The principle symbol of the Dorian civilization Developed an ever vigilant hierarchical society with rigid policies and well trained men, women, and children Harsh laws were passed to ensure stability Sparta contributed little to the artistic enrichment of Greece.

 Athens:
In contrast it reached far greater achievements in art, intellect, and literature. Athens was a much more open society Through aristocrat, Solon, lower class men were given the right to participate in government, and by 508 BC nearly full democracy established

Interesting Differences
Sparta needed healthy male warriors, so childbearing women were given more freedoms Spartan woman Athenian women Choral singing No Dancing No Nude athletics w/men No Athenian women pursued respectability as an ideal.

Emergence of Greek Genius

Archaic Greeks developed literary, philosophical, and artistic forms to probe the meaning of the universe as well as celebrate their joyous sense of life

The Muses of Artistic Inspiration

Calliope Clio Erato Euterpe Melpomene Polyhymnia Terpsichore Thalia Urania Epic Poetry History Erotic poetry and mine Lyric poetry and music Tragedy Sacred hymn Dance and song Comedy Astronomy

Religion
Deities derived from early settlers evolved into two major categories: 1. Olympian deities dwelled in the sky or on mountainsassociated with Homeric heroes 2. chthonian deities lived under ground and were associated with the seasons and cycles of nature and fertility.

 Greek endowed their gods and goddesses with physical bodies and personalities. They were a blend of charm, cruelty, childishness, love, justice, and caprice They fought with one another, played with their worshippers and had favorites

Olympian Deities
Zeus: chief deity and Olympus order keeper Hera: Mother goddessprotector of women Poseidon: Ruler of waters Hades: Keeper of the underworld Hesta: Keeper of the hearth Apollo: God of wisdom and moderation Artemis: Virgin goddess who aided women Ares: Amoral god of violence and war Aphrodite: Goddess of passion, love, and beauty Hephaestus: Patron of crafts people Athena: Goddess of wisdom and warfare Hermes: God of merchants; messenger for the deities

 Chthonian, underground, gods and goddesses were probably derived from ancient earth and harvest deities.
Two cults around most important crops grain and grapes.

 1. Persephone, niece of Zeus, tricked by Hades to return underground part of every yearhencewinter, ground is barren.spring, ground rich in crops. 2. Dionysus, noted for dancing and wine became associated with the irrational, emotional, uncontrollable aspects of human life. Contrast is Apollorepresenting rational, conscious, and controlled human aspects.

Epic Poetry
Homer
Originator of the epic poem Appeal lies in his well crafted plots filled with dramatic episodes and finely drawn characters Iliad describes the battle of Ilium, another name for Troy Odyssey recounts the Greeks defeat of the Trojans and Odysseus ten year journey to return home

Natural Philosophy
Simply thinkers who questioned the power and existence of gods Natural philosophers conceived a world where natural causes and effects operated The Romans later called this natural philosophy. That encompassed what we would call science and philosophy

Philosophers
Three Primary Philosophers of the Archaic Age were: 1. Thales: 585 BC. Believed everything was made from matter 2. Pythagoras: 580-507 BC. Believed everything was made of numbers 3. Heraclitus: 545-485 BC Most modern by our standardstruth ion constant changestruggle necessary for progres

Architecture
The supreme architectural achievement of the Greeks was the temple Parts included: Architravehorizontal members resting on columns

 Pedimentthe triangular area resting on the columns

 Entablatureall of the building between the columns and pediment

 CorniceHorizontal piece that crowns the entablature

Sculpture
The primary forms were called: kouros, freestanding statues of male youth

 kore, freestanding statues of young maidens