1. 1. Cycladic Minoan Mycenean
2. 2. Height of the Bronze Age, 3 successive Civilizations arose, named after their islands they lived on, they were: Cycladic Minoans Mycenaean Their discovery is attributed on the following archeologist: Heinrich Schliemann (Germany) dug through the ancient ruins of Troy and Mycenae discovering its rich culture Sir Arthur Evans (England) excavated Minoan palaces in Crete in the 1900s. Note: contemporary archeologist claim these men created more harm in their discovery and conjectural restorations.
3. 3. CIVILIZATION TIME PERIOD LOCATION Cycladic 3000 1600 BCE Cycladic Islands in Aegean Sea Minoan 1900 1375 BCE Crete Mycenaean 1400 1100 BCE Greece
4. 4. Used buon fresco (true fresco) as opposed to the fresco secco (dry fresco) of the Egyptians. Buon fresco required quick brushwork and spontaneous executions achieving more fluidity in their work. > Fresco is a painting technique that involves applying water-based paint onto freshly plastered wall. The paint forms a bond with the plaster that is durable and long lasting.
5. 5. Minoans and Mycenaeans adept in carving in repouss French word meaning to push back ; a type of metal relief sculpture in which the back side of the place is hammered to form a raised relief in front. In Aegean Art, repouss technique was used in fitting sheet of thin metal, gold and bronze onto a mold; the mold is then incised with small hammers from the backside of the plate and a design is beaten inside of the object, leaving a raised surface on the exterior.
6. 6. Used Cyclopean Masonry a type of construction that uses rough, massive blocks of stone piled on atop the other without mortar. Named after the mythical humanoid Cyclops. Mycenaeans in creating Corbelled Arch a vault formed by layers of stone that gradually grow closer together as they rise until they eventually meet; the arch formed is an inverted V- shaped roof.
7. 7. The Cyclades are a chain of Greek Islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea. They encircle the island of Delos. Cycladic marble figurines of abstract male and female forms have been found at burial sites.These figurines are small, abstract, and rely on geometric shapes and flat plans for their design and would have been painted. . . Map of the Cyclades Islands Aegean Civilizations > The Aegean Bronze Age
8. 8. Cycladic Female Figure A Cycladic female figure.Marble.Cyclades, Greece.Ca.2500 BCE Aegean Civilizations The female figurines depict a woman with her legs together and arms folded over her abdomen. Breasts and the pubic region are emphasized
9. 9. Cycladic Male Figure A Cycladic male figure with the harp.Marble.Santorini, Greece.ca.2500 BCE. Aegean Civilizations The male figures are often depicted sitting in a chair and playing either a harp or a lyre
10. 10. The Propalatial Period The Neopalatial Period Architecture Painting Sculpture
11. 11. What contribution has the Minoan has done in Art? What iconic figure is associated with this culture? How did the art culture reacted to the catastrophe that befallen them?
12. 12. The Minoan civilization was named after the mythical King Minos, because the first excavator, Sir Arthur Evans, mistook the many rooms and corridors of the administrative "palace" of Knossos to be the labyrinth in which Minos kept the Minotaur. The Protopalatial Period, 1900-1700 BCE, saw the establishment of administrative centers on the island of Crete.It was during this time that the identifying features of Minoan civilization, extensive sea trade and the building of communal civic centers, are first seen on the island. The Protopalatial Period ended in 1700 BCE when the palaces of the island were destroyed and life on the island was significantly disrupted.The unknown cataclysmic event is believed to be either an earthquake or an invasion. Aegean Civilizations > The Minoans
13. 13. During the height of Minoan civilization, the Minoans were the greatest sea traders on the Mediterranean and facilitated cultural exchanges between Egypt, Greece, Anatolian, and Near Eastern cultures. Very little is known about Minoan culture and society, although evidence from their material culture suggests a close affinity with nature, marine-life, and especially the bull. Minoan civilization began to fall around 1450, perhaps following an earthquake or volcanic eruption.The island of Crete was occupied by the Mycenaeans before the eventual collapse of Minoan civilization. Flying Fish Aegean Civilizations > The Minoans
14. 14. The palaces excavated on Crete functioned more as administrative centers with rooms for civic functions, storage, workshops, shrines around a central, ceremonial courtyard. The palaces had no fortification wall, suggesting a lack of enemies and conflict, although the natural surroundings provided a high level of protection, and the multitude of rooms created a continuous, protective faade. Minoan columns are uniquely shaped, constructed from wood, and were painted.They are tapered at the bottom, larger at the top and fitted with a bulbous, pillow-like capital. Plan of the Palace at Knossos c1700 1400 BCE, Crete Aegean Civilizations > The Minoans
15. 15. The bull-leaping fresco found in the palace of Knossos is one of the seminal Minoan paintings.It depicts the Minoan culture's fascination with the bull and the unique event of bull leaping all painted in the distinctive Minoan style. The Minoan city of Akrotiri on the island of Thera was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, which preserved the wall paintings in the town's homes. Kamares-ware is pottery made from a fine clay.These vessels are painted with marine scenes and abstract flowers, shapes, and geometric lines. Marine-style vase painting depicts marine life and scenes with organic shapes that fill the entire surface of the pot, using a technique known as horror vacui.Unlike Kamares-ware, Marine-style scenes are painted in dark colors on a light surface. Toreador (Bull Leaping) Fresco C1400 BCE Aegean Civilizations > The Minoans
16. 16. Spring Fresco c 1650 BCE One of the earliest landscapes in existence Joyful patterns of undulating lines and fanciful plant forms dominate the composition Cheerful application of color in biomorphic bands Geometrically simplified swallows fly through the air
17. 17. Snake Goddess C1660 BCE, gold and ivory Image of a goddess? Or priestess? Minoan thin waists, exposed breast Flounced skit in layers, apron layered over top Wide-eyed expression Cat image on head dress Holds snake in each hand
18. 18. Architecture Metallurgy Ceramics
19. 19. Mycenaean architecture reflects their warring society.A wide, strong wall built from large roughly cut stones (known as cyclopean masonry) was one method of protection, as was limited access to citadel sites and well protected gates. Since a lintel over a doorway could not support the wall above it without collapsing, the Mycenaeans used corbelled vaults and a relieving triangle over lintels to redistribute the weight off the horizontal beam and into the supporting walls. The central feature of a Mycenaean citadel site was the megaron, a room that functioned as the king's audience chamber.The megaron is entered through a porch with two columns and the main room included four columns around a central hearth. The city of Mycenae was the center of Mycenaean culture.It is especially known for its protective gateway, the Lion Gate, and the Treasury of Atreus, an example of a tholos tomb. The city of Tiryns is known for its thick fortification walls and single access gateways which could be closed at will to entrap enemies.Its megaron is entered from a colonnaded courtyard. Lion Gate.Limestone. c.1300-1250 BCE. Mycenae, Greece. Aegean Civilizations > The Mycenaeans
20. 20. Grave Circle A and B, at Mycenae, are a series of shaft graves enclosed by wall from the 16th century BCE.These grave sites were originally excavated by Heinrich Schleimann in 1876, and the grave goods found there demonstrate the incredible skill Mycenaeans possessed in metalwork. Gold death masks were commonly found placed over the face of the wealthy deceased.These death masks record the main features of the dead and are made with repouss, a metalworking technique.When compared to other masks, the Death Mask of Agamemnon is most likely a fake. Mycenaean Death Mask Aegean Civilizations > The Mycenaeans Mycenaean Hunting Dagger
21. 21. Mycenaean Hunting Dagger Mycenaean hunting dagger with scene of a lion hunt.Bronze with gold, silver, and niello inlay.Ca.16th century BCE.Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece. Aegean Civilizations Bronze daggers inlaid with gold, silver, and neillo are also a common grave good found at Mycenaean burial sites.These daggers represent international trade and cultural connections between the Mycenaeans and the Minoans, Egyptians, and Near Eastern cultures. Other objects of gold, silver, and bronze have been excavated from Mycenaean grave sites and cities, including armor, jewelry, signet rings, and seals.
22. 22. Nestor's Cup Nestor's Cup.Gold.Ca. 1600-1500 BCE.Grave Circle A, Grave Shaft IV, Mycenae, Greece. Aegean Civilizations Drinking cups, or rhytons, were also crafted out of gold and silver. Some, such as the Silver Siege Rhyton, were used for ritual libations.
23. 23. Mycenaean pottery can be identified by the types of clay and painting the artists used to create and decorate their vessels.Different pottery centers preferred different clay, slips, and motifs.Popular themes include nature, marine life, narratives, and abstract design. The Warriors Vase depicts a static scene of a woman bidding farewell to armed warriors.The vase, from Mycenae, is decorated with minimal color and a uniform design.This vase represents the culture's dependence on warfare. Mycenaean rhytons crafted from terracotta were usually conically shaped with added details and paint to represent different animals, such as a boar or a bull. Small scale Mycenaean figurines made from terracotta are abstract simple figures, often of women, that are simply painted and detailed.The figures have bodies that are either rounded or stand with outstretched arms, their legs represented by cylindrical bases. Warrior Vase Aegean Civilizations > The Mycenaeans
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