The Minoan World 2800 B C E 1400

The Minoan World: 2800 B. C. E. -1400 B. C. E.

Linear A

The Abduction of Europa Zeus

Rembrandt’s Painting of the Abduction (1632)

The Legacy of Europa Today

King Minos Coast of Crete

MACEDONIA ^ Mt. Olympus THERMOPYLAE AEGEAN SEA * Troy LESBOS ASIA MINOR (TURKEY) Thebes ATTICA* MARATHON Plataea Corinth IONIAN SEA * Athens Mycenae Miletus PELOPONNESUS Sparta RHODES MEDITERRANEAN SEA Knossos CRETE

Deck over rowers “Bireme” ship

Minoan Ships Mast Prow

Now that’s a lot of oil!

Palace of King Minos at Knossos on Crete

Double Axes Found on Crete

Labrys = Greek for “double axe” Labyrinth = Greek for “the House of the Double Axe”

The Throne of King Minos

The Queen’s rooms, with blue dolphins

Minoan Artistic “Motifs”

Water System at Knossos

Storage containers at Knossos

Minoan People & Religion Minoan Priest Minoan Snake Goddess

Religious procession Women were important to Minoan religion.

BULL-LEAPING

Bull Cult

Polytheistic Poly= many • • Theistic= gods Like the Egyptians the Minoans had many gods. So would the Greeks, but the Greek gods won’t have animal qualities.

Snake “goddess” -goddess? -priestess? -worshipper?

Theseus and the Minotaur

The Mycenaean World: 1600 -1100 B. C. E.

Metalworking Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

Palaces Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

Pottery Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

Religious Practices Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

Water Systems Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

WRITING Minoans vs. Mycenaeans

END OF MINOAN CIVILIZATION • Civilization came to an end around 1400 BC – All palaces destroyed and never rebuilt • Theory 1 – Invaded by Mycenaeans in 1400 BC • Destroyed Crete to eliminate Minoans as trade rivals • Theory 2 – Massive volcanic eruption on island of Thera showered Crete with debris, ash, and poison gas • Destroyed fleets with tidal waves • Mycenaeans arrived after catastrophe and destroyed what was left

Mycenae Near the sea Walled city Access to fresh water

Mycenae The Lions Gate: entrance to the city

Lions Gate

MYCENEAN AGE • 1600 -1150 BC • Had some contact with Minoan civilization by at least 1600 BC • Typical of the very warlike, semi-barbarian cultures that extended over most of Europe – Only difference was that contact with Minoans gradually caused the Mycenaeans to lose some of their barbarism and allowed them to develop a more sophisticated culture