The Mysterious Minoans Warm Up Analyze the picture

The Mysterious Minoans

Warm Up • Analyze the picture below. Answer the following questions… What is the mood of the picture? How do we know this? Where is this picture taking place? How do we know? What might have just happened?

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

Linear A

King Minos Coast of Crete Bull Leaping

Origins • King Zeus • Princess Europe • Minos

Minoan Economy • Given that Crete was an island the Minoans began to build ships/boats to be able to trade for what they needed. • The Minoans became the world’s first important seafaring port and changed the ship building industry. • The Minoans built ships with deck over the heads of rowers.

Minoan Economy Pt 2 • They also were the first to add a prow, a wooden beam in the front of a ship used to ram holes into enemy ships. • Because of their location in the Mediterranean Sea, the Minoans traded with the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, and the people of Greece. Most people wanted the olive oil the Minoans made!

Mast Prow

• Knossos Minoan Cities

Oil Containers found thousands of years later

Minoan Water System AKA Plumbing

Minoan Fresco!

This double axe is called a Labrys, which can be found in a labyrinth, or house of double axes

City Facts • No walls for protection • Generally 4 acres in land • Knossos was the biggest of the cities on Crete • Seemed like a labyrinth, or a maze • Decorated in Frescoes

The Mysterious Minoans

Minoan People and Religion • Ruled by Kings, under control of Priests • They made the laws • It is believed that women had major role in Minoan society • Polytheistic = they had many gods • Snake Goddess was responsible for food

Religious procession Women were important to Minoan religion.

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.

Theseus & The Minotaur Theseus battling the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of Knossos Princess Ariadne Daughter of King Minos Fell in love with Theseus and helped him exit the Labyrinth