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Why we study what we study

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Theseus and the Minotaur

The Book of Virtues

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

AegeanAegean Asia MinorAsia Minor Balkan PeninsulaBalkan Peninsula DoriansDorians IoniaIonia LabyrinthLabyrinth IliadIliad

TheseusTheseus MinotaurMinotaur CreteCrete HomerHomer KnossosKnossos MegaronMegaron

http://www.learner.org/resources/series58.html

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Greek and Latin and biblical literature used to be part of everyone’s education. …to be that these stories were in the minds of the people. When the story is in your mind, then you see its relevance to something happening in your own life. It gives you perspective on what’s happening to you. …we don’t have a comparable literature to take its place. These bits of information from ancient times, which have to do with the themes that have supported human life, built civilizations, and informed religions over the millennia …if you don’t know what the guide signs are along the way, you have to work it out yourself.”

Joseph Campbell The Power of Myth p.4

Sir Arthur Evans

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BeginningsBeginnings2800 B.C.—750 B.C.2800 B.C.—750 B.C.

Chapter 9Chapter 9 pages pages 150-161150-161

Section One: discusses the way Section One: discusses the way of life of the Minoansof life of the Minoans

I. The MinoansI. The Minoans

The Palace of KnossosSparta

Athens

Olympia

Mycenae

Troy

Iona

Aegean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Ionian Sea

The World the Ancient Greeks Knew

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Bronze Age GreeceBronze Age Greece

Early Minoan, c.3000-2000 B.C.

By 1400 B.C. disappeared between about 1200 and 1100

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Isle of Crete Isle of Crete 6:226:22

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Minoans continuedMinoans continued

A. Farmers who lived on a forested island, A. Farmers who lived on a forested island, metal workers who become tradersmetal workers who become traders

B. build fast powerful ships able to sink B. build fast powerful ships able to sink pirate ships with a ram on their prow. pirate ships with a ram on their prow. Minoans Minoans depended on the sea and their depended on the sea and their ships to defend themselvesships to defend themselves

C. By 2000 B.C. Crete becomes an C. By 2000 B.C. Crete becomes an important seafaring civilization known to important seafaring civilization known to others through their tradeothers through their trade

D. The PeopleD. The People

The Phaistos disk, with hieroglyphs on both sides, from the new palace period . These glyphs are related to Linear A, which (we think) used individual signs to refer to syllables (rather than distinct letters). Linear A itself has still not been deciphered.

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The People cont.The People cont. 1. farmed, fished, raises goats and long horned sheep1. farmed, fished, raises goats and long horned sheep 2. served in navy and the royal guard2. served in navy and the royal guard 3. People of Crete loved sports3. People of Crete loved sports

a.) boxing matchesa.) boxing matches b.) Bull leaping—form of bullfightingb.) Bull leaping—form of bullfighting

Terms to Learn: Terms to Learn: bull leapingbull leaping

E.E. Cities and PalacesCities and Palaces Terms to Learn:LabyrinthTerms to Learn:Labyrinth 1. Palace at Knossos covered 28 1. Palace at Knossos covered 28 artist rendition of palaceartist rendition of palace acres—Knossos acres—Knossos one of the one of the largest citlargest cities ies plumbing plumbing on Creteon Crete

a.) served as govt. building, temple, factory and warehousea.) served as govt. building, temple, factory and warehouse b.) decorated with brightly colored frescoesb.) decorated with brightly colored frescoes c.) c.) passageways formed a passageways formed a labyrinthlabyrinth floor planfloor plan—“means —“means double axdouble ax

”—House of the double ax”—House of the double ax d.) Theseus killer of the Minotaur--legendary Monster of Creted.) Theseus killer of the Minotaur--legendary Monster of Crete e.) Sea captains, merchants and shipbuilders lived in houses e.) Sea captains, merchants and shipbuilders lived in houses

around the palacearound the palace f.) Had no entrance from the streetf.) Had no entrance from the street g.) Windows made of parchmentg.) Windows made of parchment

A statue of a Minotaur, 5th century B.C. The Minotaur was a savage creature with the body of a bull, the upper torso of a man, and the head of a bull. The king of Crete sent this creature after the Greek hero Theseus while the latter was imprisoned in the royal labyrinth. With Princess Ariadne's help, Theseus slew the monster and escaped from the labyrinth.

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A room in the Knossos palace. The remains of three other major Minoan palace-cities, at Phaistos, Mallia, and Zakros, as well as a scattering of smaller complexes, still exist on Crete.

A covered passageway in the Knossos palace. The peaceful temperament and maritime character of Minoan civilization enabled the Cretan culture to expand throughout the Greek peninsula, but left Crete defenseless before the military expansion of a peninsular civilization; the Mycenaeans conquered much of Crete by the mid-15th century B.C.

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F. Rulers and ReligionF. Rulers and ReligionTerms to Learn: ShrinesTerms to Learn: Shrines

1. rulers were priest-kings1. rulers were priest-kings 2. mt. Juktas2. mt. Juktas 33. Many gods—most important was the . Many gods—most important was the

Great GoddessGreat Goddess who made plants grow and who made plants grow and brought childrenbrought children

4. Hill tops lead to heaven, caves led to the 4. Hill tops lead to heaven, caves led to the underworldunderworld tombs tombs (next slide)(next slide)

5. Shrines in houses, 5. Shrines in houses, hilltopshilltops, caves , caves mountains mountains (next slide)(next slide)

6. Ax—power of mother earth and authority 6. Ax—power of mother earth and authority of the kingof the king

Snake Goddess Shrine, as reconstructed

by Evans

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High Places and TombsHigh Places and Tombs

Anemospilia. View from N. Slope of Mt. Iuktas toward Knossos, Heraklion, and the Islet of Dia. From S.

Anemospilia. Central E-W Corridor with Doorways Opening to North (R) and South (L). From E.

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G. The G. The Fall of the MinoansFall of the Minoans click for story ofclick for story of Atlantis Atlantis TheraTheraPeople to Know: TheseusPeople to Know: Theseus

1. by 1400 B.C. control of 1. by 1400 B.C. control of CreteCrete passed to passed to MycenaeansMycenaeans . . making faces of the deadmaking faces of the dead

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SantoriniSantorini as Atlantis as Atlantis Plato's story of Plato's story of AtlantisAtlantis was intended to be a moral tale, illustrating was intended to be a moral tale, illustrating

principles of principles of ethicsethics and politics. He described a tyrannical and politics. He described a tyrannical civilization which lived on an island 'beyond the pillars of civilization which lived on an island 'beyond the pillars of Hercules'. The city in the middle of the island was surrounded by a Hercules'. The city in the middle of the island was surrounded by a series of ringed walls. The whole island of Atlantis collapsed into series of ringed walls. The whole island of Atlantis collapsed into the sea.the sea.

There are definite parallels with Santorini here. We don't know There are definite parallels with Santorini here. We don't know exactly what shape the island was before the eruption, but the exactly what shape the island was before the eruption, but the present ring shape was certainly there to some extent. If the present ring shape was certainly there to some extent. If the ancient Minoans built a city on the volcano in the middle, it would ancient Minoans built a city on the volcano in the middle, it would have been surrounded by at least one ring. Perhaps remains of have been surrounded by at least one ring. Perhaps remains of previous calderas made a few other rings. We have no way of previous calderas made a few other rings. We have no way of telling. While the island did not sink into the sea, the central part telling. While the island did not sink into the sea, the central part certainly did.certainly did.

But the phrase 'the Pillars of Hercules' normally means the Straits But the phrase 'the Pillars of Hercules' normally means the Straits of Gibraltar. In this view, Atlantis was situated in the Atlantic of Gibraltar. In this view, Atlantis was situated in the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is named after the story of Ocean. In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is named after the story of Atlantis. Proponents of the 'Santorini is Atlantis' theory say that Atlantis. Proponents of the 'Santorini is Atlantis' theory say that Plato set the tale in a far-off place to make it hypothetical, allowing Plato set the tale in a far-off place to make it hypothetical, allowing him free reign on the moral aspects. Other possible locations?him free reign on the moral aspects. Other possible locations?

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AtlantisAtlantis ? ?

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Section Two: explains the culture of theSection Two: explains the culture of the MycenaeansMycenaeans

II. The MycenaeansII. The Mycenaeans came from southern Russia around 2000 B.C. and came from southern Russia around 2000 B.C. and

moved south thru the Balkan peninsulamoved south thru the Balkan peninsula to to eventually settled in the lowlands of Greece build eventually settled in the lowlands of Greece build fortress-palaces on hilltops.fortress-palaces on hilltops.

Megaron—central room of a fortress palace. Megaron—central room of a fortress palace. Borrowed many ideas from Minoans but did not Borrowed many ideas from Minoans but did not copy their ways of building citiescopy their ways of building cities

Innovative Engineering In MycenaeanInnovative Engineering In Mycenaean http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=346667http://www.learn360.com/ShowVideo.aspx?ID=346667 video 6:50video 6:50

There are three different forms of cultural diffusion:Direct diffusion is when two cultures are very close to each other, resulting in intermarriage, trade, and even warfare. An ancient example would be MycenaeMycenae and Crete. A modern example of direct diffusion would be between the United States and Canada, where the people living on the border of these two countries engage in hockey, which started in Canada, and baseball, which is big in American culture

Forced diffusion occurs when one culture subjugates (conquers or enslaves) another culture and forces its own customs on the conquered people. An example would be the conquistadors that took over the indigenous population and made them practice Christianity.

Indirect diffusion happens when traits are passed from one culture through a middleman to another culture, without the first and final cultures ever being in direct contact. An example could be the presence of Mexican food in Canada, since they have a huge country in between them.

The Megaron complex at Mycenae, view

from the main hall (circular hearth visible in foreground) Queen's megaron at the palace of Knossos.

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II. ContinuedII. Continued land divided into estates that were farmed by land divided into estates that were farmed by

slaves or by tenantsslaves or by tenants horses, chariots, weapons and food in exchange horses, chariots, weapons and food in exchange

for protectionfor protection expert hunters who used greyhounds in huntingexpert hunters who used greyhounds in hunting Terms to Learn: TenantsTerms to Learn: Tenants

Traders and Pirates Traders and Pirates (see slide 14 on trade and economic terms)(see slide 14 on trade and economic terms)

visited by visited by MinoanMinoan ships ships traders and begin to traders and begin to imitate gold and imitate gold and bronze workbronze work learn how to build learn how to build ships and navigateships and navigate

begin to grow olives and olive oil becomes a staple begin to grow olives and olive oil becomes a staple used for used for fuel,fuel, oil lampsoil lamps cooking and trade cooking and trade

trade in oil made Mycenaeans rich with trading trade in oil made Mycenaeans rich with trading stations on many islandsstations on many islands

a warrior nation who become piratesa warrior nation who become pirates by 1400 B.C. replace Minoans as chief power of the by 1400 B.C. replace Minoans as chief power of the

Aegean worldAegean world..

The Amphora - The multi-purpose containers of the ancient world: see reading

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II. Cont. II. Cont. The The Trojan WarTrojan War People to People to Know: HomerKnow: Homer Mycenaeans attack Mycenaeans attack TroyTroy in Asia Minor (Asia Minor) in Asia Minor (Asia Minor)

Troy VI 200,000 sq. Meters- 7000 people good size for the time.Troy VI 200,000 sq. Meters- 7000 people good size for the time.

Homer Homer andand the Iliad the Iliad (Greek concept of arete-virtue (Greek concept of arete-virtue and excellence) and excellence)

People to Know: HelenPeople to Know: Helen Homer’s poem the Iliad tells the story of war Homer’s poem the Iliad tells the story of war

between Mycenaeans and Trojans.between Mycenaeans and Trojans. The The Odyssey Odyssey tells the story of one Greek hero’s, Oydsseus’tells the story of one Greek hero’s, Oydsseus’

(Odysseus, known by the Romans under his(Odysseus, known by the Romans under his Latin Latin name name UlyssesUlysses)) return to return to Ithaca.Ithaca.

Places to LocatePlaces to Locate: Ionia: Ionia A Dark AgeA Dark Age

Sophia Schliemann wearing treasures recovered at Hisarlik.

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Homer, Greek Stories &Homer, Greek Stories & Odysseus’ journey home Odysseus’ journey home

  Odysseus and his men blinding the cyclops Polyphemus (detail of a proto-attic amphora, c. 650 BC, museum of Eleusis)

Hubris (/hjuːbrɪs/) a Greek term used in indicate overweening pride, haughtiness, or arrogance, often resulting in fatal retribution .

Odysseus and PolyphemusPolyphemus: the gigantic one-eyed son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology one of the Cyclopes

( arete-virtue and excellence )( arete-virtue and excellence )

In Greek mythology, Queen Arete (Greek: , Arêtê) of Scheria was the wife of Alcinous and mother of Nausicaa and Laodamas. She welcomed Odysseus and treated him hospitably.

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II. Cont. II. Cont. Terms to Learn: civil warTerms to Learn: civil war

Civil war tears the Civil war tears the MycenaeansMycenaeans art imagesart images apart apart 100 years after the 100 years after the Trojan WarTrojan War story story there were there were

no Mycenaean fortress-palaces leftno Mycenaean fortress-palaces left Invasion of the “Sea People”(?) around 1200 Invasion of the “Sea People”(?) around 1200

B.C. cause general disruption through out B.C. cause general disruption through out the Mediterranean World.the Mediterranean World.

Dorians conquer Greece using superior iron Dorians conquer Greece using superior iron swords bringing about a “Dark Age”swords bringing about a “Dark Age”

Thousands of Mycenaeans flee and settle on Thousands of Mycenaeans flee and settle on Aegean islands on the Aegean islands on the western shore of Asia Minorwestern shore of Asia Minor

The inscriptions (from left to right): (Hittites:) The wretched chief of Kheta as living captive.(Amorites:) The wretched chief of Amor.(Tjekker:) Chieftain (lit. the Great One) of the foe of Thekel (TAkwrA).

(Sherden:) Sherden (SArAdAnA) of the sea.(Bedouins:) Chieftain of the foe of Sha[su] (Teresh:) Teresh (tjwrASA) of the sea.(Philistines:) Chieftain of the Pe[leset]

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II. ContinuedII. Continued 4. Thousands of Mycenaeans flee and settle on 4. Thousands of Mycenaeans flee and settle on Aegean islands on the Aegean islands on the western shore of Asia Minorwestern shore of Asia Minor

5. Aegean world enters a “Dark Age” until about 5. Aegean world enters a “Dark Age” until about 800 B.C.800 B.C.

A. overseas trade stops, thousands flee to A. overseas trade stops, thousands flee to Aegean islands and the shore of Asia Minor. Aegean islands and the shore of Asia Minor. These settlements become known as These settlements become known as Ionia.Ionia.

B. people of the Aegean forgot how to write and B. people of the Aegean forgot how to write and keep recordskeep records

• No written records from 1150-750 B.C. Little is known No written records from 1150-750 B.C. Little is known from this period.from this period.

C. Aegean world cut off from the Middle EastC. Aegean world cut off from the Middle East and the people create a new civilization of their and the people create a new civilization of their ownown

D. Local leaders make themselves kingsD. Local leaders make themselves kings E. People of the region begin calling E. People of the region begin calling

themselves themselves HellenesHellenes. . Hellenic world Hellenic world around the 700s B.C. around the 700s B.C.

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Critical Thinking: You will pick one of the following essay Critical Thinking: You will pick one of the following essay questions to prepare. questions to prepare. BE sure to answer each partBE sure to answer each part of the of the question!question!

Why did a “Dark Age” fall over the Aegean Why did a “Dark Age” fall over the Aegean world around 1200 B.C.? What effect did this world around 1200 B.C.? What effect did this “Dark Age” have on the region and the “Dark Age” have on the region and the developing Greek culture on the mainland?developing Greek culture on the mainland?

Homer’s long story-poems, the Illiad and the Homer’s long story-poems, the Illiad and the Odyssey are still read. Pick one of these Odyssey are still read. Pick one of these epic poems and briefly relate its story.epic poems and briefly relate its story.

Where did the Minoan civilization have its Where did the Minoan civilization have its center? What aspects of Minoan civilization center? What aspects of Minoan civilization influenced the Mycenaeans? What caused influenced the Mycenaeans? What caused the sudden collapse of Minoan civilization the sudden collapse of Minoan civilization around 1400 B.C.?around 1400 B.C.?

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Graphic Organizer of Ideas Concerning Graphic Organizer of Ideas Concerning Bronze Age Greece: The Minoans and Bronze Age Greece: The Minoans and MycenaeansMycenaeans