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

Linear A

The Abduction of EuropaThe Abduction of Europa

Zeus

Rembrandt’s Painting of the Rembrandt’s Painting of the Abduction (1632)Abduction (1632)

The Legacy of Europa Today

King MinosKing Minos

Coast of Crete

CRETEKnossos

Troy

Miletus

Sparta

Mycenae

Corinth Athens

Thebes

ASIA MINOR

(TURKEY)

MACEDONIA

PELOPONNESUS

THERMOPYLAE *

* MARATHON

^ Mt. Olympus

IONIAN

SEA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

AEGEAN

SEA

RHODES

LESBOS

ATTICAPlataea *

Minoan ShipsMinoan Ships

Mast Prow

““Bireme” shipBireme” ship

Deck over Deck over rowersrowers

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 KnossosStorage containers at Knossos

Minoan People & Religion

Minoan PriestMinoan Priest

Minoan Minoan Snake Snake

GoddessGoddess

Religious processionReligious procession

Women were important to Minoan religion.

BULL-LEAPING

Bull Cult

PolytheisticPolytheistic• 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 1Theory 1– Invaded by Mycenaeans in 1400 BC

• Destroyed Crete to eliminate Minoans as trade rivals

• Theory 2Theory 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

MycenaeMycenae

Near the sea

Access to fresh water

Walled city

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

Warriors

Homer’s Great Epics

Homer, the Blind Poet

The Trojan WarThe Trojan War

Brutal Combat

Wall of Troy Recreated

Plan of the City of Troy

The “Trojan Horse”?

AchillesHector

Troy

DORIC COLUMNS

IONIC COLUMNS

CORINTHIAN COLUMNS