Aegean ArtAegean ArtArt that was created in the Art that was created in the Grecian lands surrounding, Grecian lands surrounding, and the islands within, the and the islands within, the

Aegean Sea.Aegean Sea.

Major Aegean CulturesMajor Aegean Cultures

CycladicCycladic

MinoansMinoans

MycenaeansMycenaeans

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

3300-2000 BCE3300-2000 BCE

The best-known art of this The best-known art of this period are the marble figuresperiod are the marble figures

Cycladic Art, Figure from Cycladic Art, Figure from AmorgosAmorgos

Marble figures were often buried with the dead.Marble figures were often buried with the dead.Narrowly defined type with surprising individuality.Narrowly defined type with surprising individuality.

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

Marble harpist on KerosMarble harpist on Keros

Cycladic ArtCycladic Art

Minoan ArtMinoan Art

2600 BCE – 1400 BCE2600 BCE – 1400 BCE

Bronze AgeBronze Age

Early Minoan PotteryEarly Minoan Pottery

Early Minoan period ceramics Early Minoan period ceramics were characterized by linear were characterized by linear patterns of spirals, triangles, patterns of spirals, triangles,

curved lines, crosses, curved lines, crosses, fishbone motifs, etc. fishbone motifs, etc.

Middle Minoan PotteryMiddle Minoan Pottery

naturalistic designs such as naturalistic designs such as fish, squid, birds, and lilies fish, squid, birds, and lilies

were commonwere common

Late Minoan PotteryLate Minoan Pottery

flowers and animals were still flowers and animals were still the most characteristic, but the most characteristic, but the variability had increasedthe variability had increased

Royal Pendant at Mallia, CreteRoyal Pendant at Mallia, CreteMinoanMinoan

Knossos PalaceKnossos PalaceKnossos PalaceKnossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age , is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, probably the archaeological site on Crete, probably the

ceremonial and political center of the Minoan ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture.civilization and culture.

Palace of Knossos on CretePalace of Knossos on CreteMinoanMinoan

Knossos Knossos

The Palace appears as a maze of The Palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central store rooms close to a central

square.square.

Detailed images of life in the late Bronze Detailed images of life in the late Bronze Age are provided by images on the walls of Age are provided by images on the walls of Knossos PalaceKnossos Palace

Fresco from Knossos palaceFresco from Knossos palaceMinoanMinoan

Scene from Knossos palaceScene from Knossos palaceMinoanMinoan

Throne Room in Knossos Throne Room in Knossos PalacePalaceMinoanMinoan

The Labyrinth and the MinotaurThe Labyrinth and the MinotaurMinoeanMinoean

Minoan Labyrinth PlaqueMinoan Labyrinth Plaque

Minoan MinotaurMinoan Minotaur

Mycenaean ArtMycenaean Art

1600 BCE – 1100 BCE1600 BCE – 1100 BCE

Quite unlike the Minoans, Quite unlike the Minoans, whose society benefited from whose society benefited from

trade, the Mycenaeans trade, the Mycenaeans advanced through conquestadvanced through conquest

Tholos TombsTholos TombsThe Mycenaeans buried their The Mycenaeans buried their

nobles in beehive tombs nobles in beehive tombs (tholos tombs): large circular (tholos tombs): large circular burial chambers with a high burial chambers with a high vaulted roof and a straight vaulted roof and a straight entry passage lined with entry passage lined with

stone. stone.

Exterior, Exterior, ““Treasury of Arteus,Treasury of Arteus,”” MycenaeanMycenaean

Interior, Interior, ““Treasury of Arteus,Treasury of Arteus,”” MycenaeanMycenaean

Interior, Interior, ““Treasury of Arteus,Treasury of Arteus,”” MycenaeanMycenaean

The nobility were frequently The nobility were frequently buried with gold masks, tiaras, buried with gold masks, tiaras, armor, and jeweled weaponsarmor, and jeweled weapons

Mycenaean Art – Mycenaean Art – Mask of AgamemnonMask of Agamemnon

Other Death Masks…Other Death Masks…