Aegean
The Cycladic Isles
Minoan
Mycenaean
The Aegean
Cycladic ca. 3000-1600 BCE
• Cycladic = Cyclades = cycle = circle
• Architecture: a few Neolithic tombs
• Painting: none
• Pottery: small, hand built
• Sculpture: free standing, alabaster or marble, most are small,
females are laying down, males are standing or seated
musicians
10
The Cycladic Figures
• Describe the visual aspects of the Cycladic female and
male figures. Why are these figures popular and highly
collectible now?
Minoan ca 2000-1400 BCE
• From the Island of Crete
• Rich landscapes and seascapes
• Lifestyle: no fortifications / warrior type
objects ever found
• Imagery very influenced from the sea and
nature
• Open architectural layouts
Palace at Knossos, on Crete, ca. 2000-1375 BCE
17
Figure 4-7 Minoan woman or goddess (La
Parisienne), from the palace at Knossos
(Crete), Greece, ca. 1450–1400 BCE.
Fragment of a fresco, 10” high.
Torreador Frescoe, ca. 1450-1375 BCE
Kamares Ware, from Phaistos Crete, ca. 1800-1700 BCE
Octopus Vase, ca 1500 BCE
Mycenae, ca. 1600-1200 BCE
also called Helladic period
Lion Gate, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 BCE. Limestone, relief panel, 9’ 6” high.
post and lintel
corbeled arch
arch
dry stack masonry
36
Funerary mask, from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1600–1500 BCE. Beaten gold, 1’ high
Granulation
Inlay
Repousse
Filigree
Gilding
39
Warriors Vase
from Mycenae,
ca. 1200 BCE
1’ 4” high.
Discussion Questions
Choose a picture or sculpture of a human figure
from two of the ancient Aegean cultures examined
in this chapter. Characterize how the artist
represents the human form and how that
representation could be related to the cultural
significance of the works in their original context.
