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

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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

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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

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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.