MINOAN ART

MINOAN ART Art in Crete reached its peak during the Neopalatial period, reflecting the period of extraordinary development. During the postpalatial period it echoed the decline of Minoan civilisation.

METAL WORK Exquisite metal works were created in ancient Crete with gold and copper imported from abroad They employed several techniques to shape various metals into objects. They mastered the techniques of casting, embossing, gilding and faience.

EVIDENCE OF MINOAN ART Ornament in the shape of a crouching lion from the tomb of Ayia Triadha. Probably LM1 c.1550-1450BC Gold

Pendant from the Aigina treasure. MMIII c.1700-1550BC gold

Bee pendant C.1800-1700BC Gold

Gold ring with the depiction of a bull jumping scene from Phourni Before 2000BC

Duckling ornament 1500BC

A reconstruction of an old grape press (called galeagra) 13th-15th century BC

FRESCOES All frescoes are Neopalatial in date. Very few were found at Malia and Phaistos, Most are from Knossos and Agia Triadha. Most common themes in Knossos: Bull leaping Boxing and wrestling Heraldic Griffin compositions Processional scenes

CLASSIFYING FRESCOES Frescoes can be classified in the following broad terms: Painted stucco relief frescoes Frescoes with human and animal representation Life size Under life size but not miniature Miniature Formal patterns or heraldic animals on a large scale Decorated floors

CHARACTERISTICS OF MURAL PAINTING Specific skin colour for the sexes: red for male white for female Genre scenes are common, but there are no unmistakably particularised scenes, whether historical or mythical Scenes from nature are realistic in terms of human or animal participants

Backgrounds in frescoes are often “fantastic” Backgrounds in frescoes are often “fantastic”. Brightly coloured, no attempt at depth or scale The range of colours is remarkably varied Wide variety of scenes and individual motifs No use of shading to indicate relief Underwater scenes seem to have been restricted to floor decoration Absence of hunting scenes and scenes of warfare.

“Dancing women in the Garden” Miniature fresco from Knossos LMII 1450BC

Spectators by a shrine Miniature fresco from Knossos LMII

The purple monkey fresco Found at Knossos MMIIIA 1700-1600BC

Part of the bull leaping fresco (Toreodor fresco) at Knossos Restored panel One of a series Probably LMII c.1450BC

SCULPTURE Very little sculpture from Crete has survived since most of it was not monumental and instead consisted of small objects dedicated to Gods and kings.

Bull leaper figurine Knossos Ivory

Goddess with poppy headed pins Terracotta 1350BC

Bulls head ryton from the palace of Kato Zacro 1700-1450BC

A snake goddess faience 1600-1580BC

Bull from Phaistos Terracotta 1200BC

A sphinx from Malia Molded clay 2000-1550BC

MINOAN POTTERY The transition in periods in the Minoan society can be seen in the style and pattern of their pottery. As each new ‘era’ emerged out of the dust of the last, a new phase of pottery began. While some pottery is in short supply, some palaces, such as Knossos can provide the historian with a complete history of the pottery of Crete.

Beak spouted cup 2200-2000BC

POTTERY STYLES LMIA – 1675-1600BC Most popular shapes – straight sided cup, semiglobular cup, bridge spouted jar, beaked jug. Most popular motifs – spiral and floral motifs. Ripple pattern. LM1B 1600-1500BC Marine style - octopus, dolphin, seaweed, star Conical shapes, stirrup jars, very few cups Beaked jugs, figure of eight shields, double axe, rockwork

LMII 1500-1450BC Goblets, horizontal handled bowl, krater Trend away from naturalism towards abstraction. LMIIIA 1450-1340BC We see a standardisation of pottery suggesting that there is decrease in regionalism Appearance of a plain or solid painted, short stemmed, one handed goblet.

LMIIIB 1340-1190BC There is no discernable break between these two periods. Historians often label things LMIIIA2/IIIB The deep bowl begins to grow more popular during this period. LMIIIC 1190-1125/1100BC Again the transition between the periods is slight. The deep bowl gains more prevalence. The fringed style (lines on the outside of frescoes) becomes popular.

Krater with plastic decoration Kamares style 1800BC

Octopus vase Marine style LMI – 1500BC

Harvester Vase From Hagia Triada C.1550-1500BC steatite

Clay seistrum 2100-2000BC

THE PHAISTOS DISC

THE PHAISTOS DISC It is the only example of its kind. No other inscroptions bearing similar shaped signs has been found. Found in Phaistos Thougyht to date from c.1700BC – thus contemporary with Linear A Because no other examples of this writing have been found anywhere in Crete it is thought the disc is foreign and brought in from another place.

The place of its origin is speculation – but it is thought to come from somewhere in Asia Minor – given some of the inscriptions. Because there is no variation between different copies of the same symbol, it is very likely that stamps were used to create the signs.