Minoan culture

MINOAN/CRETE CULTURE

It’s named after the king Minos, who was a prehistoric king of Crete.

They are 3 periods we can divide de Minoan culture:

·       Early Minoans 2900-2000 B.C.

·       Middle Minoan 2000- 1550 B.C.

·       Late Minoan 1550-1200 B.C.

 Location

Historical Background

Lifestyle

Minoans were aware and utilized the art of metalworking.

The first written scripts of the Minoans resemble egyptian hieroglyphs

Religion

Minoans deified the natural world and found in it a logical order that allowed man to live in harmony with the natural environment.

 Ritual celebrations usually took place in sacred caves, on sanctuaries on mountain peaks, and in the palaces and villas which all had their own sanctuaries. Animal and bloodless sacrifices, along with processions were part of ritual worship of the great female nature goddess, and during these festivities worshipers used music, dance, and prayer to achieve a state of religious ecstasy that put them in touch with the supernatural.

Products

The products made by the Minoans revolved around the religious cult. There have been found many artifacts used for sacrifice in what are supposed to the sanctuaries of the Minoan culture. They made metal made jewelry that was probably exported around the Mediterranean. There have also been found pottery products with symmetrical shapes. The characteristic elegance of form of Minoan potter is complemented by the dynamic lines of naturalistic scenes that decorate the surfaces. In general all of the art found reflects the philosophical attitude present at the time.

Government

Thanks to the art found in the palaces we can deduct that they were independent, and the palace was the center of the administrative power. Some kind of federal organization may have existed. The luxury in the palaces and houses allow us to think that there was a king and an aristocracy.

Cultural background

The language they spoke in Crete is not known yet. Though sir Arthur Evans ( the fist man to study in detail Crete) claimed that the Minoans’ ancestors came from North Africa, but more recent studies have carried out DNA tests from Minoan osseous tissue and it suggest that the civilization was composed of local Europeans rather than outsiders. Therefore Minoan people may be related to groups that migrated from Anatolia. If this information is true the researchers will have more cues to decipher the language of the Minoan civilization.

Minoan art

Characteristics: The art of the minoans speak of a society of joyous disposition, in touch with their environment, and in awe of the logical order of the natural world. Above all, the unearthed artifacts reveal a people who had developed a high degree of self-respect and a keen eye for observing and adopting to their physical environment.

Examples:

Form/Materials used: Cupper, gold, they used to inlaying bronze with gold

References:

http://www.ancient-greece.org/art/minoan-art.html