Introduction to Aegean Civilizations
c. 9000–300 B.C.

Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

Female Cycladic idol, Amorgos,
2700 – 2300 B.C.
Marble
4 ft. 10.5 in. high
National Archaeological Museum,
Athens, Greece
Photo© LaCour Slide Library
Living With Art Slide Set

Map of ancient Aegean area.

The Aegean civilization derives its name from the sea
located between Greece and Asia Minor.

Neither Sumerians or Egyptians of the Old Kingdom
seem to have shown any interest in the contemporaries west  of them.

c. 6000 BC-- Early Neolithic immigrants from farther east came to Greece and Aegean islands and brought with them agricultural techniques.

For almost 3000 years life continued there
untouched by the rise of organized cultures elsewhere.

Beginning in early Bronze age this area developed as a brilliant and sophisticated civilization as any then in Europe and West Asia

c. 3000 BCE- At same pointappearance of similarly urban cultures in Indus valley on Indian subcontinent

c. 1100 BC- After almost 2000 years of existence
this Bronze Age civilization disappeared as dramatically as it rose

"Aegean" is not only a geographical term
but also refers to civilization that flourished 3rd- 2nd millenium BCE before the civilization of Greece

Aegean culture is important not only for the possible light it throws on later times. Its existence shows that the ancient world could reach beyond the monumentality and earnestness of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. That it could attain a way of life that valued grace, beauty, and conflict -- a life that could truly be called civilized.

Three artistic centers developed in this region at the same time as the cultures thriving in Egypt and Mesopotamia:

• the Cyclades, -islands north of Crete
• the island of Crete, - Minoan- after legendary King Minos
• and Greece itself.- Helladic- which includes Mycenae

Each of these has been divided into 3 phases which roughly correspond to Egypt- Old, Middle, New Kingdoms

During most of Bronze Age the major centers
of Aegean culture were on Crete or the mainland.

The most important remains, greatest achievement, t, of the Aegean civilizations are from later part of Middle or Late phase. But in the early phase there were settlements
on a grouping of islands in the central Aegean, the Cyclades.

Our knowledge of Aegean civ is much more limited than our knowledge of Egypt or Ancient Near East. We have no help from written records of Aegean civilizations

Their art is linked to Egypt & Near East and linked to later Greek art. But the Aegean is no mere transition between two. Aegean art has a haunting beauty of own that is unlike either. Its most unusual characteristics are its fresh & spontaneous nature.

Partly restored west portico of the north entrance passage with a reconstructed relief fresco of a charging bull, palace of Minos, Knossos
Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Determination of Periods and Regions

The art from Crete, dating from approx. 2800 to 1100 B.C.,
is known as Minoan, named for the legendary King Minos
who supposedly built the labyrinth on Crete

Lion Gate, Mycenae, thirteenth century B.C.
Photo: LaCour Slide Library
Art Across Time Slide Set (wncc)

The Art from the mainland of Greece, dating from approx. same period, is known as Helladic, a word which derives from Hellas, a name for Greece. The exact chronology of these areas is bit uncertain and different systems of examination have been used. Aegean civ was known by
Homer's - Illiad- account of Trojan War and Greek legends centering on Crete.

Earliest excavations based on these literary sources

• Heinrich Schliemann- c 1870s- Asia Minor
• Sir Arthur Evans- little before 1900- Crete

We have learned alot more about Aegean than that of these literary texts One system, established by Sir Arthur Evans who conducted the early excavations on Crete, divides the time into Early, Middle, and Late Minoan &Helladic periods, with a sub period added at the end.

Detail of the palace showing wooden columns and limestone “horns of consecration” near the south entrance, palace of Minos, Knossos, Crete
Photo© Allan Kohl
Courtesy of Art Images for College Teaching

Later historians used different systems based the chronology of Crete, on the construction, reconstruction,
and destruction of various palaces there.

Early Minoan / Pre-Palace (2800-2000 BCE)

• Most important period for Cycladic art.

Middle Minoan period./ Old Palace (2000-1550 BCE)

• Minoan art = most significant
• Mostly know ceramics, Kamares ware from this period

Late Minoan / New Palace  (1550-1200 BCE))

• Art on the mainland = most important known as the Mycenaean period.

Thus we have the Pre-Palace period, the Old Palace Period,
and the New Palace Period, with the later overlapping the Late Minoan.