Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, 13e
Chapter 4
The Prehistoric Aegean
What is the Iliad, and how did it impact the art history of the Aegean?
Which of the following is a palace on Crete?
a. Knossos
b. Troy
c. Tiryns
d. Sparta
The Prehistoric Aegean
Goals
Significant numbers of small marble figurines representing naked women with arms folded over abdomens have been found in:
a. Mycenae
b. the Cyclades Islands
c. Troy
d. Knossos
4.1 Cycladic Art
The Cycladic Figures
Figure 4-2 Figurine of a woman, from Syros (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 2500–2300 BCE. Marble, 1’ 6” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Cycladic figurines having the same form took on different meanings in different contexts. What accounts for this?
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Figure 4-3 Male lyre player, from Keros (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 2700–2500 BCE. Marble, 9” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
4.2 Minoan Culture and Art
King Minos and Crete
Who or what was the Minotaur?
a. the king of Crete
b. half bull, half man
c. a bull with eagle’s wings
d. Achilles’ pet
The Old Palace Period in Minoan art came to an end around 1700 BCE. What was the probable cause?
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Figure 4-4 Aerial view (looking northeast) of the palace at Knossos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1700–1400 BCE.
Figure 4-5 Plan of the palace at Knossos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1700–1400 BCE.
Which of the following elements showed that the new palace at Knossos was carefully planned?
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Figure 4-6 Stairwell in the residential quarter of the palace at Knossos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1700–1400 BCE.
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. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
Minoans coated the rough surface of their rubble walls with a fine white lime plaster that required rapid execution and great skill. Which painting method was used with this type of fabrication?
a. watercolor
b. fresco secco
c. true fresco
d. tempera
Minoan Architecture
Minoan Wall Painting
Figure 4-8 Bull-leaping, from the palace at Knossos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1450–1400 BCE. Fresco, 2’ 8” high, including border. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
4-8A Sarcophagus, from Hagia Triada (Crete), Greece, ca. 1450–1400 BCE. Painted limestone, 4’ 6” long. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
Figure 4-9 Landscape with swallows (Spring Fresco), from Room Delta 2, Akrotiri, Thera (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 1650 BCE. Fresco, 7’ 6” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
4-9A Flotilla, detail of Miniature Ships Fresco, from room 5, West House, Akrotiri, Thera (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 1650 BCE. Fresco, 1’ 5” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
4-9B Crocus gatherers, detail of the east wall of room 3 of building Xeste 3, Akrotiri, Thera (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 1650–1625 BCE. Fresco, 8’ 1/8” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
The Development of Minoan Pottery
Figure 4-10 Kamares-ware jar, from Phaistos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1800–1700 BCE. 1’ 8” high. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
The Kamares style of Minoan pottery exhibited:
a. sophisticated shapes and monochromatic style
b. naive shapes and polychromatic style
c. sophisticated shapes and polychromatic style
d. naive shapes and monochromatic style
Figure 4-11 Marine Style octopus jar, from Palaikastro (Crete), Greece, ca. 1500 BCE. 11” high. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
Figure 4-12 Snake Goddess, from the palace at Knossos (Crete), Greece, ca. 1600 BCE. Faience, 1’ 1 1/2” high. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
Figure 4-13 Young god(?), from Palaikastro (Crete), Greece, ca. 1500–1475 BCE. Ivory, gold, serpentine, and rock crystal, restored height 1’ 7 1/2”. Archaeological Museum, Siteia.
Figure 4-14 Harvester Vase, from Hagia Triada (Crete), Greece, ca. 1500 BCE. Steatite, originally with gold leaf, greatest diameter 5”. Archaeological Museum, Herakleion.
4.3 Mycenaean Culture and Art
Mycenean Art and Architecture
Tiryns was:
a. a fortified citadel
b. an Egyptian outpost
c. a market
d. a shrine to the Minoan goddess
Figure 4-15 Aerial view of the citadel at Tiryns, Greece, ca. 1400–1200 BCE.
Figure 4-16 Corbeled gallery in the walls of the citadel, Tiryns, Greece, ca. 1400–1200 BCE.
Figure 4-17 Three methods of spanning a passageway: �(a) post and lintel, �(b) corbeled arch, �(c) arch.
Figure 4-18 Plan of the palace and southern part of the citadel, Tiryns, Greece, ca. 1400–1200 BCE.
4-18A Restored view of the megaron, Palace of Nestor, Pylos, ca. 1300 BCE (watercolor by Piet de Jong).
4-18A Restored view of the megaron, Palace of Nestor, Pylos, ca. 1300 BCE (watercolor by Piet de Jong).
The Lion Gate is the gateway to:
a. Tiryns
b. Knossos
c. Mallia
d. Mycenae
Figure 4-19 Lion Gate, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 BCE. Limestone, relief panel, 9’ 6” high.
4-1 Relieving triangle with confronting lions, detail of Lion Gate (fig. 4-19), Mycenae, Greece. ca. 1300-1250 BCE.
What form of arch is above the lintel of the Lion Gate?
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The Lion Gate is reminiscent of the ___________.
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The Treasury of Atreus is an excellent example of a(n):
a. Mycenaean fortification
b. beehive tomb
c. Minoan sarcophagus
d. temple treasury
4-20 Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300-1250 BCE.
4-21 Vault of the tholos of the Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300-1250 BCE.
Figure 4-22 Funerary mask, from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1600–1500 BCE. Beaten gold, 1’ high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
The funerary practice of the Mycenaeans, covering the faces of the dead with gold masks, recalls what other culture?
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4-22A Aerial view (looking TBD) of Grave Circle A, ca. 1600 BCE, and of the wall circuit, ca. 1300–1250 BCE, Mycenae, Greece.
What was the subject matter seen on the largest dagger found in the tomb from Grave Circle A--an image that was borrowed from the ancient Near East?
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Figure 4-23 Inlaid dagger blade with lion hunt, from Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1600–1500 BCE. Bronze, inlaid with gold, silver, and niello, 9” long. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
4-23A Hunter capturing a bull, drinking cup from Vapheio, near Sparta, Greece, ca. 1600–1500 BCE. Gold, 3 1/2" high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
During the Mycenaean Period large-scale figural art on the Greek mainland was _________________.
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Figure 4-24 Female head, from Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1300–1250 BCE. Painted plaster, 6 1/2” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
4-24A Two goddesses(?) and a child, from Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1400–1250 BCE. Ivory, 2 3/4" high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Figure 4-25 Warriors Vase, from Mycenae, Greece, ca. 1200 BCE. 1’ 4” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.
Discussion Questions