Chapter 4- Minoan Society

Question 0

What were the major aspects of the environment in/around Crete?

Answer 0

The Aegean Sea, forests, mountains, rock, caves and farm land

Question 1

How large is Crete?

Answer 1

260km long, 60km wide

Question 2

Describe the Aegean Sea and its uses

Answer 2

Source of food
Provided safety- no walls? No wars?
Strong Minoan Navy- re known for seamanship
Navigation by the sun/stars
Natural bays an harbours for trade/settlements

Question 3

Describe the forests of Crete and their uses

Answer 3

Found on lower slopes of Highlands- primarily Cypress
Used timber for building and trade (Greece/Egypt)
Herbs and flowers also useful

Question 4

What were the 3 mountain ranges of Crete?

Answer 4

White Mountains
Ida Range
The Highlands with Mt Dikte
All over 1800m high, peaks up to 2400m
Gorges- some 600m deep

Question 5

Describe the rocks found in Crete

Answer 5

Limestone/stone- exterior building materials, paths, courtyards, pots
Clay- pottery
Copper- bronze-work
Other- calcite, gypsum, marble, and serpentine

Question 6

Describe the caves in Crete

Answer 6

In hills or mountains
In Neolithic times, used as shelter, burials, refuge, housed myths?
Ritual Centres

Question 7

Describe the nature of farming for the Minoans

Answer 7

Farmed on coastal plains/fertile- grew fruit and vegetables
Hardier crops- barley, wheat, olives, grapes
Hunting- fowl, game
Livestock- sheep, goats, pigs, cattle

Question 8

What are the main Minoan settlements found in Crete?

Answer 8

Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Agia Triada, Gournia

Question 9

What are the main features or Knossos?

Answer 9

It is the largest palace containing a central court, a labyrinth, elaborate frescoes, the grand staircase, shrine rooms, toilets and royal/domestic quarters.

Question 10

What are the special artefacts found at Knossos?

Answer 10

The ‘Snake Goddess’ figurines, Bull’s Head Rhyton, ‘Minoan town Mosaic’ and pillar crypt shrines

Question 11

Describe the main features of Phaistos?

Answer 11

Massive stairway, peristyle court, lustral basins, magazines, royal/domestic quarters, covered entrance area

Question 12

Describe the main features of Malia?

Answer 12

Large stone-lined pits as grain stores or cisterns, domestic quarters, ceremonial area

Question 13

Describe the main features of Zakros?

Answer 13

Circular pool with underground spring, storerooms containing Syrian tusks, as well as perfumes and dyes for trade.

Question 14

Describe the main features of Agia Triada?

Answer 14

Smaller palace.

Knossos style frescoes, large banqueting room, paved roads to harbour

Question 15

Describe the main features of Gournia?

Answer 15

A town with a small palace complex within.

Small houses close together, narrow paved streets contoured by the hill, Snake Goddess public shrine

Question 16

What are the special artefacts found at Phaistos?

Answer 16

The Phaistos Disc, a variety of Kamares-ware, cisterns or ‘kouloures’ for grain storage

Question 17

What are the special artefacts found at Malia?

Answer 17

Bronze dagger and sword with a crystal hilt (weaponry?), marine-themed pottery, large circular altar (Kernos), Gold Bee Pendant in tomb

Question 18

What are the special artefacts found at Zakros?

Answer 18

Archive of Linear A tablets, Bull’s head Rhyton, stone Rhyton depicting peak sanctuary, olive oil/wine presses, bronze-work furnace

Question 19

What are the special artefacts found at Agia Triada?

Answer 19

Archive room with clay slealings, Harvester Vase, Chieftain’s Cup, bronze figurines of animals/humans, Agia Triada sarcophagus

Question 20

What are the special artefacts found at Gournia?

Answer 20

Bronze tools, potter’s wheel, coppersmith’s forge, oil presses, decorated larnaxes in local cemetery

Question 21

What are the main theories on who ruled Crete?

Answer 21

Homer- Minos lived as King, monarchy renewed every 9th year
Thucydides- Cretan King ruled Aegean Sea with Navy
Platon- Theocratic, King was a God
Castleden- Confederate city states/constitutional monarchy
Basileus were local chiefs, Lawageias was political leader, Wanax was ceremonial figurehead
Chadwick- Wanax was powerless King, Lawageias had followers

Question 22

What does the archaeological evidence suggest about who ruled Crete?

Answer 22

Palaces- ruled by King? Yet no royal burials
Throne Room at Knossos- Evans thinks it was for a female bum
Sphinxes- Female themed, for priestesses? Priest King?
Linear B Tablets- Wanax was the King, Basileus were local chiefs?

Question 23

Who were the Palace Elite in Minoan Society?

Answer 23

They were primarily priests and priestesses who ran the bureaucracy according to the Tablets. Women may have been more prominent. They wore jewellery, ornate hairstyles, layered skirts and jackets as seen in La Parisienne Fresco/Ladies in Blue. Men wore togas, had simpler hairstyle and had a sacrificial axe, seen on Harvester Vase and Agia Triada Sarcophagus.

Question 24

What were the various social classes in Minoan Society?

Answer 24

``` The Leadership/Palace Elite Scribes Artisans/artists, farmers, fishermen, labourers, Slaves Families Women ```

Question 25

What other theories on the leadership of the Minoans are there?

Answer 25

Klawiphoros was Religious leader? | District governors and local deputies

Question 26

Who were the Scribes?

Answer 26

Intelligentsia class- ran administration/record keeping Created Linear A/B tablets, recorded info on Palaces/industry Possibly high social status? Perhaps only middle class

Question 27

Who were the Artists/artisans?

Answer 27

This was a specialised class, manufactured items for extra income Masons- stone workers as seen by stone chipping in workshops Faience workers- metal workers as seen by furnaces General artisans- engravers, 'gem cutters', potters

Question 28

Who were the Farmers?

Answer 28

Contributed to agricultural/livestock economy There were farming communities- found in Branigan excavation, also recorded in Linear B Tablets Pithoi held surplus storage- found in magazines, also seen on Harvester Vase

Question 29

Who were the fishermen?

Answer 29

They fished the sea as prime source of food/protein Know a were familiar with the sea- seen by imagery on pottery There was also specialised fishing, like for shellfish used for purple dyes in Zakros

Question 30

What was the shellfish fished that would produce the purple eyes?

Answer 30

Murex Mollusc

Question 31

Who were the Labourers?

Answer 31

They performed heavy duty jobs Worked in quarries or forests- possibly in farms seen at Vathy Petro Not much evidence of this class- Harvesters Vase?

Question 32

Who were the Slaves?

Answer 32

In Post-Mycanean invasion, there were slaves recorded on Linear B Tablets. Perhaps only servant or 'Slaves of God'? Possibly skates in the Minoan Period as well?

Question 33

What were the representations of family in Minoan Society?

Answer 33

No familial representations in art. There were communal burials, possibly for clans or families as seen by the shared bones and skulls in tombs. Children worked with mothers in textile industry? As seen in Linear B tablets and Ivory figurines

Question 34

What were women's role in Minoan Society?

Answer 34

Only archaeological evidence of women, like the 'Snake Goddess' statuettes, and the Ladies in Blue Fresco They were active in religious activities, as seen on the Agia Triada Sarcophagus

Question 35

What were the main industries in Minoan Crete?

Answer 35

``` Pottery Textile Oil Stone Bronze ```

Question 36

Describe the Pottery industry in Minoan Crete

Answer 36

They were used practically like as Pithoi or cooking containers/bowls They were also used ceremonially, like with ewers or rhyta Many styles/designs- distinctly Minoan Primarily female potters

Question 37

Describe the textile industry in Minoan Crete

Answer 37

It employed carders, spinners, weavers/finishers, dyers and embroiders It was a palace industry as seen by the loom-weights and spindles There were also rural weavers It was worked by men, women and possibly slave children. 500 workers at Knossos? Killen predicts 1000 women

Question 38

Describe the oil industry in Minoan Crete

Answer 38

Pithoi and presses found at Vathy Petro | Sometimes oil used in perfume industry

Question 39

Describe the stone industry in Minoan Crete

Answer 39

Used for building tombs, roadways and buildings as well as fine stone for veneering walls Also used to make lamps and vases as s en by the stone-chip pings and workshops in Knossos. Malia, Zakros Also made engraved seals

Question 40

Describe the Bronze industry in Minoan Crete

Answer 40

Minoans sometimes imported copper and tin for bronze. There are Egyptian paintings of their trade There were furnaces at Phaistos, Zakros, Agia Triada Used for: weaponry, cauldrons, mirrors, Abrys, tools, figurines

Question 41

What other minor industries were there in Minoan Society?

Answer 41

Chariot- tablets records/chariots found at Knossos Perfume- oil used in perfume, aesthetic purpose, tools at Zakros Wine- only for wealthy seen on Tablets, processing vessels in villas Painting- found in Hyskos Palace in Egypt, Buon fresco/fresco secco, final coast of fine lime plaster pre-painting Dye- made from shellfish, their remains at Kastro/Zakros Jewellery- gold, silver, faience. Made accessories/jewellery

Question 42

What did the Palace Economy involve?

Answer 42

The palaces were producers/consumers, internal/external regulators, accumulators/redistributors They primarily dealt in agricultural products, including crops and livestock. They would be processed into useful items, stored away, traded or distributed as rations/religious sacrifice

Question 43

How did the Minoans deal in trade?

Answer 43

It was a barter economy, no money. Main Exports: gold, swords, pottery, textiles, Ivory, metalwork, timber Main Imports: copper, pumice, obsidian, silver, lead, marble, stone vessels, hippo pieces, Ivory, scarabs, statues

Question 44

What cultural influences did the Minoans pick up through trade?

Answer 44

Griffin/God Imagery from Mesopotamia Sistrum/Larnax/Spinx/Design/Colours from Egypt Animal/land imagery from Africa

Question 45

How did towns contribute to the Minoan Economy?

Answer 45

Towns were the precursor to Palaces like Malia Gournia was excavated by HB Haves in the 1990s. They found evidence of trade with the harbour and 2 main trade routes. There was fertile land nearby. There were also several workshops including a carpenter, potter, and smith.

Question 46

Describe the deities of Minoan Religion

Answer 46

The were polytheistic and based on the natural world E.g. Snake, Poppy, Sky and Mother Goddesses Sources are questionable as there is a lot of fantastical imagery Snake Goddess- symbol of life/fertility. Found 2 faience figurines of her bare breasted and entwined with snakes. Linear B tablets also refer to various Goddesses.

Question 47

What were some of the religious symbols in Minoan Religion?

Answer 47

Horns of Consecration- like Bull's horns, architectural features Labrys- double-headed axe, ceremonial function, sacrfice, Labyrinth? Bulls- sacrifice of Bulls, link to Minotaur, strength/fertility, Bull Rhytons Snakes- linked to Goddess, immortality/fertility/earth Birds- on Horns of Consecration on the AT Sarcophagus, on Goddess figurine, found as votive offerings at Peak Sanctuary Sacred Knot- found on La Parisienne Fresco, patterned on fabrics

Question 48

What are some of the sacred sites in Minoan Crete?

Answer 48

Palaces may have been temples, according to Castleden Peak Sanctuaries- made to commune with Sky Gods, 25 found on hills/mountains, Walrous says they had differing functions Cave Sanctuaries- worshipped rock formations for earth God Palace Shrines- Small rooms, also Tripartite Shrines Pillar Crypts- made offerings to pillars, libation basin Lustral Basins- sunken rooms for ritual purification

Question 49

What did Minoan religious rituals involve?

Answer 49

Often communal feasting, drinking and dancing Dancing displayed on the Sacred Grove Fresco Processions displayed on Procession Fresco and AT Sarcophagus Sacrifices- animals or humans (Castleden)

Question 50

What are the myths associated with Minoan Crete

Answer 50

Creation of Crete- Zeus took Europa to Crete, birthed Minos Minotaur Legend Labyrinth

Question 51

What kind of art is prevalent in Minoan Society?

Answer 51

Buon/secco technique on Frescoes, final coat of lime plaster pre-paint, often depicting nature or ritual activities Many styles/variations of pottery showing marine life e.g. Octopus Vase Figurines are made of faience, bronze or Ivory. Depicting deities, bull-leaping and used as votive offerings Seals are impressions into wet clay with precision drilling, depicting symbols/scenes e.g. The Master Impression

Question 52

What kind of architecture do Minoans employ?

Answer 52

Palatial architecture is a good example Asymmetrical, multi-storied, grand staircases Storage magazines and workshops on lower levels Theatre area for performances Porticoes and porches Ashland masonry- using wooden beams/timber frames for flexibility

Question 53

What sort of writing did the Minoans use?

Answer 53

Hieroglyphic- 100 signs found, there are 45 on Phaistos Disc. It is an ancient script according to Castleden. Linear A- Minoan, used for records/accounting, 70 symbols, hasn't been translated but understood through Linear B Linear B- translated, influenced by Mycaneans, found also on mainland

Question 54

What did the Minoans believe about the afterlife? And what then, were their burial customs?

Answer 54

They may have believed in the afterlife- when flesh decayed on a body, their spirit was freed. They kept the skulls and often buried possessions it them. The Butterfly may have symbolises the spirit- the golden scales with this symbol may have symbolised judgement. Usually they had 1 body per chamber, adding more bodies, eventually only leaving the skulls. Mainly they were communally buried

Question 55

What rituals did the Minoans practice in relation to the dead?

Answer 55

Agia Triada Sarcophagus depicts funeral rites Often involved religious sacrifices and offerings. May have also have been ritual feasting They were rarely cremated but rather placed in the foetus position in a tomb, or also inside a pithoi or a larnax.

Question 56

What types of burials did the Minoans use?

Answer 56

Caves burials- bodies inside pithoi or larnax, communal burial in a cave as seen in the Valley of the Dead Rock-shelter burials- communal, some were buried with possessions,male inside pithoi Cist burials- box shaped pits, lined with stone, open corpse inside

Question 57

What types of tombs did the Minoans use?

Answer 57

House tombs- rectangular structure, freestanding, above ground, usually built on infertile land, like at Mochlos and Gournia Tholos tombs- freestanding, circular, like Mycaneans Tholoi, found in Kamilari Chamber tombs- smaller, less burials, used by Mycanean warrior elite, built on hillside or dromos Shaft tombs- like Cist burials, with a shaft like a large stone-capped grave, about the size of a room

Question 58

What leisure activities did the Minoans partake in?

Answer 58

Plenty of fitness- boxing/wrestling depicted on Boxer Rhyton, acrobatics, bull leaping depicting on Fresco Dancing and feasting Game board was found similar to Chess

Question 59

What kinds of food did the Minoans eat?

Answer 59

``` Cereals like wheat, barley and millet Veges like chick peas, lentils, beans, cabbage, lettuce and asparagus Milk and meat from livestock Seafood Honey, herbs and fruit Did use cooking ware ```

Question 60

What kind of occupations did the Minoans have?

Answer 60

Labourers like builders for infrastructure or ships Agriculturalists like farmers, fishermen and herders Artisans like artists, carpenters, jewellers, metalworkers, pasterers, potters and stone masons Others like architects, textile workers and traders/merchants

Question 61

What sort of housing and furniture did the Minoans use?

Answer 61

Often single room village houses, 2 or 3 storied town houses or large villas. Models are seen in the Gown Mosaic at Knossks or Arkhanes' clay model house. They often had few windows, a staircase and a pergola Houses usually had a sewerage/water systems like cisterns and stone covered drains Rooms included living quarters, hall/court, shrines, workshops, stores or industrial areas

Question 62

What sorts of clothing did the Minoans wear?

Answer 62

Men wore minimal clothing, usually just cod pieces, loin cloths or kilts Women wore long multi-layered skirts and open bodices as seen in La Parisienne fresco. Other frescos display jewellery/cosmetic apparel. Some people wore no shoes- otherwise their wore calf-length boots or shin-pads.

Question 63

What was the general health of the Minoans?

Answer 63

Studies done by Tina McGeorge Life expectancy was 30-35 for men, and 28 for women. Although som lived till their 40s/50s There is evidence of ideas from animals/children Deteriorating dental health General health was also deteriorating as people started moving to towns/palaces, eating less fresh food.