Cynthia Garcia

Classics 51A
Disc. 1A
104274948

Minoan and Mycenaean Civilization

The Minoans and Mycenaeans cultures inhabited in present-day Greece, the

Minoan civilization endured on the island of Crete whereas the Mycenaean resided on
mainland Greece. The Minoans were a prosperous society recognized for their widespread
trade and strong navy resulting in dominance of the sea. The Minoans existed around 3000
to 1100 B.C. until it came to an end after a volcanic eruption that sank the island Thera
which then led to the Mycenaeans to take over in the 14th century (Biers 1996, 26-27). The
Mycenaeans were very war and military orientated unlike the Minoans which is depicted in
their culture, artwork, and architecture. During the Bronze Age (2800-1050 BC) the
Minoans and Mycenaean civilizations influenced each other due to their close geographic
proximity allowing both civilizations to share similar characteristics. Even though both
cultures share similar features there are notable differences between the societies within
their architecture, artwork, religion/customs, and language. For instance, both Mycenaean
and Minoans constructed palaces that served many functions but, had structural
differences. Mycenaean art depicted warfare and hunting whereas Minoans emphasized
nature and religious life which reflected in their customs. Minoans specialized in
stonework and Mycenaean specialty was ivory carving. Lastly, both cultures had a
language but differed in level of sophistication.

Even though the Minoan and Mycenaean architectural styles were similar there
were structural differences attributed to background differences in war and extensive trade.
A characteristic feature of Minoan architecture were flat-roofed complexes, enclosing
many rooms, containing a system for lighting to be reached in lower levels, bathrooms, and
staircases to name a few (Biers, 1996, 29-30). In terms of constructing, Minoans used the
post-and-lintel system also known as verticals and horizontals and had unfortified
palaces (Biers 1996, 28). In contrast to this system, Mycenaeans used large blocks of
stone, a method called megalithic architecture which allowed for constructing fortified
walls around their citadels and palaces (Biers 1996, 64-65). Using the megalithic
technique, easily distinguishable features of Mycenaean architecture is the relieving
triangle about a lintel block and corbel vaulting that can be seen on the Lion Gate at
Mycenae (Biers 1996, 66; Preziosi and Hitchcock 1999, 176). Since the Minoans were
heavily engrossed with trading and had a strong navy, fortified walls were unnecessary.

Both cultures built palaces that contained a central point, and evidence of
engineering skills. In Minoan palaces the courtyard took up a substantial amount of space
and served for religious and theatrical gatherings under the eyes of the rulers (Biers
1996, 28, 35). Moreover, the megaron (an open porch and hall) served as the central point
in Mycenaean palaces and private houses (Biers 1996, 66). Additionally, Mycenaeans
engineered fortification walls and roads that allowed them to be connected to numerous
major centers (Biers 1996 66, 74). On the other hand, Minoans had a sophisticated
hydraulic engineering system allowing them to have sewers, toilets, water pipes and pipes
leading to the oceans (Biers 1996, 29, 41). It is apparent that the palaces built by the
Minoans and Mycenaeans functioned as commercial, cultural, religious and administrative
centers.

Minoan nature orientation and Mycenaean war orientation is evident in their

paintings, pottery, and sculptures. In Minoan paintings the use of bright, lively colors such
as red were used to express love of life (Biers 1996, 42). There are two main categories
that Minoans and these were nature and religious life (Biers 1996, 45). A main difference
between Mycenaean and Minoan paintings were the changes from realism to
impressionism. For the most part Minoan paintings were very realistic, but artists would
often change colors and paint unrealistic interpretations of natural life to illustrate emotions
or feelings (Biers 1996, 42). Aside from painting nature, there were also frescos depicting
bull sacrificing scenes in Minoan palaces which was a funerary practice (Biers 1996, 48).
These bull-vaulting scenes were also present in Mycenaean frescos; there is Minoan
influence on style and technique for painting frescos (Biers 1996, 77, 80). Another
significant difference in frescoes was the lack of nature from Mycenaean work and and
emphasis on illustrating warfare and hunting (Biers 1996, 77, 79). These differences reflect
the differences in culture where the Minoans valued living in accordance with nature and
the Mycenaean society valued warfare and hunting.

Pottery for both cultures helps archaeologists in determining chronology when a

written system is absent allowing the differences in artwork on the pottery apparent. For
example, the Late Minoan 1A style was signified by a floral style of spirals and floral
motifs, and the most famous style the Late Minoan 1B style was indicated by the marine
naturalistic styles and portrayals of sea creatures (Biers 1996, 50, 54). Changes in the use
of colors from a vibrant scale to a black and white style were present in pottery artwork in
Minoan culture (Biers 1996, 50). Even thought there were shifts in the use of color in
Minoan pottery for the most part, artists were very colorful, decorative and also illustrated
nature (Biers 1996, 28, 50). In contrast to Minoan pottery, Mycenaean decoration was
repetitive and dull and again emphasized warfare and hunting (Biers 1996, 79, 82).

Both cultures also made figurines that reflected similarities and differences. For
instance, the Minoans made figurines that depicted their female household goddesses
deities and were used as a dedication or type of offering (Biers 1996, 53). Again, the
Minoan figurines were much more detailed and nature orientated whereas, the Mycenaeans
focused on warlike sculptures of warriors in chariots, ornamental designs and scenes of
animals (Biers 1996, 77). The Mycenaeans did however make female figurines that
obviously originated from the Minoans female goddess (Biers 1996, 87). Differences
between the Minoans and Mycenaeans female goddess figurines were the size of the
women, the Mycenaeans made their women larger and not as subtle as the Minoans (Biers
1996, 89).

The religion and burial practices of both cultures shared several similarities but also
had distinct differences. The basis of Minoan religion resided on fertility, the death and
rebirth of vegetation (Biers 1996, 26). Similarly, the Mycenans accepted the same
fertility and vegetation deities of the Minoans (Biers 1996, 63). Another deity that was
prominent in Minoan religion was the female mother goddess that has been depicted on
frescos, sculptures and pottery (Biers 1996 28, 35, 53). A big difference in the cultures
were their burial practices. Mycenaean burial practices were more prominent due to the
different tombs. There were interment in chamber tombs, also family tombs, and tholos
tombs for the royals (Biers 1996, 71, 73).

Similarities are present in the hieroglyphic language that Minoans and Mycenaeans
establish. Sir Arthur John Evans was the first to discover the engraved stones containing
hieroglyphics from Crete, revealing the earliest form of Minoan writing referred to as
Linear A (Etienne 1992, 113; Biers 1980, 25). Linear A is not completely deciphered, but it
is understood that the stone tablets comprised of transactions supporting the trade
orientated nature of the Minoans (Biers 1980, 26). Using similar hieroglyphic engraved
stone tablets the Mycenaeans used a language called Linear B that was more sophisticated
than Linear A consisting of symbols that represented concepts (Biers 1980, 26; Chadwick
1987, 255).

Unequivocally, there are similarities between the Minoans and Mycenaean

civilizations due to their neighboring proximity to allow an influence on the Mycenaeans
by the Minoans. However, there are prominent differences amongst the societies in their
architecture, artwork, specialization in craftsmanship, religion/customs and language.
Minoans were very trade orientated and emphasized nature, whereas, the Mycenaeans were
war and hunting orientated. We see these differences reflected in their culture, language,
architecture, and artwork.