A Brief Introduction Into Minoan Art
Minoan art represents the art of the ancient Minoans, a Bronze Age culture native to the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea as well as the surrounding smaller islands. The Minoans are often regarded as the first civilisation to have emerged in Europe during Antiquity and the mysteries surrounding their lost civilisation continue to fascinate. The bygone Minoans excelled at painting various beautiful frescoes, several of them depicting marine life (such as dolphins), others nature and plants or mesmerising women (i.e. the well known fresco known as ‘Ladies in Blue’, discovered in the palace of Knossos, Heraklion, Crete).
A thriving thalassocracy (i.e. a maritime power), Minoan Crete managed to spread its influenced far and wide across the waves of the Aegean Sea, benefiting from trade with Ancient Egypt in the south, with Cyprus and the Levant in the west, and with the islands of the Cycladic archipelago in the north, where the also established outposts (the most well known one being by far the island of Thira/Santorini). On the timeline of Ancient Greece, the Minoan civilisation and culture stands between the Cycladic culture and the Mycenean culture (the first one on the timeline being the Helladic culture). The art of the ancient Minoans can be divided into four distinct periods of time, chronologically as follows: the Pre-palatial period, the Protopalatial period (or Old Palace period), Neopalatial period (i.e. New Palace period), and Post-palatial period.
This brief article delves into the captivating and elegant Minoan art, revolving around some of the most beautiful Minoan frescoes and artefacts (especially pottery masterpieces) ever created. Last but not least, as a bonus intro information, the Minoan art and culture influenced Cycladic art during the Late Cycladic period.
The famous ‘Ladies in Blue’ fresco from the ancient Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete, associated with the myth of the Greek hero Theseus and the Minotaur. This fresco was restored by Swiss artist Emile Gilliéron. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Fresco depicting two figure-of-eight shields from Heraklion, Crete. These decorative shields are associated with the Myceneans (i.e.the mainland Greeks who subsequently conquered Crete and intermixed with the Minoans), but the fresco itself is dated to the Late Bronze Age, more specifically to the Late Minoan period (or the Final Palatial period of the Minoans). This fresco is on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Crete. The author of this photograph is the user Gsimonov on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The Minoans loved maritime life and the sea. A prominent example of their love and fascination with the sea is represented by this beautiful fresco depicting dolphins and fish. The author of this photograph is the user Gsimonov on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The famous bull-leaping fresco from the Palace of Knossos in Heraklion, Crete. The bull featured in Minoan art consistently and significantly and was a sacred animal to the ancient Minoans. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The reconstructed bull-leaping fresco by Swiss artist Émile Gilliéron (in the collection of the French National Archaeological Museum). The author of this photograph is J.-P. Dalbéra on Flickr. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
A fresco depicting the tentacles of an octopus or a squid at the palace of Knossos in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Image source: Wikimedia Commons (under CC0 licence)
The throne room of the Minoan palace of Knossos in Heraklion, Crete, Greece (thought to be the oldest such throne room in Europe). Behind the throne, there is a fresco depicting griffins. Image source: Wikimedia Commons (photograph by user Studentessa95, under CC0 licence, therefore available in the public domain)
The famous restored bull fresco situated at the north entrance in the palace of Knossos in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. The author of this photograph is Benoît Prieur on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The so-called Prince of Lillies fresco at the south entrance of the palace of Knossos, Heraklion, Greece. Sir Arthur Evans considered this human figure to be a priest king while others claim it is actually a prince and some even consider the fresco to depict a female figure. The author of the photograph was Leonard G. on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The famous spring fresco from Akrotiri on the island of Santorini/Thera, Cyclades, Greece. The author of the photograph is Gary Todd on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
The description of the famous spring fresco from Akrotiri on the island of Santorini/Thera, Greece. The author of the photograph is Gary Todd on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Fresco from Akrotiri, Santorini/Thera, Cyclades, Greece, depicting rosettes. The ancient Minoans paid attention to fine details when it came to visual art, as it can be observed here. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
One of the beautifully decorated sides of the Agia Triada Minoan sarcophagus from Crete, Greece, part of the collection of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. The golden axes depicted on this side of this well preserved ancient Minoan artefact are known as labrys (a particular type of Minoan double axe). The author of this photograph is the user Jebulon on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Fresco from Akrotiri, Santorini/Thera, Cyclades, Greece depicting a Minoan ship procession. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Ancient Minoan seal with Cretan hieroglyphs still undeciphered. Credits go to Ingo Pini on Wikimedia Commons for this particular photograph. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Fresco from Akrotiri, Santorini/Thera, Cyclades, Greece, depicting antelopes. The author of the photograph is Gary Todd on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Fresco depicting blue monkeys from Akrotiri, Santorini/Thera, Cyclades, Greece. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Example of an ancient Minoan double axe known as labrys. Credits for this particular photograph go entirely to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Tripod with various examples of fine Minoan pottery (vessels, small recipients, and toys). These artefacts were discovered in the palace of Phaïstos. Nowadays, this collection of artefact belong to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. The author of the photograph is the user Jebulon on Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons
Late Minoan bathtub dated to 14th century BC, decorated with waves on the frontal side and with a fish inside. The author of the photograph is Gary Todd. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
A Minoan dolphin sarcophagus from the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete, Greece. Credits for this particular photograph go entirely to the user Jebulon on Wikimedia Commons. Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Documentation sources and external links:
- Reproduction of the “Ladies in Blue” fresco on www.metmuseum.org
- Fresco with figure-of-eight shields on www.ca.heraklionmuseum.org
- Dolphin fresco on www.heraklionmuseum.gr
- The figure-of-eight shield and other shield types of the Bronze Age Aegean by Periklis Deligiannis on www.academia.edu
- 37. The Structure and Origin of the Minoan Body-Shield by John L. Myres, Man, Vol. 39 (Mar., 1939), pp. 36-40 (5 pages), published by the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland on www.jstor.org
- The Bull-Leaping Fresco from Minoan Crete on www.researchgate.com