What does the royal palace at Knossos tell us about Minoan art, religion, and society?

Question

What does the royal palace at Knossos tell us about Minoan art, religion, and society?

Answer 1

The beginnings of Cretan history are lost in the darkness of the Neolithic period (5000 - 2600 B.C.). During this long era, the island seems to have been completely isolated from its neighbours, and, as can be seen from the pottery of the period, its culture was stagnant and monotonous.  

            The Pre-Palace period which followed (2600 - 2000 B.C.) was characterized by a cultural change, evidently due to the arrival on the island of new settlers who brought with them a knowledge of bronze-working. There was a rapid development of all forms of art (pottery, metalwork, gold work, stone carving, seal engraving), showing that the social and economic life of the island was beginning to take on a more complex form. The script in use at this same period was hieroglyphic.  

            The first great age of Minoan Crete was the Old Palace period (2000 - 1700 B.C.), during which huge labyrinthine palaces were built at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros. In these palaces the power and wealth of the island were concentrated, and around them the political, social, economic and religious life of the island revolved. The manner in which these buildings and their various servicing systems were constructed is quite remarkable. In 1700 B.C. a great earthquake shook the island and the palaces were laid in ruins. In a very short time, however, new palaces were built on the ruins of the old in an architectural style expressive of the Minoan love of nature and desire to live in a world of light and charm.  

            Thus begun the "golden age" of Crete, the New Palace period (1700 - 1450 B.C.). The Palace of Knossos was the largest & grandest of the palaces. It covered an area of 22,000 sq. metres & consisted of a maze of rooms of all sizes, large halls, storerooms, workshops,staircases and corridors. In the eastern wing there were four storeys of royal apartments, and in the western wing the official "Throne Room," the throne from which has been preserved intact. Next to the Throne Room were shrines and other sacred areas, showing that the King also acted as the High Priest, the embodiment of the deity. The halls of the palace were decorated with splendid frescoes. The other three palaces (at Phaistos, Malia & Zakros) are in a similar architectural style, with a few local features. On the basis of the finds from these palaces and from various other centres (villas, etc.) we can build up a complete picture of Minoan life and art. The Minoans were a peace-loving people and their economy was based on agriculture, "manufacturing" industries, shipping and trade, particularly with Egypt, the East, the Cyclades and the rest of the Greek world. At the end of the New Palace period the great palace centres were destroyed for the second and the last time. The cause of the disaster on this occasion was a series of earthquakes and tidal waves resulting from the eruption of the volcano on Thera (c. 1450 BC). The Mycenaeans took this opportunity to establish themselves on the island. The Palace of Knossos was the only one rebuilt and became the centre of Mycenaean power. The culture of the island now became imbued with a new, more martial, spirit. Shortly after 1400 B.C. the Palace of Knossos was destroyed for the last time.  

            In the Post-Palace period (1400 - 1100 B.C.) the importance of the island waned. Minoan traditions continued un- broken despite Mycenaean influences, but art, apart from a few flashes of brilliance, underwent a steady decline.  

            The Minoan era (Pre-Palace, Old Palace, New Palace & Post-Palace periods) was followed by a transitional phase, the Sub-Minoan period (1100 - 1000 B.C.), which was culturally barren although Minoan traditions still persisted in parts of the island. In the Proto-Geometric and Early Geometric periods (1100 - 900 B.C.) the Dorians settled on the island, and their influence became immediately apparent in all forms of art.  

            In the Mature Geometric period (900 - 725 B.C.), Crete was once more flourishing, and in the Orientalizing period (725 - 650 B.C.) she renewed her links with the East and became subject to Eastern influences. She also had links with all parts of the Greek world, as the pottery of this period shows. The last great era in which original and important works of art were produced in Crete was the Archaic period (650 - 500 B.C.). A new style, the "Daedalic style", was developed at this time in architecture, bronze work & sculpture, and the result was some lively and vigorous work. In the two subsequent periods, the Classical (500 - 330 B.C.) and the Hellenistic (330 - 67 B.C.), no art of any significance was produced.  

            Finally, in the Graeco-Roman period (67 B.C. - 323 A.D.) Crete entered a new period of prosperity and a number of centres, such as Gortys, became particularly flourishing.

Answer 2

what else can anyone add?

all the best to you Mick

Answer 3

Sounds like homework to me (grin)