The Mediterranean The Mediterranean World Part IWorld Part I

Mediterranean Europe Mediterranean Europe

and Realms and Realms

of the Aegeanof the Aegean

AtlantisAtlantis

The roots of the legendary The roots of the legendary

lost civilization examined.lost civilization examined.

The pseudoscience associated The pseudoscience associated

with the search.with the search.

Varna, BulgariaVarna, Bulgaria

►Ancient site discovered in 1972 on Ancient site discovered in 1972 on Black Sea coast. Elaborate and rich Black Sea coast. Elaborate and rich burials dated to 7000 BC suggest late burials dated to 7000 BC suggest late Neolithic/Chalcolithic period was more Neolithic/Chalcolithic period was more complex than previously imagined.complex than previously imagined.

► (see pdf reading on course website)(see pdf reading on course website)

Burial at Varna necropolis.

See link http://www.eidola.eu/image_groups/11

From such burials it is often possible to reconstruct social structure of lost societies, such as ideologies of status, rank, and religion.

Obsidian from Milos found in Franchiti cave, mainland Greece, dated to 10,000 years ago. Even with lower sea levels, this provides evidence for early seafaring.

Early Bronze Age Early Bronze Age 3500-2000 BC3500-2000 BC

►Crete and the Cyclades develop Crete and the Cyclades develop independent of Egypt. Some independent of Egypt. Some influence can be traced to influence can be traced to Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

►Trade and tribute underscore the Trade and tribute underscore the relationship between Aegean sites relationship between Aegean sites and Egypt.and Egypt.

►East of the Levant, Mesopotamia cities East of the Levant, Mesopotamia cities have emerged between the Tigris and have emerged between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Literacy begins with Euphrates rivers. Literacy begins with script impressed into clay tablets in script impressed into clay tablets in Ugarit and Uruk.Ugarit and Uruk.

► ►Greece at this time is home to only Greece at this time is home to only

small petty kingdoms or lesser tribes.small petty kingdoms or lesser tribes.

► In the Cycaldic islands seafaring is In the Cycaldic islands seafaring is dominant. Art is highly refined, and dominant. Art is highly refined, and international exchange is far reaching into international exchange is far reaching into Anatolia and beyond.Anatolia and beyond.

► After 2000 BC, settlements are destroyed. After 2000 BC, settlements are destroyed. New forms of art, pottery, architecture and New forms of art, pottery, architecture and burial customs, and a new language that burial customs, and a new language that follow strongly suggest invasion and cultural follow strongly suggest invasion and cultural replacement. But by whom?replacement. But by whom?

►Cycaldic culture is mainly a mystery, Cycaldic culture is mainly a mystery, known principally through their art and known principally through their art and fortified towns.fortified towns.

►Late Cycladic artistic motifs are shared Late Cycladic artistic motifs are shared with culture on Crete.with culture on Crete.

Cycladic artistic styles

Motifs shared with Crete. Refined pottery styles.

►New people to the region are of Indo-New people to the region are of Indo-European “stock” and introduce European “stock” and introduce cultural elements found in Europe and cultural elements found in Europe and shared in SW Asia.shared in SW Asia.

►Peoples migrating from the north Peoples migrating from the north establish themselves at Mycenae.establish themselves at Mycenae.

2000-1700 BC2000-1700 BC

►Greek mainland suffers cultural Greek mainland suffers cultural decline until Mycenaean times.decline until Mycenaean times.

►Rise of city-based kingdoms in Greek Rise of city-based kingdoms in Greek speaking regions, including Anatolia.speaking regions, including Anatolia.

►Principal power in Mediterranean is Principal power in Mediterranean is Minoan civilization, its capitol on Crete Minoan civilization, its capitol on Crete at Knossos.at Knossos.

The MediterraneanThe Mediterranean

Legend and MythLegend and Myth

Parthenon. Athens 5th century BC

Most Greek legends predate the period of Classical Greece by at least 1000 years.

Theseus and the minotaur

Plato

Trojan War

Plato and AtlantisPlato and Atlantis► In one of the philosopher’s teaching stories Plato In one of the philosopher’s teaching stories Plato

describes a lost civilization a 1000 years before his time. describes a lost civilization a 1000 years before his time. ► Although the story is embellished , it is intended to Although the story is embellished , it is intended to

recall a glorious time before the corruption of his own recall a glorious time before the corruption of his own time. Much like Homer’s Illiad, it is from the time of time. Much like Homer’s Illiad, it is from the time of Heroes.Heroes.

► The story is related as a commentary of the politics of The story is related as a commentary of the politics of his own time more than as a history lesson.his own time more than as a history lesson.

► We need to remember that Plato is the only source of We need to remember that Plato is the only source of the legend and nowhere else in Greek mythology does it the legend and nowhere else in Greek mythology does it appear.appear.

The MinoansThe Minoans

►Crete and nearby colony of Thera Crete and nearby colony of Thera (today Santorini)(today Santorini)

►Refined art, advanced technologies, Refined art, advanced technologies, trade based on seafaring.trade based on seafaring.

►Urban life, sophisticated, merchant Urban life, sophisticated, merchant class.class.

►Development of script apparently for Development of script apparently for bureaucratic purposes. bureaucratic purposes. Linear A and B (A Linear A and B (A remains undeciphered)remains undeciphered)

►Small city-states of Greece paid tribute Small city-states of Greece paid tribute to the Minoans. The Egyptians tell of to the Minoans. The Egyptians tell of Minoan power in their papyrus scrolls Minoan power in their papyrus scrolls dated to this period.dated to this period.

►On Crete, the cult of the Bull was all On Crete, the cult of the Bull was all powerful--expressed in art and ritual.powerful--expressed in art and ritual.

Excavations at Akroteri by Spiridon Marinotos

From fresco.

Atlantis?Atlantis?►Compelling evidence for Thera as an island Compelling evidence for Thera as an island

kingdom source of the legend of Atlantis. kingdom source of the legend of Atlantis. Several important parallels between the Several important parallels between the archaeology and the “legend.”archaeology and the “legend.”

► Advanced, sophisticated, naval powerAdvanced, sophisticated, naval power► Destroyed in a major natural disasterDestroyed in a major natural disaster► Described by Egyptian scribesDescribed by Egyptian scribes► Worshipped bullsWorshipped bulls► Labyrinth in the palaceLabyrinth in the palace

Early Period Early Period Greece from 1050-750 BCGreece from 1050-750 BC

► Fall of the Mycenaean occurs around 1050 Fall of the Mycenaean occurs around 1050 and leads to what has been called the “dark and leads to what has been called the “dark ages of Greece,” but really means we have ages of Greece,” but really means we have little information about these times. Literate little information about these times. Literate traditions faded and few records exist.traditions faded and few records exist.

► This is the leading edge of the Iron Age.This is the leading edge of the Iron Age.► Literacy will not emerge again until 800 Literacy will not emerge again until 800

(borrowed script from Phoenicians adapted (borrowed script from Phoenicians adapted to Greek language) and recording of oral to Greek language) and recording of oral traditions.traditions.

War and military arts dominated male life at Mycenae.

Stylistic elements of Mycenae have militaristic character.

Late Bronze AgeLate Bronze Age

►Fall (or destruction) of Minoans opened Fall (or destruction) of Minoans opened up opportunities for the Mycenaean up opportunities for the Mycenaean civilization on mainland Greece and civilization on mainland Greece and the eastern Mediterraneanthe eastern Mediterranean

►The period from 1600-1000 BC is often The period from 1600-1000 BC is often referred to as the “Age of Heroes” in referred to as the “Age of Heroes” in Greek mythology. It is the time of the Greek mythology. It is the time of the Trojan war, and heroes such as Trojan war, and heroes such as Hercules. Hercules.

Linear A

House model; fired clay.

Reconstructed Palace at Knossos by Sir Arthur Evans. Part science, part fantasy.

Stylized bull horn motif.

“Throne room”

As it might have looked.

1200 rooms.

Frescos from the palace interior.

Minoan priestesses.

ChronologyChronology

►Thera destroyed around 1600 BCThera destroyed around 1600 BC►Total collapse of Minoans a few Total collapse of Minoans a few

centuries latercenturies later►Akhenaton in EgyptAkhenaton in Egypt►Trojan war around 1550 BCTrojan war around 1550 BC►Movement of the Sea Peoples into Movement of the Sea Peoples into

eastern Mediterranean eastern Mediterranean (who they were (who they were remains a puzzle)remains a puzzle)

►Mycenaean decline after 1000 BCMycenaean decline after 1000 BC

Political and economic powerPolitical and economic power

►Controlled by sea powerControlled by sea power Minoans had strong merchant navyMinoans had strong merchant navy Phoenicians had merchant fleets and fast Phoenicians had merchant fleets and fast

galleysgalleys Greeks had merchant fleets and city-state Greeks had merchant fleets and city-state

controlled naval fleets with powerful controlled naval fleets with powerful triremes.triremes.

The trireme was state of the art sea power. This design is closer to 5th century than the time of Trojan war. Based on multiple secondary sources.

Greek Trireme Trust replica.

Your view as you are about to be rammed…

TROY AND MYCENAETROY AND MYCENAEThe Trojan War of Homer’s IlliadThe Trojan War of Homer’s Illiad

Homer

Trojan WarNext time:

The Age of Heroes

Current excavations at Current excavations at MycenaeMycenae

► See See http://www.uncg.edu/arhttp://www.uncg.edu/arc/Mochlos/settlement.hc/Mochlos/settlement.htmltml

The citadel of Mycenae

Golden death mask recovered by Heinrich Schliemann, royal tomb II at Mycenae.

He proclaimed he had “gazed on the face of Agamemnon” who had led the Greeks in the Trojan War.

The graves, however, predate the Trojan War.

Mycenaean women