Chapter 2 - Aegean Cultures

There are a few cultures described in this chapter.  The cultures are Cycladic on the Cyclades islands, Minoan centered on the island of Crete, and Mycenaean Cultures on the Greek mainland.  I will give a brief description of each culture.  The first culture mentioned was the Cycladic Culture (2500-2000 B.C.E.).  It was developed in the Cyclades and it’s the most ancient of the Aegean civilizations.  Statuettes were buried with the Cyclades, so it was a part of the funeral.  It’s some type of ritual because they put it in the tombs with the Cyclades when it’s buried.  Their features could vary in size and shape; like the size can start from a couple of inches to even life size statuettes.  There is one that was mentioned; the female statuette with her arms crossed.  It represents the Mother Goddess, bringer of fertility and the major deity in the ancient Aegean.   Along with statuettes, there were some wall paintings and even landscaping discovered.  The statuettes and wall paintings represent something within their culture. 

Minoan Snake Goddess

     The next culture mentioned is the Minoan Culture (ca. 2000 B.C.E.).  This culture was created by an offspring of Zeus.   Zeus is the chief deity in the Greek pantheon of the gods; whose main characteristics include his ability to change his physical form and attraction to women in human form.    They also have several sculptures, wall paintings, and even architectures; which symbolizes something in their culture.  They built unusual and distinctive type of columns.  The largest architecture built is referred to as palaces that serve as the housing for ruling families; also serve different types of functions.

     The last culture mentioned is the Mycenaean Culture (beginning about 2000 B.C.E.).  It can also be called Helladic Age; Hellas is the Greek word for Greece.  Between the Mycenae and Tiryns, the Mycenae was the richest center and most powerful of the two.  The culture took its name from the city.  Like the other two cultures mentioned, this culture has different types of architectures.  The famous architecture built, in limestone, was the Lion Gate; which was built in ca. 1300-1200 B.C.E.  It was so-called Treasury of Atreus that was actually a tomb.