Traditions in Art, Architecture, Design and the Making of Artifacts, Part 8

Question 1: It is thought that no substantial artistic activity occurred in Minoan civilization for much of its early history and often what was created was destroyed through cataclysm. However, some relics from the brief period between 1600 and 1450 BC have survived. Describe these discoveries and what they tell us about Minoan artistic style.

Answer 1: One of the most notable finds is the statuette terracotta “Snake Goddess” from 1600 BC. “Snake culture” as it has come to be called is not believed to have been indigenous to the Minoan people due to a lack of snakes in the area. Likely imported, it’s a solid indication that Minoan art was substantially influenced by outside cultures such as that of Mesopotamia during this time.The flat forms and solid color of paintings such as the mural fragment “Cat Stalking a Pheasant” seem to belie an Egyptian influence although stylistically this find is much more unique for its playful, lyrical presentation.Another notable find is the “Harvester Vase” from Hagia Triada which depicts an expressionistic scene of smiling workers engaged in the harvest of crops. The “Octopus Vase” from Palaikastro in Crete is an ornate and rather accurate rendition of swirling tentacles in the classic octopus form. The Minoans also produced the Palace of Minos at Knossos. Its labyrinth like remains ultimately contributed to the Greek legend of the Minotaur.

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Question 2: The Mycenaean people that existed along the southeastern shore of the Greek mainland from about 1600 to 1100 BC were prolific artists who cherished their work as treasure. The “Treasury of Atreus”, though long ago robbed of its contents, is just one of several tombs that have been discovered there. Describe artifacts which have been recovered from intact Mycenaean tombs.

Answer 2: The gold “Rhyton in the Shape of a Lion’s Head” is quite notable for its stylistic departure from other finds. It exhibits a bold style of smooth planes and sharp ridges that seems to indicate a Near Eastern influence.The golden “Vaphio Cups” on display in the National Museum at Athens, however, are completely Mycenaean in every way, replete with renditions of roped bulls struggling against the heel of highly stylized, muscular herders.Other work such as the fortress remnant “The Lion Gate” depicting two large, muscular lions flanking a column over a gateway is notable for its bold, militaristic style and is the first known example of monumental stone sculpture in early “Greek” Art.The ivory carving “Three Deities” is an interesting piece artistically but perhaps the greatest intrigue arises from the subject matter itself. Two women are depicted kneeling in attendance to a young male child, evocative of an oft repeated three generation family group theme in Christian art.

Question 3: Perhaps no other ancient civilization has influenced modern artistic and architectural style more than that of the ancient Greeks. Despite the proliferation of remaining artifacts, explain the unique difficulties inherent in weaving a coherent and authentic picture of their artistic history.

Answer 3: Virtually every major civilization since ancient Greece has adopted or incorporated some aspect of Greek style as its own. This popularity through the centuries has spawned numerous copies of virtually every kind of art. With older work, it can be difficult to distinguish the genuine article from a copy. Greeks were prolific writers who documented much of what they considered their most important artistic accomplishments in sculpture, paint and architecture. Unfortunately, in some instances multiple copies of a lost original have been found that vary to a certain degree in their style or substance, making corroboration with a supporting manuscript or actual remains difficult.All of this can be frustrating for the art historian concerned with accuracy. Still, what is known and what remains of ancient Greece is seen by many as an opportunity rather than a disappointment. Though a number of questions remained unanswered, much has been learned through diligent scholarship over the past two hundred years.

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