The great collection of Minoan art is in the museum at Heraklion, near Knossos on the north shore of Crete. Minoan art, with other remains of material culture, especially the sequence of ceramic styles, has allowed archaeologists to define three phases of Minoan culture. The first, Early Minoan phase (EMI, EMII and EMIII) rose out of local Neolithic culture about 2500 BC and lasted until about 2300 BC. The Middle Minoan culture (MMI, MMII and MMIII) lasted from about 2150 BC to 1700 BC. The Late Minoan phase is also subdivided in thre ...

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Minoan civilization, Minoan civilization - Geography and climate, Minoan civilization - Chronological history, Minoan civilization - Theories of failure, Minoan civilization - Agriculture, Minoan civilization - Palaces, Minoan civilization - Art, Minoan civilization - Culture, Minoan civilization - Language and writing, Minoan civilization - Politics, Minoan civilization - Religion, Minoan civilization - Warfare and The Minoan Peace, Minoan civilization - Technology, Minoan civilization - Archeological Sites, Minoan civilization - Note

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Minoan civilization, Minoan civilization - Geography and climate, Minoan civilization - Chronological history, Minoan civilization - Theories of failure, Minoan civilization - Agriculture, Minoan civilization - Palaces, Minoan civilization - Art, Minoan civilization - Culture, Minoan civilization - Language and writing, Minoan civilization - Politics, Minoan civilization - Religion, Minoan civilization - Warfare and The Minoan Peace, Minoan civilization - Technology, Minoan civilization - Archeological Sites, Minoan civilization - Note

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The Minoans worshipped goddesses, (see Rodney Castleden, Minoans, 1994; Goodison and Morris, Ancient Goddesses, 1998; Nanno Marinatos, Minoan Religion, 1993; etc.). Although there is some indication of male gods, depictions of Minoan goddesses vastly outnumber depictions of anything that could be considered a Minoan god. There seem to be several goddesses including a Mother Goddess of fertility, a Mistress of the Animals, a protectress of cities, the household, the harvest, and the underworld, and more. Some would argue ...

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Minoan civilization, Minoan civilization - Geography and climate, Minoan civilization - Chronological history, Minoan civilization - Theories of failure, Minoan civilization - Agriculture, Minoan civilization - Palaces, Minoan civilization - Art, Minoan civilization - Culture, Minoan civilization - Language and writing, Minoan civilization - Politics, Minoan civilization - Religion, Minoan civilization - Warfare and The Minoan Peace, Minoan civilization - Technology, Minoan civilization - Archeological Sites, Minoan civilization - Note

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Aegean civilization is the general term for the prehistoric civilizations in Greece and the Aegean. It was formerly called "Mycenaean" because its existence was first brought to popular notice by Heinrich Schliemann's excavations at Mycenae starting in 1876. However, subsequent discoveries have made it clear that Mycenae was not the chief center of Aegean civilization in its earlier stages (or perhaps at any period), and accordingly it is more usual now to use the more general geographical title. Aegean civilization - Di ...

Including:

Aegean civilization - Distinctive features
Aegean civilization - Indigenous script Aegean civilization - Art Aegean civilization - Architecture
Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization
Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity Aegean civilization - Chronology. Aegean civilization - Annals
Aegean civilization - Political Organization Aegean civilization - Religion Aegean civilization - Social Organization Aegean civilization - Commerce Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead Aegean civilization - Artistic Production Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation Aegean civilization - External link

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Labrys is the term for a doubleheaded axe, known to the Classical Greeks as pelekus πέλεκυς or sagaris (the term for a single-bladed axe being hēmipelekus "half-pelekus", e.g. Il. 23.883). Representations of the labrys are on Neolithic finds of "Old Europe", and the labrys is continued in Minoan Thracian, Greek (and Byzantine) art and mythology. It also appears in African mythology (see Shango). Today, it is sometimes used as a symbol associated with female and matristic power. Labrys - Etymo ...

Including:

Labrys - Etymology Labrys - Minoan civilization Labrys - Ancient Greece Labrys - Popular culture

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In Greek mythology, Minos was a semi-legendary king of Crete, son of Zeus and Europa. The Minoan civilization has been named after him. By his wife, Pasiphae, he was the father of Ariadne, Androgeus, Deucalion, Phaedra, Glaucus, Catreus and many others. Minos, along with his brothers, Rhadamanthys and Sarpedon, was raised by King Asterion (or Asterius) of Crete. When Asterion died, he gave his throne to Minos, who banished Sarpedon and ( ...

Including:

Minos - The historical and scholarly Minos
Minos - Minos in art
Minos - The mythological Minos
Minos - Glaucus Minos - Poseidon Daedalus and Pasiphae Minos - Theseus Minos - Nisus Minos - The death of Minos Minos - In poetry

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Commerce was practised to some extent in very early times, as is proved by the distribution of Melian obsidian over all the Aegean area and by the Nilotic influence on early Minoan art. We find Cretan vessels exported to Melos, Egypt and the Greek mainland. Melian vases came in their turn to Crete. After 1600 B.C. there is very close commerce with Egypt, and Aegean things had their way to all coasts of the Mediterranean. No traces of currency have come to light, unless certain axeheads, too slight for practical use, had that character. Stand ...

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Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - Distinctive features, Aegean civilization - Indigenous script, Aegean civilization - Art, Aegean civilization - Architecture, Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization, Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity, Aegean civilization - Chronology., Aegean civilization - Annals, Aegean civilization - Political Organization, Aegean civilization - Religion, Aegean civilization - Social Organization, Aegean civilization - Commerce, Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead, Aegean civilization - Artistic Production, Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation, Aegean civilization - External link

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The uniqueness of Aegean civilization has never been in doubt, since its remains came to be studied seriously. For a time the surviving remains were thought to have originated with Egyptians or Phoenicians, but with more remains uncovered this was shown to be untrue. The Aegean civilization developed three distinctive features. Aegean civilization - Indigenous script. An indigenous writing system existed which consisted of characters with which only a very small percentage were identical, or even obviously ...

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Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - Distinctive features, Aegean civilization - Indigenous script, Aegean civilization - Art, Aegean civilization - Architecture, Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization, Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity, Aegean civilization - Chronology., Aegean civilization - Annals, Aegean civilization - Political Organization, Aegean civilization - Religion, Aegean civilization - Social Organization, Aegean civilization - Commerce, Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead, Aegean civilization - Artistic Production, Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation, Aegean civilization - External link

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In the absence of written records, only a summary history can be derived from monuments and archaeological remains. But the decipherment of writings in recent times has added much new knowledge. Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity. A great deal of evidence has been uncovered by archaeology which answers the question how much the Aegean civilization, which existed for at least three thousand years, can be regarded as continuous. Aegean civilization had its roots in a long-lasting primitive Neolithic ...

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Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - Distinctive features, Aegean civilization - Indigenous script, Aegean civilization - Art, Aegean civilization - Architecture, Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization, Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity, Aegean civilization - Chronology., Aegean civilization - Annals, Aegean civilization - Political Organization, Aegean civilization - Religion, Aegean civilization - Social Organization, Aegean civilization - Commerce, Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead, Aegean civilization - Artistic Production, Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation, Aegean civilization - External link

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For details of monumental evidence the articles on Crete, Mycenae, Tiryns, Troad, Cyprus, etc., must be consulted. The most representative site explored up to now is Cnossus (see Crete) which has yielded not only the most various but the most continuous evidence from the Neolithic age to the twilight of classical civilization. Next in importance come Hissarlik, Mycenae, Phaestus, Hagia Triada, Tiryns, Phylakope, Palaikastro and Gournia. A. INTERNAL EVIDENCE Structures; Ruins of palaces, palatial villas, hous ...

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Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - Distinctive features, Aegean civilization - Indigenous script, Aegean civilization - Art, Aegean civilization - Architecture, Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization, Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity, Aegean civilization - Chronology., Aegean civilization - Annals, Aegean civilization - Political Organization, Aegean civilization - Religion, Aegean civilization - Social Organization, Aegean civilization - Commerce, Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead, Aegean civilization - Artistic Production, Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation, Aegean civilization - External link

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The curtain-wall and towers of the Mycenaean citadel, its gate with heraldic lions, and the great "Treasury of Atreus" had borne silent witness for ages before Heinrich Schliemann's time; but they were supposed only to speak to the Homeric, or at farthest a rude Heroic beginning of purely Hellenic, civilization. It was not until Schliemann exposed the contents of the graves which lay just inside the gate, that scholars recognized the advanced stage ...

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Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - Distinctive features, Aegean civilization - Indigenous script, Aegean civilization - Art, Aegean civilization - Architecture, Aegean civilization - History of Aegean Civilization, Aegean civilization - Origin and continuity, Aegean civilization - Chronology., Aegean civilization - Annals, Aegean civilization - Political Organization, Aegean civilization - Religion, Aegean civilization - Social Organization, Aegean civilization - Commerce, Aegean civilization - Treatment of the Dead, Aegean civilization - Artistic Production, Aegean civilization - Evidence of Aegean civilization, Aegean civilization - The discovery of Aegean civiliation, Aegean civilization - External link

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The Greek Dark Ages (ca. 1200 BC–800 BC) refers to the period of Greek prehistory from the presumed Dorian invasion and end of the Mycenaean civilization in the 11th century BC to the rise of the first Greek city-states in the 9th century BC and the epics of Homer and earliest writings in alphabetic Greek in the 8th century BC. The collapse of the Mycenaean coincided with the fall of several other large empires in the near east, most notably the Hittite and the Egyptian. The cause may be attributed to an invasion of the sea p ...

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History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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There are no fixed or universally agreed dates for the beginning or the end of the Ancient Greek period. In common usage it refers to all Greek history before the Roman Empire, but historians use the term more precisely. Some writers include the periods of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, while others argue that these civilizations were so different from later Greek cultures that they should be classed separately. Traditionally, the Ancient Greek period was taken to begin with the date of the first Olympic Games in 776 B ...

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History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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The Hellenistic period of Greek history begins with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and ends with the annexation of the Greek peninsula and islands by Rome in 146 BC. Although the establishment of Roman rule did not break the continuity of Hellenistic society and culture, which remained essentially unchanged until the advent of Christianity, it did mark the end of Greek political independence. During the Hellenistic period the importance of "Greece proper" (that is, the territory of modern Greece) within the Greek-speaking ...

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History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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Militarily Greece itself declined to the point that the Romans conquered the land (168 BC onwards), though Greek culture would in turn conquer Roman life. Although the period of Roman rule in Greece is conventionally dated as starting from the sacking of Corinth by the Roman Lucius Mummius in 146 BC, Macedonia had already come under Roman control with the defeat of its king, Perseus, by the Roman Aemilius Paullus at Pydna in 168 BC. The Romans divided the region into four smaller republics, and in 146 BC Macedonia officially became a Roman p ...

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History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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The history of the Byzantine Empire is described by scholar August Heisenberg as the history "of the Roman state of the Greek nation, that turned Christian". The division of the empire into East and West and the subsequent collapse of the Western Roman Empire were developments that constantly accentuated the position of the Greeks in the empire and eventually allowed them to become identified with it altogether. The leading role of Constantinople began when Constantine the Great turned Byzantium into the new capital of the Roman Empire, henceforth to be known as Constantinople, placing the city at the centre of Hellenism a ...

See also:

History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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The Ottomans ruled Greece until the early 19th century. In 1821, the Greeks rebelled in the Greek War of Independence and declared their independence, but did not succeed until 1829. The elites of powerful European nations saw the war of Greek independence, with its accounts of Turkish atrocities, in a romantic light (see, for example, the 1824 painting Massacre of Chios by Eugène Delacroix). Scores of non-Greeks volunteered to fight for the cause—including, for example Lord Byron—and indeed at times the Ottomans seemed on the po ...

See also:

History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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Mycenaean Greece, also known as Bronze Age Greece, is the Late Helladic Bronze Age civilization of Ancient Greece. It lasted from the arrival of the Greeks in the Aegean around 1600 BC to the collapse of their Bronze Age civilization around 1100 BC. It is the historical setting of the epics of Homer and much other Greek mythology. The Mycenaean period takes its name from the archaeological site Mycenae in the northeastern Argolid, in the Peloponnesos of southern Greece. Athe ...

See also:

History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

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Mycenaean Greece, also known as Bronze Age Greece, is the Late Helladic Bronze Age civilization of Ancient Greece. It lasted from the arrival of the Greeks in the Aegean around 1600 BC to the collapse of their Bronze Age civilization around 1100 BC. It is the historical setting of the epics of Homer and much other Greek mythology. The Mycenaean period takes its name from the archaeological site Mycenae in the northeas ...

See also:

History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

Read more here: » History of Greece: Encyclopedia II - History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age

The history of the Byzantine Empire is described by scholar August Heisenberg as the history "of the Roman state of the Greek nation, that turned Christian". The division of the empire into East and West and the subsequent collapse of the Western Roman Empire were developments that constantly accentuated the position of the Greeks in the empire and eventually allowed them to become identified with it altogether. The leading role of Constantinople began when Constantine the Great turned Byzantium into the new capital of the Roman Empire, henceforth to be known as Con ...

See also:

History of Greece, History of Greece - Aegean civilization: prehistoric Greece, History of Greece - Mycenaean Greece Bronze Age, History of Greece - Greek Dark Ages, History of Greece - Ancient Greece, History of Greece - Hellenistic Greece, History of Greece - Roman Period, History of Greece - Medieval Greece, History of Greece - Ottoman Rule and the Rise of Modern Greece, History of Greece - Creation of the Modern Greek State

Read more here: » History of Greece: Encyclopedia II - History of Greece - Medieval Greece