VALDESPINOSA_PLATE 4- AEGEAN PERIOD

AEGEAN PERIODSTYLE.

Aegean Civilization is the term used to denote the Bronze Age civilization that developed in the basin of the Aegean Sea, mainly on Crete, the Cyclades Islands, and the mainland of Greece.

VALDESPINOSA VEYJEN

AEGEAN

Aegean

Bronze

Age—

using metal ores imported from Europe, Arabia, and Anatolia they then make beautiful objects they export

FROM 3000 TO 1000 BCE Egypt and the peoples of the Ancient near east were especially important Greek civilization rose from the Dorians who overwhelmed the Mycenaeans.

ART ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN

THE BURIED CITY OF AKROTIRI, SANTORINI

Akrotiri started life as a simple fishing and farming village, growing olives and grains. But because it was positioned on the trade route between Europe and the Middle East, the money flowed in and it grew up into a big, prosperous port city.

During the Bronze Age, when people in Britain were still living in huts and building stone circles. It’s even said that Akrotiri was Plato’s inspiration for the city of Atlantis.

But somewhere between 1620 and 1530 BC, it all went wrong for Akrotiri when the huge volcano Thera erupted and blew the centre right out of the island of Santorini

GREECE’S POMPEII (MINOAN)

WEST HOUSE IN AKROTIRI, RECONSTRUCTION

Akrotiri was a democratic place though, which had its own parliament and no palaces. People lived in two- and three-storey houses which came with balconies, underfloor heating, hot and cold running water and some of the first indoor toilets.

Because the settlement was covered in volcanic ash, the preservation has been remarkable.

A MINOAN BATH TUB THE MINOAN VERSION OF A TOILET

THE BOXERS AND ANTELOPE DEPICTIONS, BOTH IN A SINGLE ROOM, ARE THOUGHT BY SOME TO HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE SAME ARTIST

The Minoan people decorated Akrotiri with elaborate painted frescoes, made their own wine and crafted furniture, pots and sculptures.

PALEKA STRO

is a Minoan town unearthed at the Rousolakos location near the modern town of Palekastro. It is located strategically at the East shore of Crete adjacent to the sheltered harbor of Chiona, a few kilometers North of the palace of Kato Zakros

The location could not be any more appropriate for settlement Fertile land all around would have provided ample crops to sustain a large local population Palekastro, unlike Zakros has relatively easy access towards the interior of the island. The two neighboring harbors of Chiona, and Kouremenos immediately to the north are still rich fishing grounds just like they must have been in ancient times

The homes, especially those facing the main road were very impressive, can find evidence of affluence in a large building found in area B with a kitchen, four rows of columns, a bathing tank, a well, an altar, a bathroom, and an oil storage facility. A complete sewage systems serviced the entire town. Many every day utilitarian artifacts were found in the ruins like amphoras and oil lamps, along with some precious objects like the Ivory Statuette.

The ruins at the archaeological site that has been excavated must comprise a very small part of a vast settlement.

STATUETTE OF A MALE FIGURE

PALACE OF ZAKROS

The palace plan follows the typical minoan outline, with its large central court flanked by buildings for cult, storage, administration, and public events. To the east of the main court were the chambers for the king and the queen, and to the west rooms for religious activities and public events. The "Treasury of the Shrine" is the only such room that was found untouched by robbers and yielded a great deal of precious artifacts. The wealth of imported materials such as ivory, various metals, and semi-precious stones testifies to the intense commercial activity of the palace. A large amount of rare clay tablets inscribed in Linear A were also unearthed from the Archive room. Many of the surviving tablets were preserved because they baked during the fire that destroyed the palace in 1450

The palace of Kato Zakros is located at the eastern end of Crete at the slopes of a low rocky hill and surrounded by rugged mountains to the east. A stone paved road took the inhabitants from the palace entrance to the nearby harbor which was easily reached in a few minutes by foot

Zakros is the smallest of the known Minoan palaces, about five times smaller than Knossos, and its location nearest the commercial destinations of Egypt, Cyprus and the Middle East transcended it to an important hub for economic and military activity

To the east the "Gorge of the Dead" that slices the rocky mountains connects the palace to the modern day Epano Zakros, and beyond to the mainland. The inhabitants of Zakros must have been able to make a living from the sea because there is not sufficient fertile land around the site to sustain a large population through agriculture.

RUINS AND ARTIFACTS

THE PALACE OF NESTOR AT PYLOS

Pylos was a significant Mycenaean Bronze Age city located in the region of Messenia,Greece. Pylos has provided the largest collection of Linear B tablets on the mainland and is the best-preserved palatial centre of the Mycenaean Civilization. In mythology, Pylos was the home of the son of Poseidon; Neleus, and his son Nestor.

Central to the Mycenaean settlement at Pylos is the Palace of Nestor, named after the Greek hero Nestor; known from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey; "among them uprose Nestor, that was king of sandy Pylos" (Iliad II. 2.76).

While there are no citadel walls, the palace sits on a hill. It consists of many rooms with a large square room known as a megaron at the center. At the center of the megaron is a large circular hearth and on the east side there is a place for a wooden throne. To the left of the entrance there are archive rooms, where many Linear Btablets have been found. There is also evidence of an upper floor and many rooms including pantries and large storage rooms.

The east side of the palace is thought to be more residential and it has a smaller megaron called the Queen’s Megaron. The palace at Pylos is known for the bright fresco paintings which have been found on the remains of the palace walls. These include such images as a stylized octopus, a procession and a fighting scene known as the Tarzan fresco.

The structures on the hill burned down c. 1400 BCE, and the new complex built there was the final Palace of Nestor. It consisted of a "Main Building, Southwestern Building, Northeastern Building, and Wine Magazine;" structures that stood until its final destruction c. 1180 BCE (Davis, 684).

The rooms were highly decorated with frescoes; many of which have survived. Additionally, surviving decoration around the hearth in the megaron shows detail of flames encircling the base

GRAVE CIRCLE

Surrounding the central Palace of Nestor is a rich mortuary landscape comprised of several chamber tombs, the so-called 'Grave Circle' and multiple tholoi or beehive tombs. From the numerous burials located at Pylos, they are all considered 'elite'; the burial places for the rest of the Pylos community is unknown

Griffin serving as Seal for the modern city of Pylos

Mycenaean Vase Decorated With Bulls & Birds

Nestor and his Sons

Sacrificing to Poseidon

Lyre Player and Bird Fresco

Mycenaean Warriors

THE PHAISTOS DISC

The Bronze seal of Troy VIIb, from the 12th century BCE, is still the only piece of writing found at Bronze Age Troy

The famous Phaistos Disc is one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries. Neither its origin nor the meaning of the inscription could yet be determined. Countless speculations and attempts to decipher it, especially by laypeople, have caused scholars to deal with this object only reluctantly, if at all. It is hoped that future excavations will eventually unearth more documents of a similar nature.

Side B of the Phaistos Disc

A clay disk fragment bearing sings similar to those of the Discos of Phaistos was discovered in 1992

It contains over 240 spirally arranged human, animal and plant motifs that were printed with individual stamps. Its sophisticated manufacturing technology with movable type is in direct contrast to the uniqueness of the find. The use of reusable stamps only makes sense if used several times or even frequently. Practically everything that concerns the disc is controversial; this even includes the orientation of the writing and the language used.

This is a Kamares ware vessel with an abstract floral design. Minoan, circa 2100–1700 BCE

Rhyton in the form of a bull’s head

Mycenaean Circa 1600–1500 BCE Found in Grave Circle0

These terracotta bovine figures may be oxen or bulls, 2200-2000 BCE

Mycenaean Terra cotta stirrup jar c 1350 BCE

The Cup of Nestor Gold, circa 1600–1500 BCE. Gold diadems Circa 1600–1500 BCE Found in Grave Circle A

These flat, abstracted figurines of the female body provide one example of how its representation evolved in Cycladic art, 33002700 BCE

A mycenaean hunting dagger with a scene of a lion hunt Bronze with gold, silver, and niello inlay Circa 16th century BCE

PORTOROTONDO PRIVATEBAY VILLA|SARDINIA

Incorporating elements of Aegean interior design into a modern interior can create a unique and visually appealing space that combines the timeless beauty of the Aegean region with contemporary comfort and style.

Barley

Corn #B69167

Grey Chateau #98A2A9

Dune #53514A

Bistre #38281B

Sand

Dune #847765

Corbelled Arches: While not true arches, were a distinctive feature of Aegean architecture. These arch-like structures were created by gradually overlapping stones or bricks to form a curved shape.

The use of mosaic tiles, reminiscent of ancient Aegean art, in the kitchen or bathroom backsplash.

Whitewashed walls or lightcolored paint can mimic the bright and airy feel of traditional Aegean interiors.

Natural Lighting: Maximize natural light by using sheer curtains or light-colored window treatments.

NATURAL MATERIAL:

Incorporate natural materials like stone, wood, terracotta and wicker. Use stone tiles or wooden flooring for an authentic touch. These materials evoke the rustic charm of Aegean architecture.

Open and Airy Layout, Potted plants, Ocean View

SOURCES:

Porto Rotondo Private Bay Villa: Sardinia SopranoVillas (n d ) https://www sopranovillas com/property/porto-rotondo-private-bay-villa-sardinia/

The Phaistos Disc | Luwian Studies. (2022, September 21). Luwian Studies. https://luwianstudies.org/the-phaistos-disc/?fbclid=IwAR0FmhZLcYsbikwniN0B QjenotRgYpD9YnheCyrqpzE8BSw5T8AKGDQsU aem AUuo0R1LtDi7HEH0wBwda D1OPb8sEwJ4Ii3nOXNX1ksCV7E0Fv4nggThQaWCoaRJks

Judson, V a P B a P (2022b, July 1) Visiting the Palace of Nestor at Pylos – virtually It’s All Greek to Me https://itsallgreektoanna wordpress com/2020/08/24/visiting-the-palace-of-nestor-at-pylos-virtually/

Dowson, T (2023, September 22) Visiting Akrotiri in Santorini - Minoan Archaeological site Archaeology Travel https://archaeology-travel com/greece/southaegean/santorini/akrotiri/

Sakoulas, T (n d ) Palekastro This Page and All Its Contents Are Copyright © 2002-today, Ancient-Greece org

All Rights Reserved For Copyright Release Information, See the About Page https://www ancient-greece org/archaeology/palekastro html Macquire, K. (2023). Pylos. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Pylos/