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Questions and Answers
Which god is mentioned as being attested only on Crete?
What do the female equivalents of Zeus and Poseidon in Minoan religion signify?
What common characteristic did Minoan and Mycenaean religions share?
Which of the following is NOT a typical offering found in Minoan and Mycenaean cult practices?
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What significant influence did the Cretan civilization experience in its development?
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At what point in history did Cretan civilization become increasingly distinctive?
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What archaeological evidence reflects the cult practices in Minoan and Mycenaean cultures?
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Which geographical areas did Cretan civilization show structural similarities with during the Bronze Age?
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What was a significant aspect of the Mycenaean religion compared to the Minoan religion?
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What was the primary domestic occupation related to textiles in Crete?
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Which natural resource was essential for creating purple dyes in the textile industry of Crete?
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What architectural feature is common to Mycenaean palaces?
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What kind of wealth contributed to Cretan prominence on par with Egypt and Babylon?
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Which material did the inhabitants of Crete use in textile production apart from wool?
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What was the general focus of the offerings made to terracotta statues in Minoan culture?
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What indicates that textile production was a significant industry in Crete?
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What is Linear B known for in relation to Mycenaean Greek?
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During which period is the recently found oldest Mycenaean writing dated?
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From which cultures did the Minoan culture derive their veneration of gods and god-rulers?
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What significance does the bull have in Minoan culture?
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What function did a rhyton serve in Minoan culture?
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What material was used to make the one-foot tall figurines associated with the Minoans?
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Where were the majority of Linear B inscriptions found?
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What does the reference to a wild cat on the crown of the female figurine suggest about Minoan beliefs?
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What type of tomb is the Treasury of Atreus commonly referred to as?
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What significant architectural feature helps support the weight of the structure above the entrance of the Treasury of Atreus?
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What is the estimated height of the structure above the entrance of the Treasury of Atreus?
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Which civilization is associated with the ruins found at Mycenae?
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What historical event is Mycenae famously linked to?
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What distinguished decorative feature is placed above the arch entrance of the Treasury of Atreus?
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What type of structure is a citadel in the context of Mycenaean ruins?
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What significant construction period is the Treasury of Atreus believed to have been completed?
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What technique is used in the creation of faience?
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What does the wall painting known as 'Bull jumping' likely represent?
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What was a central feature of the Minoan palace at Knossos?
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What is the height of 'The Toreador' fresco?
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Which material was commonly poured into the vessels mentioned?
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What aspect of the Minoan palace architecture is described as being built against the upper slopes?
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In which era was the dolphin fresco at the Minoan palace created?
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What was the layout of the Minoan palace at Knossos primarily organized around?
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Study Notes
Minoan Religion
- Minoan religion is characterized by its emphasis on female deities
- Major deities include Poseidon, Zeus, Dionysus, Potnija, Ifimedia, Diwija, and Posidaeja.
- The culture is associated with “peak sanctuaries” and the absence of temples
- Offers were typically presented in the form of statuettes of humans and animals, libation vessels, and portable tables
- The practice of “bull jumping” may have been an initiation or fertility ritual
Minoan Culture
- Minoan civilization originally influenced by Egypt and Babylon
- Became distinctive at the end of the third millennium and the beginning of the Bronze Age (c. 2100 BC)
- The manufacturing of bronze objects developed on a vast scale and supplied all the peoples on the coasts of the Eastern Mediterranean
- Minoan culture was fascinated with the veneration of the bull
- Early cultures associated their gods and god-rulers with powerful animals, especially the lion and the bull
Minoan Art and Architecture
- Minoan art and architecture demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship
- Rooms with benches and status make their appearance, which structurally resemble shrines both on mainland Greece, Syria, and Palestine
- The Minoan palace of Knossos features the “Toreador” fresco and the “Dolphin” fresco
- The palace is organized around a large central courtyard; with religious, residential, manufacturing, and warehouse space.
Mycenaean Religion
- Mycenaean and Minoan religions share many common elements
- Religions are palace-centered with an absence of temples
- Hearths and animal bones attest to banqueting
- Typical offerings include statuettes, libation vessels, and portable tables
- Mycenaean palaces are also topped with horns
- Mycenaean palaces include a megaron center where offerings are made
Mycenaean Culture
- Mycenaean culture overlapped with the Minoan period, as Crete was declining, Mycenaean culture on the mainland was rising
- The culture is associated with the land of the legend of Troy
- The Mycenaean ruins are fortresses on a hill
Mycenaean Architecture
- Mycenaean architecture is characterized by its use of Corbeling, which involves arranging courses of layers of stone so that each level projects over a stone
- Mycenaean culture is known for beehive tombs (“round buildings”)
- The “Treasury of Atreus” or “Tomb of Agamemnon” is an impressive “tholos” tomb on the Panagitsa hill at Mycenae, Greece
- The Mycenaean sculptures place a pair of 9.5 feet tall protector lions above the arch.
Linear B
- Linear B is a syllabic script used for writing Mycenaean Greek, an early form of Greek
- Pre-dated the Greek alphabet by several centuries
- Found mainly in the palace archives at Knossos, Cydonia, Pylos, Thebes, and Mycenae
- Disappeared with the fall of Mycenaean civilization
Textiles and Fashion
- Inhabitants of Crete spun wool and used flax as far back as evidence existed
- Spinning and weaving were family industries
- Everything connected with clothing was a domestic occupation.
Dyes and Colorants
- The industry used vegetable pigments as well as the purple extracted from shellfish.
Faience
- Faience is defined as glazing technique for ceramic
- Upon firing, Faience acquires a lustrous shine
Rhydons
- Rhydons are vessels utilized for pouring liquids during sacred rituals
- Liquids — water, wine, or blood — are poured into a hole in the neck and flowed out from the mouth
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Description
Test your knowledge on Minoan religion and culture, focusing on its unique practices, deities, and historical influences. Explore the significance of artifacts, rituals, and the distinctive characteristics that define the Minoan civilization. Delve into the art, architecture, and mythology that made this Bronze Age culture unique.
