Introduction to the Ancient World: Greece

Lecture 2

Before the Greeks: the Minoan civilization on Crete 

I. The significance of the Minoans 

II. Minoan civilization (c. 2,600-1,400 B.C.)

A. The role of Crete 

B. Minos in myth: Minotaur, Labyrinth, Pasiphae, Daedalus (and son Icarus); Theseus, Ariadne, and Dionysus 

C. The Phoenician connection; priest-king; bull ritual and horns (Moses, and Bevo); cf. Egyptian law-giving Pharaoh Mna (Greek: Menes) and the etymology of  "labyrinth"

D. A visit to the Place at Knossos (excavated by Sir Arthur Evans 1900-1925) and to Akrotiri on Thera (Santorini) 

E. The end of Knossos (c. 1400); Linear A and Linear B; the volcano implosion at Thera and the myth of Atlantis 

F. Minoan arts and religion; mother goddess, nature cults   

Lecture 2 Images

(See Lecture 3)