Introduction

Aegean Art is the prehistoric art of Greek art. Its the combination of art work from different cultures that surrounded the Aegean Sea. There are three major arts with Aegean Art, Cycladic Art, Minoan Art, and Mycenaean Art. The Cycladic art is the earliest form or Aegean Art, ranging from 2600-1100 B.C.E. They are mostly statues of men and women. They are wedge shaped bodies and oval faces. Minoan art is from Crete and many other surrounding islands and ranges from 2700 – 1450 BCE. Minoan art gets its name from King Minos, Greek Myth. Minoan art is highly decorated and detailed with nature. Many believe the art is related to Egyptian art because of the human and animal symbolism. The artwork is very advanced. The third art is Mycenaean Art which ranges from 1650 – 1200 BCE. They are also somewhat related to Egyptian Art, as they both glorify their rulers.

Title: Female Figure

Date Range: 2600-2300 B.C.E

Medium: Marble

Dimensions: 16 in

Current Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Female Figure is representing a fertility Goddess or Venus type figurine. The style of the sculpture shows the human body as almost a pure and elegant body shape. She has natural proportions. The head is the shape of an oval and just only has a nose on the face. The neck is very long and almost thick. The upper body is wide and the sculptor crossed her arms almost as if she should her body. For her hands, she just has just lines for her fingers. As for her bottom half is is not very detailed until her feet. She could have been used as a votive offering to a deity.

Title: The “Spring” Fresco

Date Range: 1600-1625 BCE

Dimensions: 7’6″ high

Current Location: National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

The Spring Fresco is the only perfectly preserved mural painting. It is the largest and most complete prehistoric example of a pure landscape painting. The use of vibrant colors and nature causes it to be full of life. The flowers are almost “dancing” or “flowing” in the wind in the mural. The  red flowers are growing out of the volcanic formations. The birds flying above the flowers showing spring time where new life is born.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Marine Style Octopus Jar

Date: 1450 B.C.E

Medium: Ceramic

Dimensions: 11″ High

Current location: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion

The octopus jar is an example of Minoan pottery. The jar is round with small opens at the top with handles. On the jar is covered with sea. It is almost celebrating the Aegean Sea. The main figure on the jar is an octopus. The octopus has long tentacles with unrealistic big eyes. When you first look at it he almost looks like he is smiling at you, almost animated. The octopus is surrounded by other objects from the sea, coral and shells.  With the use of more objects of the sea it is a clear representation of love for the sea. Artist were known to create art of what they saw everyday and items they loved and this is key to Minoan art.

Title: Mask of Agamemnon

Date range: 1550-1500 B.C.E

Dimensions: 12″

Current Location: National Archaeological Museum, Athens

The gold mask is very detailed. You see a detailed face. The most detailed parts of the mask are the eyebrows and the beard, it has the affect of it being lifelike. The mask is showing that he is important because of how detailed it is and how emotionless he is. Some believe it is the mask of King Agamemnon. They believe this is his face and that before he died they created this mask and buried it with him. The use of the gold shows how important he is.

Cite: Harrington, Spencer P.M., et al. “Behind the Mask of Agamemnon.” Archaeology, vol. 52, no. 4, 1999, pp. 51–59. JSTOR, JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41779424.