Chapter 2: Historical Background of Greek Mythology Flashcards
1
Q
Bronze Age Periods
A
- Divided into the following early, middle, and late, and then further divided according to geographic area
- Minoan: Crete
- Cycladic: the Islands
- Helladic: Greek mainland
- Early Bronze Age: 3000-2000 BC
- Early Minoan, Early Cycladic, Early Helladic
- Middle Bronze Age: 2000-1600 BC
- Middle Minoan, Middle Cycladic, Middle Helladic
- Late Bronze Age: 1600-1100 BC
- Late Minoan, Late Cycladic, Late Helladic (aka Mycenaean Age)
2
Q
Minos
A
- A legendary king of Crete and the namesake for the Minoan culture
- Became known as a judge in the underworld in later Greek Mythology
3
Q
The Palace at Cnossus
A
- A luxurious castle located in Cnossus in Crete, the capitol of the great thalossocracy (sea power) of the Minoans
- Legends of the Labyrinth were inspired by the complex plan of the palace
- Legendary home of the Minotaur
- Contained no defensive walls but had flushing toilets and many decorations
4
Q
Mycenaean Age
A
- 1600-1100 BC in mainland Greece
- Eclipsed the Minoan culture in 1400 BC
- Mycenaean ancestors arrived to mainland Greece around 2000 BC
- Architecture and art show that the Mycenaeans had a warlike culture
5
Q
Linear B
A
- The alphabet of the Mycenaeans
- Language is a form of Greek
- Deciphered by Michaeal Ventris in 1952 based on tablets discovered throughout Greece
- Based on Linear A, the undeciphered alphabet of of the Minoans
6
Q
Cities of Troy
A
- There are nine cities of Troy, built one on top of the other
- Despite claims by archaeologists throughout the years, the Trojan War was believed to have taken place in Troy VIIa (traditionally accepted to have taken place in 1184)
- Troy IX was known to the Romans 3000 years after Troy I was built and was revered as the home of Aeneas, ancestor of the Romans
7
Q
Luwian Seal
A
- An artifact of Troy that bears an inscription in Luwian (a dialect of Hittite which was probably the language of commerce in the area)
- The first prehistoric transcription found in Troy, from the second half of the 12th century BC
- Trojans probably spoke a dialect of Greek
8
Q
Tomb of Achilles
A
- A large hill near Troy that was believed in classical times to be the tomb of Achilles
- Once called Besik Tape but now called Sivri Tape
- Visited by Xerxes and Alexander the Great before their invasion of Greece and Persia, respectively
- Found nearby a Mycenaean graveyard
- Supports the theory that the Mycenaens were the attackers of Troy
9
Q
Homer
A
- Believed to have lived somewhere between 850 - 750 BC (assuming he lived at all)
- Trojan War took place around 1200 BC, which means there is a gap of at least 400 years between the war and the writer
- Writings of Homer signaled the end of the Greek Dark Ages and the return of writing (and culture) to Greece
10
Q
Frank Calvert
A
- An amateur archaeologist who believed that the Hisarlik was the site of Troy
- Undertook a preliminary investigation (1863-1868) but did not have the finances to continue
11
Q
Heinrich Schliemann
A
- Went to Greece in Turkey in the 1870s and through and excavated Mycenae and Troy
- Pioneer in the field of archaeology
- Used destructive techniques and manipulated findings
12
Q
Wilhelm Dörpfeld
A
- An architect who assisted Heinrich Schliemann in his excivations and continued the excavation of Troy after his death (1882-1890)
13
Q
Sir Arthur Evans
A
- Excavated/discovered the Minoan (named after the legendary King Minos) civilization in Crete in 1899
- Unearthed the palace of Minos
14
Q
Carl Blegan
A
- An archaeologist who reexamined the site of Troy (1032-1938)
- Discovered that Troy XIIa was the site of the Trojan War
15
Q
Manfred Korfmann
A
- Latest excavator of Troy (1988)
