Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – The Mykenaia

Find spot:  “House of the High Priest” Southwest Building at the Acropolis of Mycenae, Cult CentreDate: 13th century BCEClothing depicted: heanos, bolero jacket, wrap skirt, bracelets, necklace, head wrap, beltMuseum link: National Archaeological Museum of Athens https://www.namuseum.gr/en/collection/syllogi-mykinaikon-archaiotiton/ What I see:She has two right hands. In “New Reconstruction of the “Mykenaia” and a Seated Woman from Mycenae” the author, Bernice R. Jones, notes,…

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Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – Xesté 3, Room 3b, Ground Floor – Men

Find spot:  Akrotiri, island of Thera (Santorini), Xesté 3, wall paintings from Room 3b, Ground FloorDate: 17th century BCE (circa 1600–1550 BCE)Clothing depicted: kilt (maybe), Museum link: Museum of Prehistoric Thera, Santorini https://www.namuseum.gr/en/collection/syllogi-archaiotiton-thiras/ Male figures presumed to be performing a rite of passage ceremony. “The frescoes surrounding the lustral basin of Xestè 3, furthermore, depicting female figures of different ages and hairstyles and a…

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Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Hagia Triada Sarcophagus

Find spot:  Crete, Hagia Triada, Tomb 4.Date: about 1400 BCEClothing depicted: heanos, possibly bolero jacket, tulip hat, hide skirtMuseum link: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/4/eh430.jsp?obj_id=7913 This masterpiece is a unique stone chest sarcophagus which was discovered in a funerary building near the Villa of Hagia Triada by Italian archaeologist Roberto Paribeni in 1903. The outer surface is covered with a thin coat of…

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Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – Camp Stool Fresco or Libation Fresco

Find spot:  Crete, Knossos, on the wall of Sanctuary Hall of the Piano Nobile (Upper Floor or “Floor of the Noble”)Date: 1450-1350/1300 BCEClothing depicted: sacral knot, heanos, striped cloth, makeupMuseum link: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete A fresco which was painted on the wall of Sacntary Hall depicting men and women in a ceremonial banqueting scene.

Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – “La Parisienne”

Find spot:  Crete, Knossos, on the Sanctuary Hall of the Piano Nobile (Upper Floor or “Floor of the Noble”)Date: 1450-1350/1300 BCEClothing depicted: sacral knot, heanos, striped cloth, makeupMuseum link: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete https://heraklionmuseum.gr/en/exhibit/la-parisienne-fresco/ “La Parisienne” is part of the Camp Stool Fresco. Edmond Pottier gave her the name as he felt she resembled a contemporary woman from Paris.

Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – Pylos Chariot

Find spot: Pylos, GreeceDate: ca. 1350 BCEClothing depicted: short-sleeved tunic, boar’s tusk helmet, helmet crest, Museum link: ??? Possibly Archaeological Museum of Chora (in Messenia, Greece) This looks like a watercolor reproduction by Piet de Jong of the fresco from Pylos. Interesting related articles:THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES: Guest Post: A Mycenaean Chariot in the Knossos Armory by Richard Vallance https://theshieldofachilles.net/2017/05/26/guest-post-a-mycenaean-chariot-in-the-knossos-armory/THE SHIELD OF ACHILLES: Guest…

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Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – Tripartite Shrine Fresco (Grandstand Fresco)

Find spot: Knossos, CreteDate: 1600-1500 BCEClothing depicted: heanos, wrap skirt, hair bands, possible diaphanous chemise, Museum link: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete https://ca.heraklionmuseum.gr/ca/pawtucket/index.php/Detail/objects/390 Water color by Emile Gilliéron https://harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/291769 Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tripartite_Shrine_(grandstand_or_sacred_grove_and_shrine),_fresco_from_Knossos

Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco – Hunting Scene

Find spot: Palace of Nestor, Pylos, GreeceDate: Clothing depicted: short-sleeved tunic, belt, gaiters/greavesMuseum link: Archaeological Museum of Chora (in Messenia, Greece) 16 H 43 Fragment of wall fresco showing a hunter and stag at the Palace of Nestor. This fragment was part of the upper floor having fallen into room 43. On display at the Chora museum. Interesting articles: “Single Greaves in the Late…

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Minoan/Mycenaean Source Materials

Fresco –  Captain of the Blacks 

Find spot: Crete, Knossos, House of Frescoes, Date: 1350-1300 BCEClothing depicted: kilt, armband, anklet shown but not actually part of any extant fragmentMuseum link: Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Crete Fragment of a fresco. Evans interpreted this as a Captain and a troop of blacks (from article in Ancient World Magazine). It is important to remember that this assessment was made through the view of racism…

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