Palace style
The palace style is a Cretomino ceramic style from around 1450 BC. BC to 1350 BC . AD This period corresponds to the Late Minoan period (SM) II - III A1. The name palace style is a translation of the English name Palace Style for this ceramic style. This designation was chosen by Sir Arthur John Evans because it is mostly large storage vessels of special quality that were mainly found in the vicinity of the palace of Knossos .
description
While in the previous period SM I naturalistic images were painted on the ceramic, the depictions of SM II became more and more abstract. The style is characterized by geometrical rigor and a tendency towards symmetries. In contrast to the other Minoan ceramic styles, the palace style was almost exclusively restricted to Knossos. A few pieces were found on Psira and in Kommos . Nothing like this was found in Malia , Phaistos and Kato Zakros .
The motifs shown correspond to the previous time. However, the papyrus plant is now very popular - also in connection with a wave pattern. Furthermore, one often finds octopuses . Further picture elements are the so-called triglyph rosette frieze , 8-shaped shields and helmets. New shapes appear for the vessels: the ephyrian beaker , the crater , the compact alabastron and bowls with horizontal handles.
interpretation
The palace style is seen as a sign of the presence of Mycenaean conquerors in Knossos. This is how Mycenaean shapes appear like the Ephyrian cup. At the same time, shaft graves can now also be found in Knossos and the grave goods correspond to the Mycenaean custom.
literature
- Jannis A. Sakellarakis : Heraklion. The archaeological museum. A picture guide. Ekdotike Athenon SA, Athens 1990, ISBN 960-213-038-5 , p. 11.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Arthur Evans : The Palace of Minos. A comparative Account of the successive Stages of the early Cretan Civilization as illustrated by the Discoveries at Knossos. Volume 4, Part 1: Emergence of Outer Western Enceinte, with new Illustrations, Artistic and Religious, of the Middle Minoan Phase. MacMillan, London 1935, p. 298.
- ↑ Stefan Hiller : The SM II palace style. Expression of political ideology? In: Robert Laffineur, Wolf-Dietrich Niemeier (ed.): Politeia. Society and state in the Aegan Bronze Age. Proceedings of the 5th International Aegean Conference / 5e Rencontre Égéenne Internationale, University of Heidelberg, Archäologisches Institut, 10-13 April 1994 (= Aegaeum. Vol. 12, ZDB -ID 284257-9 ). Volume 2. Université de Liège, Histoire de l'Art et Archeologie de la Grèce Antique u. a., Liège 1995, pp. 561–576 ( Memento of the original dated June 16, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 7 MB).
- ^ Ronald F. Willetts: The civilization of ancient Crete. University of California Press, Berkeley CA 1977, ISBN 0-520-03406-6 , p. 135.
