CYCLADIC SETTLEMENT AND FORTRESS IN KASTRI-CHALANDRIANI, SYROS, ABOUT 2300 BC
(1) The warrior is copied from a statuette from Syros. He wears a prototype Greek made from organic material. The spear, from Amorgos, has its point attached to the shaft by means of holes in the blade. Note the dagger from the same locality, worn inside a typical baldric in red leather, decorated in a herringbone pattern. (2) The design of circular and geometrical tattoos on the body of this hunter can be seen on the remains of a number of statuettes. The early bow, wood reinforced with goat’s horn and sinews, is copied from a specimen represented on a mosaic from Knossos. In Cycladic graves a connection is noticeable between weapons and bone tubes, which often contained blue azurite pigments (in the Manika cemetery these are predominantly associated with female skeletons). The kind of female garment seen here worn by this priestess in the colours of the Dama of Phylakopi and in the tradition of coloured Aegean clothes, bears close similarity with Sumerian and Mesopotamian costumes and is also represented on an early Minoan ivory cylinder from Knossos, dated around 2100 Note her rich jewels, taken from specimens from Mochlos and Archanés.
EARLY AEGEAN WARRIOR 3000–1700 BC (l) The Cycladic princes and leaders made use of jewellery as symbols of social status. Apart from weapons, a whole range of new metal items, such as jewellery and toilet articles, also make their appearance in the Aegean Early Bronze Age, marking an emphasis on the physical body and status. Note his religious azurite skin painting and the elaborate dagger, as well as his penis sheath. (2) A Ke-re-te male warrior costume from a statuette from Kampos (Laconia). He wears a small loincloth, which would be of wool or linen, and a metal belt made of bronze or copper. The long hair is wrapped in a net or hood. He holds a typical Minoan dagger and wears high white boots. The bronze double axe was indicative of religious and political power. | |
Some examples of swords (Naxos, Malia, Aegina) and daggers (Cyprus, Crete, Malia) are illustrated here with a reconstruction of a hypothetical linen scabbard, restored from fragments still found attached to the blade. The pointed blade of the spears (samples come from Amorgos, Arkesine and Malia) was pierced with holes through which a cord could be threaded. This method was prevalent even at the beginning of the second millennium, having originated in Anatolia in the second half of the third millennium. In the background three different warrior heads are reconstructed from a) and b) Cretan seals and c) Phaistos disk, the last wearing a conical helmet, possibly copper. |
RETURN FROM VICTORY: ‘KRETES’ WARRIORS WITH LYBIAN PRISONERS IN AKROTIRI, 1600 BC
All the figures are based on the Santorini frescos. The Akrotiri warriors’boar’s tusk helmets have a horsetail and seem to be decorated at the front and back with unidentified items, probably feathers. The throat strap is also visible. Note the huge tower shields and long spears, used in closed proto-phalanx formation. (3) The tattooed ‘Lybian’ prisoners represented in the frescos have been deprived of their main weapons, their bows and arrows being held by the guards. Note the leather quiver of one of the prisoners, worn across the shoulders of one of the soldiers. (4–5) Minoan women wore skirts that flared out from the waist in a bell shape, with many decorations attached to the cloth. Later designs were made from strips of fabric, sewn in ways that created rows of ruffles from waist to ankle. Women also wore close-fitting blouses that were cut low in the front to expose the breasts. Because the figure of the Minoan woman, with large breasts, large hips and tiny waist, was very similar to the female shape in fashion during the late 1800s, some scholars believe that Minoan women must have also worn some sort of framework under their skirts to support the bell shape.
THE MINOAN THALASSOCRACY: BOARDING OF PIRATE SHIPS IN THE AEGEAN SEA, BC The scene represents a ‘cleaning up’ operation in the Aegean Sea by a Minoan warship against pirates. Because of the intensive commercial trade between the Aegean population and the Near Eastern Kingdoms, some of the early Aegean ships show several similarities in general shape and design with the Egyptian ships of the same period, which is clearly shown on a large Aegean vase dated around 1700 | |
The naval chieftain and the warriors of the Cretan ship are based on some fragments of fresco from Knossos. The Minoan ship is based on the Akrotiri fresco. The large Minoan ships were probably manned by a crew of 42–46 oars and one steering oar. Any ship, even though not properly destined for warfare, was most likely equipped with weapons for use by the crew or passengers in case of attack by hostile populations or pirates. Note, on the ship, the flat projection extending outwards from the stern just above the waterline. Interestingly, these illustrations seem to indicate the feature was added to the hull. The captain’s cabin consists of wooden poles wrapped in oxhide, sometimes decorated with religious symbols both Aegean and Egyptian. These cabins were probably portable so they could be moved on and off the ships. |
