Ancient History Assessment Task
Minoan Crete Burial Customs
Explain the religious implications of burial practices of Minoan Crete. (Include the burial practices on the whole island and analyse the changes over time)
Since their discovery by Arthur Evans in March 1900 and onwards, the ancient civilisation of the Minoans has the popular view of being known as a cultural nation of sophistication, dignity, peaceful and elegance. Recent archaeology by different excavators and historians have shown even more about such a refined civilisation, these excavations and other supposed written evidence such as the Linear A and B Tablets suggest that the Minoans had a very elaborate Pantheistic religion and through the use of different religious places,
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These axes are portrayed by artisans of the Minoans to be a very powerful symbol. These double axes, also known as Labyris, have been found in every possible form on Crete, these include: Being painted on ceramics and frescoes (e.g. The ‘Hall of the Double Axes’ in Knossos), carved into stone, and many other thousands cast in bronze, silver and gold. Labyris were made in sizes from an inch to over twenty feet tall. These double axes are especially significant to the ancient Minoans as solid bronze Labryis found within cave shrines, peak sanctuaries and within Knossos and Mallia. As shown in Source B across, the Double-axes were also seen to represent the symbol of a Goddess as a ‘Butterfly’, Gimbutas states “The picture of a butterfly represents the various stages of the life cycle for the insect. The representation of life, death, rebirth and resurrection. …show more content…
Within Crete, there were some easily recognisable built sanctuaries, as well as other cult centres that are far less easily identifiable. Places like the Chrysolakkos complex, also known as Mallia, and different peak sanctuaries such as the ‘house/temple’ at Niru Khani and Pestophas (a seaside sanctuary) differed from each other and were from different time periods of the Minoans, but they still held the same purpose. These examples show the changed practices of burial by the Minoans. Another example of the change of burial rituals over different time periods is the method in which they would bury the dead. From the early Minoan to the Middle Minoan period, the common practice of burial was to place multiple bones in one tomb, and due to the evidence available, it is suggested that the placing of the bones does not suggest a lasting concern for the dead. Archaeological digs such as the ones in Phourni have found ossuaries such as bones from different time periods all together all placed in the one tomb, this suggests that the bones of earlier burials were treated with limited respect or admiration and they were hurriedly pushed to one side in order to make room for new additions. Source C is an example of this, which is an Ossuary found the South-West area of Phourni in which the bones of 19 different people ranging from hundreds of years
Unburied people will be unable to find rest and will wander the earth forever, which is why it was so important that I must bury my brother. For Polyneices to rest properly, there needs to be a burial. The word of the gods emphasize the necessity of a proper burial and indicate the negligence of burial rites as an abuse to a man’s rights to an afterlife. Burials are a critical municipal and religious duty, not simply because it is a valued personal concern, but also because it is a social obligation. While a respectable king is expected to be able to make wise decisions independently, he cannot be considered a perceptive ruler if he does not follow the will of the
When an Etruscan person died, they would be cremated and would be seen as entering a new life. They would put the remains in a special urn called Etruscan hut urn (c. 800 B.C.E.), this urn was another ‘home’ for the afterlife.
The Minoans society wasn't really an economic social society. In the archeological records, we find that the houses "poorer" parts of their towns were rather large and plush. Women were regarded rather highly in their society, many of their paintings are depictions of women. There is little evidence that they were war like, nor did they appear to go on military expeditions. This comes from the lack of weapons in the burial sites, there aren't any warrior tombs, nor are there paintings of war; which is something that was dominant in all other cultures at the time. They were mostly traders, as in merchants. They traded throughout Greece, Ionia, the Levant and Egypt. Their cities weren't strategically located, meaning
Ancient Egyptian culture was largely focused on the afterlife. One of their most important deities, Osiris, became the ruler of the Underworld through death. The pharaoh and elite class prepared for their impending deaths throughout their lives. Much of what survives from ancient Egypt today was found in tombs and temples of the dead. When one of the elite died, the process of laying him or her to rest was extensive. Harold Hays explains that “the ritualized process of embalming and mummification is usually stated as lasting seventy days” (Hays 5). "Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy" shows two of the processes that Hays details. The first depicted is the procession to the tomb. Pairy’s body would have already been through several processions, mummification, and embalming. This particular procession’s goal is to lead not just the body, but also the spirit into the afterlife. People of both high and low classes attended this procession, carrying with them the tomb goods (Hays 6-7). The second depicted
Although the Aegean World did not have the best land, with metals and timber from abroad, the Minoan and Mycenaean societies were able to be successful during that time. The Minoan civilization, which has an ethnicity that is a mystery, accomplished many things while living on the island of Crete. Mycenaean Greece was very successful
From the buried city at the Akrotiri excavation site, we gained so much information about life in the Bronze Age, especially about their society and trade. They were believed to be a monotheistic civilization who preformed animal, but not human sacrifices. Religion is clearly evident in the famed frescoes, and show Minoan culture and tradition through depictions of religious processions, goddesses, and sacred flowers like lilies or crocuses. Most frescoes portrayed religious events or figures, both directly and indirectly, rather than political figures like kings or queens.
The grandeur with which Egyptians regarded their funerary customs does not come without explanation. They delighted in tying the occurrences of the natural world with supernatural dogma, and their burial practices exemplified this deluge of religion. A special deity was even attributed to cemeteries and embalmers: Anubis (Fiero, 46). Due to this deep sense of religion, a fixation with the afterlife developed within their culture. The Egyptian afterlife, however, is not synonymous of heave, but, rather, of The Field of Reeds, a continuation of one’s life in Egypt meant “to secure and perpetuate in the afterlife the ‘good life’ enjoyed on earth” (Mark 1; “Life in Ancient Egypt” 1). The pursuit of this sacred rest-place prompted the arousal of intricate Egyptian funeral rituals.
In all societies, the practices associated with religion, burial and death have given archaeology and history detailed information concerning the nature of a society. It is through the study of symbology in particular that we are able to discern the significance of the Minoan religion as it represents various aspects of their religious beliefs and display the impact it has on their everyday lives. Key symbols like the birds, bulls, horns of consecration and double axe can be seen throughout the island of Crete as well as on votive offerings given to their gods from their worshippers.
Through the means of commemorating and remembering those of prestige and importance, tombs and sarcophagi are produced of these individuals. This funerary manner and distinctive burial practice was initiated Etruscan culture and it developed through the means of cremation and inhumation in earns. The concept of placing the remains of individuals in elaborate, thought out spaces was a valuable attribute of these people. The Etruscan objective of creating the best possible outcome in the afterlife dictated the way in which individuals ornamented and became portrayed in their tombs. Presen...
Some background information on the Minoans civilization is that Sir Arthur Evans gave the Minoan name “named after King Minos, a legendary king of Crete in Greek mythology” back in the 1900s” (Wallenfels and Sasson 1). Sir Arthur Evans got interested in the Minoans and how we
Bibliography:.. Bibliography 1) Bloch, Raymond. The Etruscans, New York, Fredrick A. Praeger, Inc. Publishers, 1958. 2) Bonfante,. Larissa. Etruscan Life and Afterlife, Detroit, Wayne State University Press, 1986. 3) Grant, Michael.
Term Paper: Coffin of Tentkhonsu The Egyptians during this period took ample time and detail on the mummification process to ensure a successful transition from the netherworld to rebirth. The Coffin of Tentkhonsu, 1025-980 B.C., it’s a depiction of how the Egyptians valued and honored their elite members of society, as well as their gods. The Coffin of Tentkhonsu, itself dates back to the III intermediate period in Egyptian culture. The Egyptian believe was to join Osiris, whom was believed to have ascended to Netherworld and accomplished eternal life.
The elements that will be focused on are the multiple functions of the tomb and rituals, specifically the mummification of bodies. Ancient Egyptian tombs had many functions; the main function being to hold the bodies of the dead. Tombs were typically built during a person’s lifetime and were ready by their time of death (Olson, 2009). Before bodies were put in the tombs, they underwent a process called mummification to help preserve the body and keep it intact. The tomb was also a place where family members could come and visit the deceased. In the early years, tomb structures were very simple; they consisted only of one chamber (Grajetzki, 2003: 3-4). Later on, façade tombs were built— which consisted of two parts; an “underground chamber for the dead and the superstructure built above the ground, over the shaft and the burial chamber” (Grajetzki, 2003: 8). Next, the Egyptian tombs and ...
“The first advanced culture in Greece, and indeed in all of Europe, was created by a people referred to today as the Minoans. Their civilization flourished from about 2200 to 1450 B.C. on Crete, the large island located about one hundred miles southeast of the Gree...
In 1882, Ignatius L. Donnelly published a book named “Atlantis: the Antediluvian World”. In this book, Donnelly tried to demonstrate his hypothesis that all known ancient civilizations were descended from a specific civilization, which was Atlantis. He observed that ancie...