DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4758#0012
INTRODUCTION. XI
Crete began on the same level as the Cyclades, and in its Early Minoan
period received influences from many directions; but the first Middle Minoan
pottery had already acquired the unique qualities which eventually formed the
Mycenaean style.
The framework of Aegean chronology is the scheme constructed for Crete
by Sir Arthur Evans.1 Three main artistic phases are visible in Cretan pottery:
'Early,' 'Middle,' and 'Late' Minoan. Each phase is divided into three
periods, on the natural principle of its rise, maturity, and decay : the periods
are numbered, I, II, and III. Absolute chronology has been approached by
means of reciprocal contacts with Egypt,2 of which three important instances are
included in this Catalogue/' The dates of the nine periods, according to the
evidence at present available, are determined as follows :—
[Cyclades, SS^MAiNLAND]. EGYPTIAN DYNASTIES. Be™L.
Early Minoan . . . . ( I . . I., II., Ill.......3400-2800
[Cycladic, < II . . IV., V., VI.....2800-2400
Helladic]. ( nl . . VII.-XI. ...... 2400-2100
Middle Minoan . . . f I . . XI.-XII.......2100-1900
[Cycladic, j II . . XII.-XIII.....• . . 1900-1700
Helladic]. (m _ _ XIV.-XVII. (Hyksos). . . 1700-1580
f I . . XVIII. (to Thutmosis III) . 1580-1450
Late Minoan • • • • i II . . XVIII. (to Amenhotep III) . 1450-1375
[Mycenaean]. |m XVIII.-XX. ...... 1375-1100'
The same system is generally and conveniently applied to Cycladic and
Helladic chronology,5 both because these have so far been established solely
by reference to Crete, and because there is good reason to suppose that their
earlier periods reflect the distinguishing Minoan phases. Their later periods
(Mycenaean) were identical with those of Crete. The rest of the Aegean
material must similarly be dated by Minoan contacts, but it is nowhere so
abundant and so well known as to supply a corresponding sequence to that of
Crete. Even the stratified site of Troy at Hissarlik, where seven successive
prehistoric settlements were distinguished, is not represented by a documented
ceramic series.
1 JEssai de Classification lies Jipoijues de la Civilisation Minoenne (1906); Palace of Minos, i,
pp. 28-31, etc.
2 The system of Egyptian chronology here followed is that of E. Meyer as adopted and modified by
Sir Arthur Evans, loc. cit.
3 Kaliun (A 548-67), Gurob (A 981-9), el-Amarna (A 990-9).
4 The date assigned to the lower limit of the Minoan age varies'according to the view taken of the
latest Mycenaean culture (Late Mycenaean B, p. xliii). It may be held that the pure Minoan tradition
ended with L.M. Ilia, about 1200 B.C. Or if the Sub-Mycenaean period be included, and equated with
the Proto-Geometric (p. xliv), the final date may be fixed about 1000 B.C.
5 See u, xxii, note 3.
Crete began on the same level as the Cyclades, and in its Early Minoan
period received influences from many directions; but the first Middle Minoan
pottery had already acquired the unique qualities which eventually formed the
Mycenaean style.
The framework of Aegean chronology is the scheme constructed for Crete
by Sir Arthur Evans.1 Three main artistic phases are visible in Cretan pottery:
'Early,' 'Middle,' and 'Late' Minoan. Each phase is divided into three
periods, on the natural principle of its rise, maturity, and decay : the periods
are numbered, I, II, and III. Absolute chronology has been approached by
means of reciprocal contacts with Egypt,2 of which three important instances are
included in this Catalogue/' The dates of the nine periods, according to the
evidence at present available, are determined as follows :—
[Cyclades, SS^MAiNLAND]. EGYPTIAN DYNASTIES. Be™L.
Early Minoan . . . . ( I . . I., II., Ill.......3400-2800
[Cycladic, < II . . IV., V., VI.....2800-2400
Helladic]. ( nl . . VII.-XI. ...... 2400-2100
Middle Minoan . . . f I . . XI.-XII.......2100-1900
[Cycladic, j II . . XII.-XIII.....• . . 1900-1700
Helladic]. (m _ _ XIV.-XVII. (Hyksos). . . 1700-1580
f I . . XVIII. (to Thutmosis III) . 1580-1450
Late Minoan • • • • i II . . XVIII. (to Amenhotep III) . 1450-1375
[Mycenaean]. |m XVIII.-XX. ...... 1375-1100'
The same system is generally and conveniently applied to Cycladic and
Helladic chronology,5 both because these have so far been established solely
by reference to Crete, and because there is good reason to suppose that their
earlier periods reflect the distinguishing Minoan phases. Their later periods
(Mycenaean) were identical with those of Crete. The rest of the Aegean
material must similarly be dated by Minoan contacts, but it is nowhere so
abundant and so well known as to supply a corresponding sequence to that of
Crete. Even the stratified site of Troy at Hissarlik, where seven successive
prehistoric settlements were distinguished, is not represented by a documented
ceramic series.
1 JEssai de Classification lies Jipoijues de la Civilisation Minoenne (1906); Palace of Minos, i,
pp. 28-31, etc.
2 The system of Egyptian chronology here followed is that of E. Meyer as adopted and modified by
Sir Arthur Evans, loc. cit.
3 Kaliun (A 548-67), Gurob (A 981-9), el-Amarna (A 990-9).
4 The date assigned to the lower limit of the Minoan age varies'according to the view taken of the
latest Mycenaean culture (Late Mycenaean B, p. xliii). It may be held that the pure Minoan tradition
ended with L.M. Ilia, about 1200 B.C. Or if the Sub-Mycenaean period be included, and equated with
the Proto-Geometric (p. xliv), the final date may be fixed about 1000 B.C.
5 See u, xxii, note 3.