Similarities and Differences in the Bronze Age: Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean Within the three cultures we have looked at Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean there are a variety of differences as well as some similarities in their pottery and vessels. A similarity that stood out among them, right away, was the depiction of animals. Whether high quality and/or production the depiction of animals, creatures and sea animals alike these cultures share an interest and value in them. The Cycladic piece I have chosen is the Pottery Hedgehog ; the Minoan piece(s) I have chosen is the Kamares Ware Vase(s); lastly, the Mycenaean piece I have chosen is the Mycenaean Jug with Octopus Design. (M. Stephanie Chancy, 2015) The Pottery Hedgehog, which was created by the Cycladic culture around 2700 2200 BCE (Chancy, 2015) has more differences than similarities when compared and contrasted with the other pottery/vessel pieces created by different Greek cultures during the Bronze Age. The
biggest difference is the shape and overall design of the vessel. It takes the full shape of the animal and has a 3D affect. Because this was created at an earlier date than the other pieces it is interesting that it almost has a modern look. The lines and shapes created on the hedgehog make it appear more life like, it exudes creativity. When compared with one of the Kamares Ware Vases the two are a contrast of the light design on dark background and dark design on a light background. (Chancy, 2015) This particular Minoan vessel/jug uses the technique of a light design on a dark background. It too looks as though it is a depicting an animal, more specifically a fish in water. The swirls seem to replicate water and the area with red/orange looks like the bones of a fish. Animals were very important for both the Minoan and Cycladic cultures. Though the image may not be 100 percent naturalist animals stay within the naturalist motif. However, the function of both vessels differs slightly. The Pottery Hedgehog may have only been used for ceremonial
purposes due to the exquisite craftsmanship and design. The Minoan jug, however, may have been an item that could have been used more frequently and/or daily. Pottery pieces like the jug would have been easier for more people to make where the Hedgehog would have been created by a master of pottery, someone who would have been more highly skilled. (Chancy, 2015) This Mycenaean Jug with Octopus Design, (Chancy, 2015) is another comparable piece. The design on this jug also encompasses more naturalistic look, which is a very common and important motif throughout each of the three cultures being discussed. However, the piece is more simplistic and the octopus uses all the space offered and does not follow a linear pattern like the Minoan jug or the Cycladic Hedgehog. It also differs in that it is not the same on both
sides, like the Cycladic and Minoan vessels. The spout on both the Minoan and Mycenaean jugs look similar, they both have a bridge style of spout. This particular Mycenaean jug also has a light background with a dark design, which is more similar to the Hedgehog. All three pieces look as though the textures are much different as well. The Minoan jug has less of a 3D texture, almost like a baas relief whereas the Cycladic and Mycenaean vessels have more of a high relief look. Perhaps because the design of the Minoan jug is a little more intricate with color and pattern designs having it look this way would have been more aesthetically pleasing. The other two do have a more simplistic design and the high relief could add to the aesthetics. This difference could also have to do with the process and amount of time in firing, how long each piece was left out to dry and the way the designs were applied to them. Overall, each piece reflects some differences but many similarities between the three Bronze Age cultures. Naturalism was very important as well as the look of animals, whether natural like the Hedgehog or, a little less natural and less linear with the Mycenaean jug. Though this is not completely evident, perhaps animals, creatures and sea life were more important and intricate for the Cycladic and Minoan cultures. Because the Mycenaean jug is rather simply it shows that the main focus and motif for the Mycenaean people may have lied somewhere else, for instance war (Chancy, 2015). The color palettes differed as well but still remained rather natural/neutral for each piece and each culture s vessels.
References Chancy, Stephanie M. Pottery Cycladic. Vivo. 2015. www.online.fiu.edu/videos/?vivoid=361f723b7eed41c7ba611ab3d7e90de0 Chancy, Stephanie M. Pottery Minoan. Vivo. 2015. www.online.fiu.edu/videos/?vivoid=9b35037fa0ec488c85e9c29375e98b8e Chancy, Stephanie M. Pottery Mycenae. Vivo. 2015. www.online.fiu.edu/videos/?vivoid=9a692dae4ba945c28c470e0daf9976ea Chancy, Stephanie M. Bronze Age Pottery Part I: The Cyclades. Microsoft Office PowerPoint. 2015. Chancy, Stephanie M. Bronze Age Pottery Part II: The Crete (Minoan). Microsoft Office PowerPoint. 2015. Chancy, Stephanie M. Bronze Age Pottery and Gold Vessels Part III: Mycenae (Helladic). Microsoft Office PowerPoint. 2015.