Civilization of Crete

Geographical Location
 Historical Background
• The Minoans (2900-1450 B.C.)
were peace loving people with
trade relations with Egypt, Syria,
Sicily and Spain.

• The crowning achievement of

Crete was the Palace of Knossos
which gave rise to the legend of
the labyrinth.

• Around 1450 BC, natural

calamities wrecked cities on Crete,
and hence the Mycenaeans came
to dominate Crete and Minoan
people.

Octopus Motif, found in the Palace of Knossos

• At the end of the 13th century BC, sea invaders destroyed many Mycenaean cities in
piratical raids.

• Some settlements were abandoned as trade no longer existed.

• At the beginning of the Dark Ages, the civilization disappeared.

Bull vaulting is depicted on Cretan frescos from about 2,700 BC

Food and Environment
• Olive oil, wine and grain delivered
to the minoan palaces

• Stored in jars called Pithoi

• For the palace community

• And for overseas export

• Beneath the pithoi were stone

holes used to store more valuable
objects, such as gold.

• The palace used advanced

architectural techniques; for
example, part of it was built up to
five stories high.
Pithoi, storage jar
Palace of Knossos
• Knossos was a complex collection
of over 1000 interlocking rooms,
some of which served as artisans'
workrooms and food processing
centres.

• The palace has been suggested as

the source of the myth of the
Labyrinth, an elaborate mazelike
structure constructed for King
Minos of Crete to hold the
Minotaur, a creature that was half
man and half bull
 Technology and Innovation
• Linear Script B

• Developed from Linear A of

the mainland invaders

• Designed and developed for

administration.
 Art and Ritual

• The goddess was worshipped in many forms

• Patroness of Bullfighting.

• Bull leaping ritual

 Men’s Wear
Minoan Sheath

• Girdle for sword

• Made of a rigid material for

protection

Priest King
 The Loin Skirt
• Evolved from the LOIN CLOTH

• Short bordered skirt with a

wide belt

• Mid thigh length on the sides

• Sharp dip in the front weighed

down by beaded tassel
Other Accessories
• HAIR - wore long by civilians
and short by captains

• FOOTWEAR - elaborate and

patterned socks

• Anklets were also worn

 Women’s Wear
• Possible origin of shawl

• Well stitched skirts

• Well fitted bodices

Rendering of Petsofa Figurine

Bodice
• Cleverly cut to shape

• Sleeves till the elbows

• Front edges were laced

together below the breasts
 Skirt
• Evolved from full rounded bell to cone like.

• Skirts had horizontal lines achieved by layers of

fabric.

• Some skirts had the flounced effect.

Evolution of the skirt

Tiara Goddess, Late Minoan Serpent Goddess, Late Minoan

 Hair and Adornments
• HAIR - coiffed entwined with
wrought gold jewellery

• Jewellery had motifs of rosette,

lily and papyrus

• Miniature bull heads, ducks and

lions formed pendants

La Parisienne, Palace of Knossos

Ladies in Blue
Motifs on Fabric

Motifs inspired from the Palace of Knossos

 Medici Collar

Petsofa Figurine, Early Minoan Catherine De’ Medici

Inspiring Fashion

YSL, 1993
Flounced Skirt

Valentino Spring Summer 99

 Corset

Whale Bone Corset,

17th Century

Versace 2002
September 20, 2001 – Sophia
Kokosalaki
Minoan Pagan
 Ambika Joshi
Kashish Mathur
Ravisha Mall