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Minoan Religion. Minoan Crete Map. Cave of Eileithyia. MM cult centers Baetyl Animal Bones Animal Figurines Bronze artifacts. Peak Shrines. Link to MM protopalatial elites through artifacts Linear A, Kamares Ware Ash layer, no bones Many figurines. Tripartite Shrine. Domestic Shrines.
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Cave of Eileithyia • MM cult centers • Baetyl • Animal Bones • Animal Figurines • Bronze artifacts
Peak Shrines • Link to MM protopalatial elites through artifacts • Linear A, Kamares Ware • Ash layer, no bones • Many figurines
Domestic Shrines • Town, Palace, House • Bench Sanctuary • Lustral Baisin • Pillar Crypt
Male Divinity? • Male figures rarer • Usually smaller stature • Lesser Male Divinity? • Rural Matriarchy? • Urban Patriarchy?
Ayia Triadha Sarcophagus:LMIIIA (14thC)Painted Plaster over Stone
Celestial vs Chthonic Gods • “Chthon” = earth
Human Sacrifice • Anemospilia • Near Archanes & Heraklion • Bound male on altar • 2 others killed in room by earthquake • 1 killed in anteroom with krater (of blood?)
Child Sacrifice & Cannibalism? • Children’s bones with butchering marks in North House, Knossos • Caravaggio
Theseus & the Minotaur • Athenians send human tribute to bull crazy Minoans • Palace at Knossos like Labyrinth to simpler Mycenaean Greeks
The Labyrinthine Palace • Note dismembered bodies
Miraculous Conception/Birth Aegeus/Poseidon Hiding of/Threat to Child Troezen, with Aethra Medea? Society’s Desire for Change No more sacrifice! Withdrawal & Initiation Ummmm Resistance of Hero Role Ummm Search for Lost Father Trip to Athens Quest Killing Minotaur Magical Tools/Weapons Club, thread, sword Impossible Adversaries Numerous Journey to Underworld Rape of Persephone Return (in Disguise) to Save Beloved Ummmm Hero Story
Early Exploits • Father’s Tokens • Heroic Journey • Periphetes’ Club • Crommyonian Sow • Sinis & tree • Sciron’s turtle • Procrustes’ bed • Daughters? • Herculean hero
Aegeus, Medea, & Theseus • Medea the Colchian witch • Murderer of brother & children by Jason • Marathonian Bull
Marathonian/Cretan Bull • Brought to Greece as one of 12 labors of Herakles… • Bull of Poseidon • Pasiphae & Bull • Minotaur’s father! • Good Credentials for facing Minotaur
Revenge of Minos • Androgeos at Panathenaic games • Victorious Cretan murdered by envious Athenian athletes or by Aegeus • Athenian compensation: • 7 boys & 7 girls every 9 years
Theseus’ trip to Crete • Theseus as 1 of 7 boys • White Sails for Success • Black/Red Sails for Failure (death of Theseus)
Victory! • Theseus slays Minotaur • Theseus & Ariadne sail off into the sunset…
Dionysus to the Rescue • Dionysus finds Ariadne • They drink happily ever after…
Theseus sails home to celebrate victory…& freedom • Aegeus watches for beloved son • Ooops - black sails • Aegeus leaps to death • Oh well, Theseus becomes king of Athens
Theseus & Herakles: Fratboy Heroes • Herakles’ 12 labors • Girdle of Hippolyte • Theseus & Pirithous carry off Antiope/Hippolyte
Amazon Invasion of Attica • Amazons defeated, Antiope slain fighting beside Theseus • Amazonomachy artform comparable to contemporary Miller Lite commercial “tastes great; less filling”
Theseus, Phaedra & Hippolytus • Child of Antiope • Stepmother Phaedra • False accusation of rape • Bull from Poseidon causes death of Hipploytus in chariot crash • Phaedra hangs herself
More bad behavior • Theseus abducts 12 year old Helen • Theseus & Pirithous go to underworld to abduct Persephone • Trapped in Chair of Oblivion • Rescued by Herakles
Death of Theseus • Helen rescued by her brothers, the Dioscuri: Castor and Polydeuces (Pollux) • Theseus in exile • Murdered/fell of a cliff