Question
This week, we move away from the ancient Near East and begin discussing the origins of Classical Western civilization as it developed on the island of Crete and the Greek mainland. For this discussion, I’d like to move away from discussing art objects specifically and focus on some of the stories behind their creation.
As you are learning from your readings and voicethread lectures, many of the myths and legends of the ancient Classical world were rooted in historical events (please see links below for more on myths and legends). The most famous examples are the legend of the Minotaur from ancient Crete and the citadel of at Troy. Prior to the excavations of Evans and Schliemann, we had very little knowledge of the Bronze Age in Greece; there was no material link to the stories and legends which describe this period. When Heinrich Schliemann excavated at the site of Hissarlik in Turkey, credence was finally given to the words of Homer. Homer’s Troy was destroyed by fire along with all the other Mycenean citadels-Schliemann’s Troy was also surrounded by walls indicating a great fire.
For this week’s post, let’s explore some of these legends. You may want to do a little outside research as well, although you are not required to. Select a particular legend and share what interests you about it (you may also want to provide a brief description if not covered in depth in the readings/voicethread).. Where did this legend originate and what are its link to the ancient past.
Some possible ideas:
The Minotaur of Minoan Crete
The murder of Aggemmonon
Troy
http://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/Visit_Greece_Myths_KS2.pdf (Links to an external site.) (Myths and Legends of ancient Greece)
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