Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on January 15, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Através da pesquisa dos elementos verticais, presentes na maioria dos edifícios da cidade de Mália do período palacial (2300-1480 a.C.), temos como objetivo nesta dissertação de mestrado analisar a organização tridimensional das construções, tanto as privadas como as públicas. A investigação inicialmente parte das noções do conhecimento de todas propriedades e características desses mega-artefatos, os edifícios. Em seguida, busca identificar padrões e regularidades, analisando os materiais, as técnicas e as disposições das escadarias inseridas nas construções, para assim poder compreender o papel do elemento vertical na percepção do espaço entre os minóicos, a tridimensionalidade de seus edifícios, suas restrições e possíveis reestruturações de funções, pois o que restou dessas construções são apenas as rotas horizontais. Tenta-se identificar as concepções que levaram seus usuários a optar por verticalizar suas cidades. Esta pesquisa revela que os elementos verticais são essencias na paisagem em relação aos aspectos espaciais construídos; definem edifícios que se destacam e modificam o território onde viviam os minóicos. / Through the research of vertical elements, which are prevalent throughout the majority of the buildings in the palatial city of Malia (2300-1480 a.C.), we aim to analyze the spatial organization of tri-dimensional constructions, in both private and public buildings. The investigation is initially based on the notions of the knowledge of all the properties and characteristics of those mega-artefacts, the buildings. Then, identify patterns and regularities, analyzing the material, the techniques, and the layout of staircases built into the constructions, as to achieve a deeper understanding of the role the vertical element played in the perception of space among the minoans, their tridimensionality techniques, the restrictions and the possibility of restructuring functions, since what is left of the constructions is only the floor plan. We attempt to identify the conceptions that led the users to choose to make their cities vertical. This research shows how essential the vertical elements are in the landscape when built spacial aspects are concerned; they define buildings which stand out and modify the territories where the minoans lived.

A civilização minóica da Creta da Idade do Bronze foi uma das poucas civilizações européias a organizar a sociedade através de um sistema palacial. Os estudos sobre a formação dos estados minóicos devem analisar em profundidade o sistema administrativo palacial e as mudanças no mesmo ao longo de seus seis séculos de funcionamento - neste trabalho pretende-se analisar a evolução da complexidade das unidades sócio-políticas minóicas através da análise de suas formas administrativas. A definição de categorias de sítios administrativos - pela análise funcional dos vestígios arquiteturais e dos achados arqueológicos dos mesmos - e o estudo dos padrões hierárquicos entre os diversos sítios, serão o cerne do trabalho. O uso de metodologias apropriadas para a análise de processos de mudança e formação de instituições político-administrativas, como a Teoria de Sistemas e os conceitos de peer polity interaction de Colin Renfrew, serão as ferramentas básicas deste projeto. Esse trabalho é um desdobramento de pesquisa desenvolvida em Mestrado realizado no MAE/USP sobre as interações entre os estados primitivos de Creta e as práticas de culto minóicas. / The Minoan Civilization of the Bronze Age Crete was one of the few european civilizations that organized its society through a palatial system. The studies about the development of the Minoan States must analyse thoroughness the administrative palatial system and the changes that have occured on it during its six centuries of functioning. In this thesis we intend to analyse the complexity evolution of the Minoan polities through the analysis of its administrative configurations. The definition of administrative sites - through the function analysis of the architectural vestiges and of its archaeological discoveries - and the study of the hierarchic patterns among the sites, will be the main point of this research. The use of usefull methodologies for the analysis of early state formation and culture change, like systems theory and the concepts of peer polity interaction, will be the basis tools of this project. This research follows research developed in the mastership done in MAE/USP about the interaction between the early states of Crete and the Minoan ritual practices.

This thesis is a study of textile production in the Late Bronze Age, using new evidence uncovered by excavations at Ancient Eleon in Boeotia, Greece. Textile production is a nearly forgotten art. To the Mycenaeans of the Greek Late Bronze Age (ca. 1700-1100 BCE) textiles were nearly a form of currency, and a symbol of power. This thesis begins by examining the Mycenaean administration of textile production, which was systematically controlled by the palatial centres of Greece and Crete. Linear B documents record resources and workers under palatial control, and the amounts of cloth that they were expected to produce. The Mycenaean palace at Thebes was the administrative centre that controlled the region of eastern Boeotia, including sites such as Eleon. No document directly links textile production at Eleon to Thebes, but other Theban tablets and the two sites’ close proximity suggest a similar relationship to other Mycenaean centres and their dependents. Usually, ancient textiles from Greece do not survive in the archaeological record. The only evidence that remains is the Linear B archives and the tools of production. Linear B tablets have not been found at Eleon, but many spindle whorls for yarn production, loom weights for weaving, and other tools indicating the production of textiles have been recovered from the site. This thesis discusses the significance of these objects and attempts to place Eleon in the greater context of the Mycenaean textile industry. / Graduate

No description available.

Prehistoric Town Planning in Crete" was published in 1950 by Richard Hutchinson. He determined there was no evidence of town planning on Minoan Crete except for two instances. Hutchinson's approach compared the layout of the few excavated Minoan towns to other contemporary sites, such as Kahun, Egypt and Harrappa, India. These towns were laid out in grid-like squares, on flat, level ground. Compared to these sites the settlements on Crete appeared as an amalgamation of disorganized, organic growth. More than half a century has elapsed between Hutchinson's article and this study. Within that time many more Minoan sites and towns have been excavated and published. This greater corpus offers an opportunity to examine Minoan town planning with a new eye. This greater number of excavated Minoan towns allows for a study of town planning by comparing Minoan communities to one another. When an investigation is done comparing sites within Crete only, a pattern starts to emerge. To accomplish this analysis nine elements of Minoan town planning are defined, examined at individual sites, and compared among settlements. These nine elements are: 1. A street system adhering to the natural contours of the land 2. Buildings arranged in irregular, attached blocks defined by the street system 3. A large plateia or centrally located community court easily accessible from all parts of the town 4. Other open public spaces throughout the settlement 5. An elite building near the plateia 6. Public buildings in which there is no habitation 7. Semi-public buildings 8. Built fortifications 9. Extramural dependencies, which are structural features or natural areas outside the borders of the town proper but are an integral part of the community This comparison elucidates a very specific and existing type of Minoan town planning. It began at least as early as Early Minoan II and reached its apogee in Late Minoan I. What at first glance looks random, is not. Minoan towns were laid out within the constraints of the local landscape and with the desired aesthetic. The result was a lifestyle in LM I far beyond subsistence living. / Art History

Tripods constituted a specific group of pottery within the Bronze Age Aegean tradition. The shape was typically associated with ritual and cooking activities. This study presents an examination of Minoan tripod cooking pots from Crete. By tracing the morphological changes that occur from one period to the next, this research seeks to discuss the relationship between the form and function of these vessels. It is hoped that the following analysis may also shed light on the origin and practicality of tripod cooking pots. / Art History

This dissertation examines monkey and ape iconography in Minoan art during the Aegean Bronze Age (ca. 3,000–1,100 B.C.). Although a broad range of animals exist for depiction, Minoan artists carefully selected each subject in order to fulfill specific roles. Monkeys and apes appear to function differently than the other creatures that are depicted in art. Rather than subscribing to the general roles played by other animals, these primates may be shown outdoors, behaving like wild animals, or in a ceremonial context, participating in a ritual. Monkeys also imitate human activities. The deviation of primates from the typical roles of other animals found in Minoan art invites a deeper investigation of the role and iconography of apes and monkeys. In this study, three types of media that bear depictions of primates are considered. These media include figurines, glyptic art, and wall paintings. First, a review of the stylistic features of Minoan art and the possibility for the use of pattern books is discussed. Next, monkey and ape iconography in Egyptian art is explored. A thorough review of the creatures’ iconography in Minoan art follows, which includes the identification of figures as either ape or monkey, as well as a detailed description and conclusions about each type of representation. A new possible reconstruction of the Saffron Gatherer fresco is also included. Finally, the possible origins of Minoan primate iconography are considered, as well as the possible implications of the creature’s history, development, and roles. With this information in mind, the Offering to the Seated Goddess scene is then examined. The possible reconstruction of a crocus ceremony is proposed and explained, and the Levantine parallels for the compositional arrangement of the scene are also addressed. These conclusions may directly inform greater themes in Minoan culture, such as religion and cult practices. / Art History

Five seals come from a Minoan site on the island of Chryssi, just off the southeastern coast of Crete. Four of these seals are sealstones, and one is the bezel of a metal seal ring. These seals are important as individual objects to allow for a deeper understanding of the people that inhabited Chryssi Island during the Bronze Age, but a further understanding of the site itself is also garnered by expanding the focus to include all of the seals of Crete. By doing so, this study allows for the discussion of regional interactions among the people of Chryssi and various other Minoan sites throughout Crete. The various approaches to seals come together to suggest the same conclusions, most notably that at least some of the people on Chryssi enjoyed a life of limited luxury through the control of various industries on the island, particularly the production of murex purple dye. / Art History

The author's Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of London, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references.