Cretan Art

Cretan Art
The discoveries at Cnossos and Phaestus give much importance to Crete as a center of ancient civilization and art.

During the second millennium it was at its height and probably influenced by its art all the surrounding nations, especially the Mycenaean dwellers in Greece.

Mycenaean art itself can be traced almost directly to the Middle and Late Minoan art of Crete.

Painting is chiefly represented by the frescos on palace walls and by ceramic decoration upon vases, tablets and the like.

The style of work and type of figure are reminiscent of both Egypt and Greece but without a Cretan originality about them.

Future excavations in Crete and Cyrene may change former theories about Mediterranean civilization and throw new light on the beginnings of Greek art.

It is not impossible that all the so-called Mycenaean art, found at Mycenae, Tiryns and elsewhere, is not Greek at all but commercial art sent out form Crete.
Cretan Art