The art of the Minoan civilization of Bronze Age Crete (2000-1500 BCE) displays a love of animal, sea, and plant life, which was used to decorate frescoes and pottery and also inspired forms in jewellery, stone vessels, and sculpture. Minoan artists delighted in flowing, naturalistic shapes and designs, and there is a vibrancy in Minoan art which was not present in the contemporary East. Aside from its aesthetic qualities, Minoan art also gives valuable insight into the religious, communal, and funeral practices of one of the earliest cultures of the ancient Mediterranean.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 2000 BCEPottery wheel introduced to Minoan civilization on Crete.
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2000 BCE - 1450 BCEMinoan civilization in Crete and the Aegean.
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1700 BCE - 1400 BCEThe culture in the Cyclades is increasingly influenced by Minoan Crete.
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1500 BCE - 1450 BCEThe 'Harvester Vase' of Minoan origin depicts a sistrum player.
