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Greece: Minoans (Room 12a)
This gallery will be partially closed between 7 January and 28 February 2013
The Arthur I Fleischman Gallery
3200 – 1100 BC
Minoan Crete was dominated by great palaces, most of which were founded in about 1950 BC. Material from the palace of Knossos is displayed in this gallery, along with pottery, bronzes and stone vases from elsewhere in Crete.
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Large pottery storage jar (pithos) 1450-1400 BC
More informationLarge pottery storage jar (pithos) 1450-1400 BC
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Gold pendant from the Aigina treasure 1850-1550 BC
More informationGold pendant from the Aigina treasure 1850-1550 BC
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Bronze group of a bull and acrobat 1700-1450 BC
More informationBronze group of a bull and acrobat 1700-1450 BC
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Carnelian seal with a man driving a chariot 1450-1300 BC
More informationCarnelian seal with a man driving a chariot 1450-1300 BC
An impressive group of jewellery and treasure on display in Room 12a, believed to have been found on the island of Aigina, demonstrates the craftsmanship of the period.
A bronze sculpture from around 1600 BC represents an acrobat ‘bull-jumping’. This sport may have had links with the legend of the Minotaur: the bull-headed monster slain by the hero Theseus.
