Crete is a large island in the Eastern Mediterranean. Here we consider the phase of its history best known as the Monopalatial Era. This period began following the destruction of many Minoan sites around 1450, due either to natural catastrophes or human agency
[1]
[2]
, and it ended with the destruction of Knossos
[3]
Throughout this period, Knossos was the main political, administrative and economic centre of the island: analyses of both textual and archaeological data shows that Knossos controlled a series of second-order (e.g. Kydonia and Phaistos) and third-order (e.g. Tylissos) centers
[4]
[5]
. However, a resurgence of elite display at second-order sites, starting in 1370, suggests a possible power shift in the final decades of this era, and the decline of Knossian influence over the island
[6]
.
Population and Political Organization
The supreme leader of the state was the king, known as wanax
[7]
He presided over the political, economic and religious hierarchy. It is not certain, however, whether he had any military or judicial duties. Ranked second was the lawagetas, a military leader.
[8]
Below these leaders were the hequetai, followers, who accompanied military contingents and may also performed other functions. Other officials, the so-called collectors, were involved in acquiring and distributing exchange commodities. Among the figures at a lower level were the qasireu who served as overseer of group of workers -the predecessor of the word known from ancient Greek as the word for the king (baseless) - the telestas , officials, the korete and porokorete, mayor and vice-mayor, and scribes
[9]
.
Firth estimates that, at this time, Crete numbered 110,000 inhabitants
[10]
.
[1]: (Driessen and Macdonald 1997, 106-109) Jan Driessen. and Colin F. Macdonald. 1997. The Troubled Island. Minoan Crete Before and After the Santorini Eruption. Liège: Université de Liège, Histoire de l’art et archéologie de la Grèce antique; Austin: University of Texas at Austin, Program in Aegean Scripts and Prehistory
[2]: (Christakis 2008, 144-146) Kostis S. Christakis. 2008. The Politics of Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete. Philadelphia, Pa.: INSTAP Academic Press.
[3]: (Popham 1994, 89-102) Mervyn Popham. 1994. ‘Late Minoan II to the end of the Bronze Age,’ in Knossos: A Labyrinth of History, edited by Don Evely, Helen Hughes-Brock, and Nicoletta Momigliano. British School at Athens; Oxford: Oxbow.
[4]: (Bennet 1988, 19-42) John Bennet. 1988. ‘Outside in the distance: problems in understanding the economic geography of Mycenaean palatial territories,’ in Text, Tablets and Scribes. Studies in Mycenaean Epigraphy and Economy Offered to Emmett L. Bennett, Jr., edited by Jean-Pierre Olivier and Thomas G. Palaima. Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad.
[5]: (Bennet 1990, 193-211) John Bennet. 1990. ‘Knossos in context: comparative perspectives on the Linear B administration of LM II-III Crete’. American Journal of Archaeology 94:193-211.
[6]: (Preston 2008, 316-317) Laura Preston. 2008. ‘Late Minoan II to IIIB Crete,’ in The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, edited by Cynthia W. Shelmerdine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[7]: (Shelmerdine 2008, 292-295) Cynthia W. Shelmerdine. 2008. ‘12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration,’ in The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, edited by Cynthia W. Shelmerdine. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[8]: (Nikoloudis, 587-594) S. Nikoloudis. 2008. ‘The role of the ra-wa-ke-ta: insights from PY Un718,’ in Colloquium Romanum: Atti del XII Colloquio Internazionale di Micenologia. Roma 20-15 febbraio 2006, edited by A. Sacconi, M. del Freo, L. Godart, and M. Negri. Rome.
[9]: K. Christakis, pers. comm., 2016
[10]: (Firth 1995, 33-55) R.J. Firth. 1995. ‘Estimating the population of Crete during LM IIIA/B’. Minos 29-30: 33-55.
| 35 S |
| Monopalatial Crete |
| Knossos |
| Mycenaean Crete | |
| Third Palatial Period | |
| Final Palatial Crete | |
| Creto-Mycenaean Crete |
| unknown [---] |
| Cretan Broze Age Civilization |
| Final Palatial Crete |
| continuity |
| UNCLEAR: [continuity] | |
| Succeeding: Postpalatial Crete (gr_crete_post_palace_1) [None] |
| quasi-polity |
| 10,000 people |
| [4,000 to 6,000] km2 |
| [50,000 to 80,000] people |
| unknown |
| present |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| inferred present |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| inferred present |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| present |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| present |
| absent |
| absent |
| present |
| present |
| present |
| present |
| absent |
| present |
| Year Range | Monopalatial Crete (gr_crete_mono_palace) was in: |
|---|---|
| (1450 BCE 1301 BCE) | Crete |
Archaeological and epigraphic evidence shows that Knossos was the seat of a political authority controlling most of the island. To use the worlds of M. Popham "Close control over much of the island was being exercised, in part throughout a centralized bureaucracy which recorded contributions in produce, flocks of animals, localized labour forces, manufactured goods and stores of military equipment and their owners, the last indicating the build-up of considerable part in weapons and chariotry. Perhaps it was fear of this potential threat which led some other powerful state to extinguish the danger and to pillage and burn the Palace at Knossos along with its surrounding mansions." [1] [2] [3]
[1]: Popham, M. R. 1994. "Late Minoan II to the end of the Bronze Age," in Evely, D., Hughes-Brock, H., and Momigliano, N. (eds), Knossos. A Labyrinth of History. Papers in Honour of Sinclair Hood, London, 89-102
[2]: see also Bennet, J. 1988. "Outside in the distance: problems in understanding the economic geography of Mycenaean palatial territories," in Olivier, J.-P. and Palaima, T. G. (eds), Text, Tablets and Scribes. Studies in Mycenaean Epigraphy and Economy Offered to Emmett L. Bennett, Jr. (Minos Suppl. 10), Salamanga, 19-42
[3]: Bennet, J. 1990. "Knossos in context: comparative perspectives on the Linear B administration of LM II-III Crete," American Journal of Archaeology 94, 193-211.
The Monopalatial era is divided in Late Minoan II (1450-1400 BCE), Late Minoan IIIA1 (1400-1370 BCE) and Late Minoan IIIA2 (1370-1300 BCE) periods. [1] The beginning of this era is marked by the destruction of most Minoan sites and and its end by the destruction of the Knossian palace, seat of a political authority controlling the greatest part of the island.
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. 2008. "Background, sources, and methods," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 4.
It is very likely that the ruling Knossian elite was in contact with the powerful dynasties of mainland Greece. The relations between these political authorities is unknown.
Two different narratives have been proposed based on archaeological data and epigraphy. Bennet argued that Crete, except the east region of the island, was divided into a series of provinces, hierarchy organized, and centered upon Knossos. [1] [2] Driessen suggested that the Knossian satellites acted more as local extractions nodes. [3] [4] .
[1]: Bennet, J. 1988. "Outside in the distance: problems in understanding the economic geography of Mycenaean palatial territories," in Olivier, J.-P. and Palaima, T. G. (eds), Text, Tablets and Scribes. Studies in Mycenaean Epigraphy and Economy Offered to Emmett L. Bennett, Jr. (Minos Suppl. 10), Salamanga, 19-42
[2]: Bennet, J. 1990. "Knossos in context: comparative perspectives on the Linear B administration of LM II-III Crete," American Journal of Archaeology 94, 193-211.
[3]: Driessen, J. 2001." Centre and periphery: some observations on the administration of the kingdom of Knossos," in Voutsaki, S. and Killen, J. T. (eds), Economy and Politics in the Mycenaean Palace States (Cambridge Philosophical Society Suppl. 27), Cambridge, 96-112
[4]: Driessen, J. and Langohr, C. 2007. "Rallying round a "Minoan" past: the legation of power at Knossos during the Late Bronze Age," in Galaty, M. L. and Parkinson, W. A. (eds), Rethinking Mycenaean Palaces II (2nd ed.), Los Angeles, 178-89
Cretans spoke an unknown language recorded in documents written in Linear A. The use of Linear B script in the Knossian administration suggest that the elite segment of the polity was familiar with the archaic version of Greek. [1]
[1]: Palaima, T. G. 2010. "Linear B," in Cline, E. H. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 356-72.
Cretans spoke an unknown language recorded in documents written in Linear A. The use of Linear B script in the Knossian administration suggest that the elite segment of the polity was familiar with the archaic version of Greek. [1]
[1]: Palaima, T. G. 2010. "Linear B," in Cline, E. H. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 356-72.
inhabitants. Knossos is the largest urban center. [1] [2] The growth of the city during the Neopalatial period was followed by a considerable contraction after the end of Late Minoan IB (1450 BCE), and a dramatic decline after Late Minoan IIIA (1300 BCE). The population is estimated to 25,000-30,000 inhabitants during 1500-1450 BCE, 10,000 inhabitants during 1450-1300 BCE, and just 1,000 inhabitants during 1300-1000 BCE.
[1]: Whitelaw, T. 2004. "Estimating the population of Neopalatial Knossos," in Cadogan, G., Hatzaki, E. and Vasilakis, A. (eds), Knossos: Palace, City, State: Proceedings of the Conference in Herakleion organized by the British School at Athens and the 23rd Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Herakleion, in November 2000, for the Centenary of Sir Arthur Evans’s Excavations at Knossos (BSA Studies 12), London, 147-58
[2]: Whitelaw, T. 2012. "The urbanization of prehistoric Crete
Km2. Crete has an area of 8,336 square kilometres, and was dominated by the Knossian palatial state in this period. However, the area of east Crete may have been independent of Knossian control and was perhaps organized into a separate polity or group of polities. [1] Coded for roughly half of the island’s total area.
[1]: Bennet, J. 1987. "The wild country east of Dikte: the problem of east Crete in the LM III period," in Killen, J. T., Melena, J. L., and Olivier, J.-P. (eds), Studies in Mycenaean and Classical Greek presented to John Chadwick (Minos 20-22), Salamanga, 77-88.
people. Firth estimated the Cretan population during Late Minoan IIIA and IIIB periods (1400-1300 BCE) at 110,000. [1] However, the area of east Crete may have been independent of Knossian control and was perhaps organized into a separate polity or group of polities. [2] Coded for roughly half to three-quarters of the island’s total population. It should be noted that this estimate is a working hypothesis open to objections and modifications.
[1]: Firth, R. 1995."Estimating the population of Crete during LM IIIA/B," Minos 29-30, 33-55.
[2]: Bennet, J. 1987. "The wild country east of Dikte: the problem of east Crete in the LM III period," in Killen, J. T., Melena, J. L., and Olivier, J.-P. (eds), Studies in Mycenaean and Classical Greek presented to John Chadwick (Minos 20-22), Salamanga, 77-88.
levels. Knossos was the main political, administrative and economic centre of the island. The analysis of the Linear B texts found in the palace and archaeological data shows that Knossos controlled a series of second-order (e.g. Kydonia and Phaistos) and third-order (e.g. Tylissos) centers. [1] [2] Villages, hamlets and farmhouses were scattered in the hinterland especially during the Late Minoan IIIA period. [3] The area of east Crete may have been independent of the Knossian control perhaps organized into a separate polity or group of polities. [4]
[1]: Bennet, J. 1988. "Outside in the distance: problems in understanding the economic geography of Mycenaean palatial territories," in Olivier, J.-P. and Palaima, T. G. (eds), Text, Tablets and Scribes. Studies in Mycenaean Epigraphy and Economy Offered to Emmett L. Bennett, Jr. (Minos Suppl. 10), Salamanga, 19-42
[2]: Bennet, J. 1990. "Knossos in context: comparative perspectives on the Linear B administration of LM II-III Crete," American Journal of Archaeology 94, 193-211.
[3]: Driessen, J. 2001. "History and hierarchy. Preliminary observations on the settlement pattern of Minoan Crete," in Branigan, K. (ed.), Urbanism in the Aegean Bronze Age (SSAA 4), Sheffield, 64.
[4]: Bennet, J. 1987. "The wild country east of Dikte: the problem of east Crete in the LM III period," in Killen, J. T., Melena, J. L., and Olivier, J.-P. (eds), Studies in Mycenaean and Classical Greek presented to John Chadwick (Minos 20-22), Salamanga, 77-88.
levels. 1-3 The wanax is the head of the religious hierarchy. [1] Like the gods themselves he received offerings (e.g. perfumed oil) but he had not a divine status. He was assisted by a considerable priesthood. [2]
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 293.
[2]: Ventris, M. and Chadwick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, London,128-29.
levels. 1-5 The lawagetas was the supreme military leader. Officers, called hequetai (followers) accompanied military continents. [1] [2]
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 292-95.
[2]: Nikoloudis, S. 2008. "The role of the ra-wa-ke-ta: insights from PY Un718," in Sacconi, A, del Freo, M., Godart, L., and Negri, M. (eds), Colloquium Romanum: Atti del XII Colloquio Internazionale de Micenologia. Roma 20-15 febbraio 2006, vol. 2, Rome, 587-94.
1-5 The supreme leader of the state was the king, he was called wanax. [1] He presided over the political, economic and religious hierarchy. It is not certain thought if he had any military and judicial duty. Ranked second was the lawagetas, a military leader. [2] Below these leaders were the hequetai, followers, who accompanied military contingents and may also performed other functions. Other officials, the so-called collectors, were involved in acquiring and distributing exchange commodities. Among the figures at a lower level were the qasireu who served as overseer of group of workers -the predecessor of the word known from ancient Greek as the word for the king (baseless) - the telestas , officials, the korete and porokorete, mayor and vice-mayor, and scribes.
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 292-95.
[2]: Nikoloudis, S. 2008. "The role of the ra-wa-ke-ta: insights from PY Un718," in Sacconi, A, del Freo, M., Godart, L., and Negri, M. (eds), Colloquium Romanum: Atti del XII Colloquio Internazionale de Micenologia. Roma 20-15 febbraio 2006, vol. 2, Rome, 587-94.
The wanax is the head of the religious hierarchy. [1] Like the gods themselves he received offerings (e.g. perfumed oil) but he had not a divine status. He was assisted by a considerable priesthood. [2]
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 293.
[2]: Ventris, M. and Chadwick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, London,128-29.
The lawagetas was the supreme military leader. Officers, called hequetai (followers) accompanied military continents. [1] [2]
[1]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "12: Mycenaean states. 12A: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 292-95.
[2]: Nikoloudis, S. 2008. "The role of the ra-wa-ke-ta: insights from PY Un718," in Sacconi, A, del Freo, M., Godart, L., and Negri, M. (eds), Colloquium Romanum: Atti del XII Colloquio Internazionale de Micenologia. Roma 20-15 febbraio 2006, vol. 2, Rome, 587-94.
The administration of the Mycenaean states is organized in a three-tiered hierarchical system of bureaucratic control: a) the central bureaucracy located in the palace (or adjacent subsidiary structures) at the capital of the state, to b) local officials and representatives of Palace residing in the second-order centers scattered in the polity’s districts, down to c) collective groups and individuals of various occupations and social standings in the small settlements within these districts. [1]
[1]: Karagianni, A. 2015. "Linear A administration: the communicative aspects of written media and the organization of the Mycenaean Bureaucracy," in Enderwitz, S. and Sauer, R. (eds), Communication and Materiality, Berlin and Boston, 25-60.
he existence of markets in the Aegean did not enjoy scholarly support for many decades, mostly due to the wide and uncritical acceptance of the Polanyian paradigm of ancient economies. Palatial institutions were seen as the only regulators of any economic transaction. Acting as redistributive agents, they were thought to draw upon raw materials and labour from the hinterland in order to produce and distribute specialized artisanal goods. In recent years, however, new perspectives have effectively challenged not only the redistributive role of governing institutions but also the negative attitude towards the existence of market and market-like systems in the Aegean. Once people started looking for them, markets have begun to appear in much earlier chronological horizons, shaping the emergence of state administrative institutions. [1] ( Garraty and Stark 2010). Although there are some constrains in recognizing and understanding markets in prehistoric societies, the market is an economic process which should developed further in Bronze Age Crete.
[1]: see various contributions in Garraty, C. P. and B. L. Stark (eds). 2010. Archaeological Approaches to Market Exchange in Ancient Societies. Boulder, University of Colorado Press.
e.g. the extensive public storerooms at Hagia Triada. [1] [2]
[1]: Privitera, S. 2007. I granai del re. L’immagazzinamento centralizzato dell ferrate a Creta tra il XV e il XIII secolo a.C., Rome,104-13
[2]: Privitera, S. 2014. "Long-term grain storage and political economy in Bronze Age crete: contextualizing Ayia Triada’s silo complexes," American Journal of Archaeology 118, 429-49.
Written records were found only at Knossos. [1] They consists of clay tablets accidentally baked by the fire that destroyed the complex. The tablets, written in Linear B script, and archaic version of Ancient Greek, record the economic interests of palatial administration. [2] [3] [4] The contain mostly records of agricultural and animal husbandry products such as olive oil, honey, wine, wheat, figs, condiments, aromatic herbs, crocus (saffron), animal skins and textiles; of these textiles and oil (especially aromatic oil) formed the basis of the palace’s commercial activity. They also record various luxurious goods such as elaborate bull’s head ryhta, silver vases, and sets of metal vases and raw materials used in the palatial workshops. Moreover the texts provide crucial information on the political and social organization of the Mycenaean kingdoms.
[1]: Palmer, L. R. and Boardman, J. On the Knossos Tablets, Oxford; Chadwick, J., Godart, L., Killen, J.T., Olivier, J.P., Sacconi, A., and Sakellarakis, I.A. 1986, 1990, 1997, 1998. Corpus of Mycenaean Inscriptions from Knossos vol. I-IV, Rome.
[2]: Ventris, M. and Chadwick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge, 155-381
[3]: Shelmerdine, C. W. and Bennet, J. 2008. "Mycenaean States: Economy and administration," in Shelmerdine, C. W. (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to the Aegean Bronze Age, Cambridge, 289-309
[4]: Boulotis, C. 2008. "The art of Cretan writing," in Andreadaki-Vlazaki, M., Rethemiotakis, G., and Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki, N. (eds.), From the Land of the Labyrinth. Minoan Crete, 3000-1100 B.C., New York, 76-7.
The script use by the Knossian administration is the Linear B. [1] [2] Unlike the other Bronze Age scripts, Linear B has been deciphered; the primary language in the preserved texts is Greek as it was developing in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE.
[1]: Ventris, M. and Chadwick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge
[2]: Palaima, T. G. 2010. "Linear B," in Cline, E. H. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean, Oxford, 356-72.
The year was divided into named months (menos, μήνας in ancient Greek) [1] Two months are attested at Pylos: the pakijanijojo and the powowitojo, the latter interpreted as the sailing month. Months recorded at Knossos are the deukijojo, wodewijo, karaerijo, diwijojo, amakoto, and rapato. The data provided, however, by the preserved texts is not full enough to permit any reconstruction of the calendaric system (s).
[1]: Ventris, M. and Chadwick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge, 303-12; //////.
It has been generally argued that all economic transactions were based on fruitful barter. [1] Recent research, however, suggest that market exchanges also existed in prehistory Aegean [2] [3]
[1]: e.g. Chadwick, J. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge, 78.
[2]: Christakis, K. S. 2008. The Politics of the Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete (Prehistory Monographs 25), Philadelphia, 138-39
[3]: Parkinson, W., Nakassis, D., and Galaty, M. L. 2013. "Crafts, Specialists, and Markets in Mycenaean Greece: Introduction," American Journal of Archaeology 117, 413-22.
It has been generally argued that all economic transactions were based on fruitful barter. [1] Recent research, however, suggest that market exchanges also existed in prehistory Aegean [2] [3]
[1]: e.g. Chadwick, J. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge, 78.
[2]: Christakis, K. S. 2008. The Politics of the Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete (Prehistory Monographs 25), Philadelphia, 138-39
[3]: Parkinson, W., Nakassis, D., and Galaty, M. L. 2013. "Crafts, Specialists, and Markets in Mycenaean Greece: Introduction," American Journal of Archaeology 117, 413-22.
It has been generally argued that all economic transactions were based on fruitful barter. [1] Recent research, however, suggest that market exchanges also existed in prehistory Aegean [2] [3]
[1]: e.g. Chadwick, J. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge, 78.
[2]: Christakis, K. S. 2008. The Politics of the Storage. Storage and Sociopolitical Complexity in Neopalatial Crete (Prehistory Monographs 25), Philadelphia, 138-39
[3]: Parkinson, W., Nakassis, D., and Galaty, M. L. 2013. "Crafts, Specialists, and Markets in Mycenaean Greece: Introduction," American Journal of Archaeology 117, 413-22.
Silings, initially used for hunting, had acquired a military role by the 15th century BCE. [1] Sling bullets were initially rounded stones and pebbles but towards the end of the Mycenaean period lead bullets also appeared.
[1]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 308
Evidence for javelins, the archaeological data is meagre, is provided by two small fresco fragments from Knossos. The first, named by Evans as the "Captain of the Blacks" fresco -the fresco is heavily restored- portray an African striding quickly behind a male figure holding to light javelins. [1] The second known as the "Warriors Hurling Javelins" fresco depicts javelin-armed light infantry. [2]
[1]: Evans, A. 1928. The Palace of Minos at Knossos, II:2, London, 756-57.
[2]: Evans, A. 1930. The Palace of Minos at Knossos, III, London, 82.
Although bows were not preserved, representational evidence and arrowheads suggest that this offensive weapon was widely used. The earliest arrowheads were made of flint band obsidian while bronze ones started appeared during the 15th century BCE. [1] About 110 bronze arrowheads were found at Knossos while a single tablet from the Knossian archive records 8,640 arrowheads. [2] The charred remains of two wooden boxes containing carbonized arrow-shafts and arrow-heads were found in the "Armoury" of the palace at Knossos. [3]
[1]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 308
[2]: Ventris, M. and Chawick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge, 361.
[3]: Evans, A.1935. The Palace of Minos at Knossos, IV, 617, 836-40.
The swords are shorter than before and their blade is reinforced with a middle rib. [1] This new type of sword (Type B) was of medium length, equipped with a longer tang and slightly wider blade reinforced with a middle rib. The other type of sword (Type C) had two cruciform projections projecting from the hilt in order to provide protection for the hand. Experimental archaeology has show that these two types were designed for different fighting styles. [2] The handle of Type C sword allows a fencing style of fight while the handle of Type D sword allows more cutting actions. Both types were used from ca. 1450 to 1300 BCE.
[1]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 306.
[2]: Molloy, B. 2008. "Martial arts and materiality: a combat archaeology perspective on Aegean swords of the Fifteenth and Fourteenth centuries BC," World Archaeology 40, 116-34.
Spearheads -the best preserved examples are recovered at the Warrior Graves at Knossos- are narrow, leaf-shaped blade with a strongly marked midrib and a socketed base. This type of spear could be used by both infantry and by chariot warriors.
The evidence for scale armors is extremely scanty; only two scale plates are know from the Aegean and it is not certain if this type of body armor, typical in the Near East, was used in Mycenaean Greece. [1]
[1]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 311.
Greaves were made from a thin braze sheet and worn over a legging of linen, leather or felt. [1] It seems, however, that bronze greaves were not widely used and warriors preferred to wore linen or leather leggings. [2]
[1]: Everson, T. 2004. Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 22.
[2]: Georganas,I. "Weapons and warfare," in Cline, E. (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean (ca. 3000-1000 BC), Oxford, 311.
The most common helmet is the so-called boar’s tusk helmet made by a series of small boar’s tusks sewn onto a cup-shaped piece of leather or felt in alternating rows. [1] [2] These helmets were used from ca. 1650 to 1150 BCE. They were depicted on frescoes -a very fine example was found at Thera- seals, and metal vessels. Bronze helmets with a plume knob and two cheek guards that were sewn onto the bowl were also know from the Warrior Graves at Knossos. Helmets were recorded in Linear B tablets. [3]
[1]: Everson, T. 2004. Warfare in Ancient Greece: Arms and Armour from the Heroes of Homer to Alexander the Great, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 5
[2]: Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki, N. 2005. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, Athens, 207. For the online version see http://www.latsis-foundation.org/eng/electronic-library/the-museum-cycle/the-archaeological-museum-of-herakleio.
[3]: Ventris, M. and Chawick, J. 1973. Documents in Mycenaean Greek, Cambridge, 291-381.