104622162 religious function in minoan archaeology analysis of religious function in sunken rooms...

8/13/2019 104622162 Religious Function in Minoan Archaeology Analysis of Religious Function in Sunken Rooms Pillar Room

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Religious Function in Minoan Archaeology

Analysis of religious function in Sunken Rooms, Pillar Rooms and Tripartite

Shrines in palatial and villa complexes

By W. . !ane "#$%yer

Student &$' ()(*)+)

Supervisor' $r. -arleton !ones


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Abstract

A common perception of the Neopalatial period on Crete is the religious supremacy of the palatial

elite over the villa complexes. This paper explores the architectural evidence for this by discussing

three features associated with ritual activity: Sunken Rooms !illar Rooms and Tripartite Shrines. "brief background is given on #ron$e "ge %inoan archaeology and %inoan religion. This is followed

by a detailed description of Sunken Rooms !illar Rooms and Tripartite Shrines within selected

complexes. The key factors are where they are located within the complexes and how this affects their

perception by the %inoan people. &t was found that although palatial and villa complexes share

Sunken Rooms they are positioned differently within the complexes. &n palatial complexes they are

interconnected with other ritual features while in villa complexes they are secluded rooms set aside.

!illar Rooms were found to be 'uite diverse in both palatial and villa complexes. " seemingly

common trait is their association with storage areas( however there were exceptions to this too.

Tripartite Shrines were found in areas directly facing an open court in both palatial and villa

complexes. The shrine is found in a central location in the palatial complex while it is found in the

northwest corner of the villa complex. &t was discovered that although both palatial and villa

complexes share these three feature they were perceived differently depending on whether they were

found in a palatial or villa complex. Therefore based on the three features discussed in this paper no

evidence for palatial religious dominance over villa complexes was found.


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Contents

"bstract page ii

)ist of illustrations iv

"cknowledgements v

&ntroduction

1. Chapter One: Background +

Beginnings of inoan Archaeology +

-hronology +

Terminology +

inoan Religion /

2. Chapter Two: Sunken Rooms )

Sunken Rooms in Palatial -omplexes )

Sunken Rooms in 0illa -omplexes 1

3. Chapter Three: illar Rooms (

Pillar Rooms in Palatial -omplexes (

Pillar Rooms in 0illa -omplexes +

4. Chapter Four: Tripartite Shrines 2

A Tripartite Shrine in a Palatial -omplex 3 4nossos 2

A Tripartite Shrine in a 0illa -omplex 3 0athypetro *

5. Chapter Fi!e: Conclusions 5

Sunken Rooms' 6vidence -ompiled 5

Sunken Rooms' -onclusion 5

Pillar Rooms' 6vidence -ompiled 1

Pillar Rooms' -onclusion

Tripartite Shrines' 6vidence -ompiled

Tripartite Shrines' -onclusion +(

-oncluding Remarks +(

*igures ++

#ibliography +,


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"llustrations

Figures

&ntro. ap of Bron7e Age -rere page++

Plan of 4nossos in the 8eopalatial period +/

+ 8orth%est Sunken Room at 4nossos sho%ing a possi9le procession route +/

/ Plan of Throne Room and Service Section at 4nossos +2

2 Plan of Phaistos in the 8eopalatial period +2

) Phaistos detail of the Sunken Rooms +)

* Plan of the :ouse of the -hancel Screen in the 8eopalatial period +)

5 Plan of 0athypetro, first phase during the 8eopalatial period +*

1 An isometric reconstruction of the Royal 0illa, 9y 4nossos +*

An isometric plan of Tylissos :ouse - +5

( The so;called resco at 4nossos +1


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Acknowledgements

& %ish to thank my supervisor $r. -arleton !ones, ?@ecturer in the $ept. of Archaeology,

8& =al%ay for his help and guidance throughout the research period of this dissertation.

& %ould also like to extend my appreciation to $r. !oanna $ay ?Teaching >ello% in the $ept

of -lassics, 8& =al%ay for her patience and advice.

& %ould also %ish to thank the staff in the &nter;@i9rary @oans "ffice of the !ames :ardiman

@i9rary at 8& =al%ay.


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"ntroduction

This paper %ill examine specific aspects of the religious relationship 9et%een Bron7e Age

palatial and villa complexes on the island of -rete ?&ntro. . The topic is incredi9le 9road

and diverse therefore, & have limited the area of study and the time frame. This paper deals

%ith the palatial complexes of 4nossos found in the Pediada ?central north -rete and

Phaistos in the esara ?central south -rete. 0illa complexes have varying forms, ur9an

villas, manorial villas associated %ith a small village or to%n and country villas %hich stand

alone in the countryside ?Betancourt 5, . &n this paper the ur9an villas of the :ouse of

the -hancel Screen and the Royal 0illa 9y 4nossos, the manorial villas of :agia Triada in

the esara, Tylissos found norht%est of 4nossos and 0athypetro in the Pediada %ill 9e

disscussed. The period is the 8eopalatial period ca. 5)(;2)( B-. This topic %ill focus on

three types of inoan architectural featuresC the Sunken Room ?lustral 9asin, the Pillar

Room ?pillar crypt and the Tripartite Shrine. The goal of this paper is to discover if the

palatial and villa complexes %ere perceived in the same %ay in these three features 9y

examining %here and ho% they are found %ithin the various sites mentioned a9ove.


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C#AT$R O%$

Background

BEGINNINGS OF MINOAN ARCHAEOLOGY

Sir Arthur 6vans %as the first person to undertake maDor excavations of Bron7e Age -rete

in ((. The excavation at 4nossos and several other sites spanned many years and

produced the excavation report


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-rete revolve around an imperial mode. :e descri9es the complexes as palaces %ith entrance

halls, grand staircases, courtyards and gardens, attri9utes of 6nglish aristocratic architecture.

-adogan in his 5* 9ook


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presumed to 9e of ritual function found %ithin the palatial and villa complexes %ill 9e

discussed in detail in this paperC Sunken Rooms, Pillar Rooms and Tripartite Shrines.


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-:APT6R TW"

Sunken Rooms

Sunken Rooms are a specific architectural feature %ithin the inoan complexes. They are

partially enclosed spaces. They contain a sunken floor %ith a succession of steps circling a

central column leading do%n from the ground level. The average si7e of these rooms is

approx. +.) x +m. The room is visi9le from the main levelC in most cases a lo% %all encloses

the room allo%ing the activities carried out %ithin to 9e seen from a9ove. This feature is

usually a9sent of any artefacts. "n occasion small clay vessels thought to contain oils have

9een found %ithin the Sunken Room ?6vans +, 2. &nitially it %as thought these rooms

%ere some form of 9athing room, ho%ever, %ater could not have taken a maDor part in its

design as the Sunken Room is not %aterproof. Additionally, ne% evidence of Sunken Rooms

richly adorned %ith fresco paintings at -hania in %estern -rete on the interior %alls further

discourages the idea of a 9athing area ?:itchcock +(((, *.

S8468 R""S &8 PA@AT&A@ -"P@6H6S

T%o Sunken Rooms at 4nossos are discussed in this paper ?>ig. . The north%est Sunken

Room %as found close to the north entrance of the palatial complex. The second Sunken

Room %as found in the Throne Room %est of the central court.

The north%est Sunken Room at 4nossos is one of the deepest so far discovered. &t lies at a

depth of +m %ith a total of sixteen steps leading to the 9ottom. This Sunken Room is t%ice

as deep as any other Sunken Room in the 8eopalatial period ?:itchcock, +(((, 1(. 6vans

originally dated this room to the latter stages of the Protopalatial period 9ased on artefactual

remains found %ithin the room. Since 6vans initial discovery the connection 9et%een these

artefacts and the Sunken Room has 9een Euestioned. :o%ever, the evidence is unconvincing

either %ay therefore it is 9eing included in this paper. The access to this Sunken Room can


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9e controlled. When entering the main area of the complex from the north entrance the

Sunken Room can 9e 9y;passed on the %ay to the central court. A portico divides the room

to the east of the Sunken Room in t%o. This portico in theory could physically and visually

cut off access to the Sunken Room and force the visitor to move straight on through the

complex. :itchcock suggests this deli9erate control of access could 9e used in a ritual

procession. The proposed procession is sho%n in plan ?>ig. +. &n this scenario %hen the

person reaches the Sunken Room an activity is performed %here a transformation %ill occur.

The person then exits 9y the second door ?south side, through the south door%ay of the

portico and continues on through the complex ?:itchcock +(((, 1. The structural control

here could also allo% access to the Sunken Room from outside %hile still 9locking access to

the main complex.

A Sunken Room is also found at 4nossos %ithin the Throne Room ?>ig. /. This room is

located in the %estern Euarter of the complex. The room is lavishly decorated %ith frescos of

griffins and palm trees ?highly reconstructed. A stone chair is positioned centrally against

the north %all hence the name of the room


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8iemeier certainly supports this function for the Service Section and Throne Room. :e

suggests these rooms %ere used for the preparation of the priestess. "ne of the rooms

sho%ed evidence of food preparation %hich 8iemeier comments is not exclusive of ritual

activity ?8iemeier 15, **. &n this scenario, the candidate performs certain actions

throughout these rooms 9efore entering the &nner Sanctuary, the room immediately to the

%est of the Throne Room. This is %here the supposed epiphany of the goddess no% appears

in the door%ay of the Throne Room flanked 9y t%o griffins ?i9id. This motif should not 9e

understated. The stone seat itself is flanked 9y griffins and palm trees. The seals found at

4nossos and even the fresco at Heste / in Akrotiri, Thera confirms the association 9et%een

deities and


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religious nature rather than a purely secular function this %ould have 9een lost on the

ycenaeans or of little importance to their society.

At Phaistos ?>ig. 2 9oth Sunken Rooms are found in the %estern part of the complex. The

area is accessed through an elongated corridor %hich can 9e 9locked off at %ill. The area is

Euite a complicated system ?>ig. ). &t reEuires the person to move through a snake;like

pattern do%n and up through the different rooms. The door leading from the first Sunken

Room to the second is Euite narro% and difficult to pass through ?:itchcock +(((, 1.

:itchcock comments that the %hole south half of the %est %ing is devoted to these Sunken

Rooms and there is no other reason to 9e in this part of the complex ?i9id. An opening in the

corridor allo%s the first Sunken Room to 9e 9ypassed. Therefore, entering the first Sunken

Room %ould have to 9e a deli9erate act. >or :itchcock, the purposeful nature of the layout is

a sym9olic re;enactment of a Dourney ?:itchcock +(((, 1.

S8468 R""S &8 0&@@A -"P@6H6S

Although only a fe% examples %ere given a9ove Sunken Rooms are Euite common in

palatial complexes. Both at 4nossos and Phaistos there are t%o or more rooms per complex.

This is in contrast %ith the general lack of Sunken Rooms in villas. &n most cases %here they

are found, they are filled in during the 8eopalatial period at the same time more %ere 9eing

9uilt at Phaistos ?:itchcock +(((, 1. :itchcock proposes that the action of filling up the

Sunken Rooms in the villas sho%s a fundamental change in the function of villas in the

8eopalatial period ?:itchcock +(((, (+. nlike their palatial counterparts there appears to

9e no association %ith inoan hall systems or an enactment of a cult of epiphany %ithin the

villas. &nstead, Sunken Rooms appear to 9e Dust a secluded part of the villa, a space set aside.

:agia Triada and Tylissos :ouse - possess no Sunken Room in this period. :o%ever, not

all villas shared this change. South of 4nossos lies


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villa has 9oth a Sunken Room and a Pillar Room ?see 9elo%. Although the room is

positioned to the front of the 9uilding its access is not direct. 6ntrance to the anteroom is

from the main hall from the same side as the entrance ?>ig. *. There is no reason to enter

this part of the villa if not to access the Sunken Room.

There is a possi9le Sunken Room at the complex 0athypetro. The Sunken Room is found in

the north%est section of the complex. The site has t%o main phases in the 8eopalatial period.

$uring the first, access is restricted to the room. There is a separate entrance to the complex

from the north%est. This leads into a straight corridor at the very end of %hich lies the

Sunken Room on the left. As seen in previous examples, approaching the Sunken Room is

the only reason for venturing this far inside the complex. :o%ever, in the second phase the

east %all at the end of the corridor is opened allo%ing access to the main hall and the rest of

the complex ?>ig. 5.


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-:APT6R T:R66

illar Rooms

Pillar Rooms are another unusual feature of inoan architecture. They are found in 9oth

palace and villa complexes. The rooms have no %indo%s and are therefore Euite dark. The

only prominent feature of these rooms is the pillar 3 generally centrally positioned. The

average si7e of these rooms is approx. 2.+ x )m. &n some cases small depressions or 9asins

are found either side of the pillar. Artefacts have 9een found in some of the Pillar Rooms.

Pillar Rooms have 9een linked to storage areas given their close proximity to storage

maga7ine %ithin the complexes, perhaps suggesting some sort of protection shrine. A

num9er of la9rys marks ?dou9le;axes have 9een incised on the pillars in these rooms.

&t has 9een commonly accepted these pillars may 9e capturing the cave sym9olism of

stalactites and stalagmitesC


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?see 9elo%. &t is thought that perhaps this %as used for some form of li9ation ?arinatos

5, 2. asses of animal 9one %ere found underneath the floor of this Pillar Room

?:allager 15, 5/. The 9est %ay of gaining access to the maga7ines is through a complex

system of rooms and corridors, passing through the Pillar Rooms. The pillars have la9rys

marks incised as do some of the maga7ine rooms closest to the Pillar RoomsC :allager

suggests these rooms may have dealt directly %ith ceremonial o9Dects, a type of sanctuary

store ?:allager 15, 5). :allager suggests that %e are seeing the architectural remains of

a harvest festival ceremony. The harvest %ould 9e 9rought into the %est %ing %here it %ould

9e catalogued in the Room of the -olumn Bases, south of the ig. 2. There is a pillar centrally positioned in the

corridor of the maga7ines. &ts structural significance is in relation to the upper floor 9ut


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:itchcock prefers to see this as a dual function seeing the


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+(((, )(;). This is Euite an assem9lage of 9ron7e artefacts and :itchcock suggests this

Pillar Room acted as divine protection over the collection ?:itchcock +(((, ).


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-:APT6R >"R

Tripartite Shrines

Tripartite shrines are an assumed feature of ceremonialGritual function. The feature can 9e

relatively simpleC structure consists of three sections and can 9e composed of either


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A TR&PART&T6 S:R&86 &8 A 0&@@A -"P@6H ; 0AT:MP6TR"

At 0athypetro the potential Tripartite Shrine is found to the northeast of the complex ?>ig.

5. An open court lies to the %est of the structure ending in a covered portico. The site has

several phases during the 8eopalatialC some destruction occurred possi9ly earthEuake

damage. &n the second phase, renovations appear to have limited access to the shrine, it

seems accessi9ility 9ecame only possi9le through the meandering halls and rooms of the

complex rather than direct access from the outside ?$riessen F Sakellarakis 15, 52. As

mentioned a9ove tripartite shrines are still de9ated in inoan archaeology. :o%ever,

$riessen F Sakellarakis 9elieve 0athypetro is the only structure %hich matches the inoan

iconography, miniature fresco at 4nossos and the Lakros rhyton, a ceremonial o9Dect found at

the palatial complex of Lakros in eastern -rete depicting a Tripartite Shrine at a peak

sanctuary ?$riessen F Sakellarakis 15, 5+. Sha% has argued that generally Tripartite

Shrines %ere a temporary device used at seasonal times for some ceremonial purpose ?Sha%

51, 221. :o%ever, $riessen F Sakellarakis stress they found no evidence for a temporary

structure from their field%ork at 0athypetro, instead they found the 9uilding materials to 9e

Euite %ell made and noted the polished though fragmented stone horns of consecration found

9et%een the portico and the shrine to further indicate the importance of the structure ?i9id.


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-:APT6R >&06

Conclusions

SUNKEN ROOMS: EVIDENCE COMPILED

T%o Sunken Rooms %ere discussed at 4nossos in this paper. The north%est Sunken Room

%as designed in such %ay that access could 9e gained %ithout having to enter the rest of the

complex. &n contrast to this the Sunken Room %ithin the Throne Room is an integral part of

the room and found %ithin the heart of the %est %ing of the complex. &t has 9een suggested

that the relationship 9et%een this Sunken Room and the adDoining Service Section may have

9een to ena9le an enactment of an epiphany cult. The Sunken Rooms at Phaistos are similar

to the north%est room in 4nossos. These rooms are secluded %ithin the %est %ing. Access

is prolonged and indirect. The villas during this period have a marked decline in the num9er

of Sunken Rooms. Tylissos :ouse - and :agia Triada 9oth lack Sunken Rooms. The villa

complexes %here %e find Sunken Rooms ?:ouse of the -hancel Screen and at 0athypetro

are secluded sections of the complex. Access is allo%ed solely for the use of the room. &n

the :ouse of the -hancel Screen, the Sunken Room is found in a %hole section of its o%n,

accessed through a single door in the main hall. At 0athypetro access could have 9een

directly from outside the complex, at least in its first phase.

SUNKEN ROOMS: CONCLUSION

At :agia Triada, the a9sence of Sunken Rooms in this period along %ith the additional

rooms at Phaistos ?the closest palatial complex to :agia Triada could have something to do

%ith an overall social change. :itchcock remarks on the tempting nature of the evidence

suggesting provisionally that perhaps the palatial complexes are assuming the religious

purposes from the villas ?:itchcock +(((, 1(. :o%ever, %e have seen a9ove that although

Sunken Rooms are lacking in the villas they are found in the :ouse of the -hancel Screen


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and at 0athypetro. The Sunken Rooms in palatial complexes like the one in the Throne

Room at 4nossos are integral to the function of the room. &n palatial complexes Sunken

Rooms %ere part of interconnecting rooms and ritual activity. The Sunken Rooms %hen

found in the villa complexes are private, intimate locations. They are situated in self;

contained apartments of the villa complex. Access to the main 9uilding is rarely necessary

and if it is as in the case of the :ouse of the -hancel Screen only to the main hall. Although

the features are architecturally the same, they are not 9eing used in the same %ays.

PILLAR ROOM: EVIDENCE COMPILED

Pillar Rooms %ere consistently found in connection %ith maga7ines and other forms of

storage. At 4nossos there %ere t%o Pillar Rooms side 9y side. These rooms seem to 9e part

of an overall ritual area ?0at Room,


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PILLAR ROOMS: CONCLUSION

The Pillar Room has incredi9le variations throughout the examples found a9ove. &t is seen

in a secular storage area, a ritual storage and an isolated room in a villa complex. &t is a very

adapta9le motif and it seems each complex has its o%n slant on the theme. Perhaps a main

purpose is to create this cave;like scenario and that is the common link 9et%een them all.

-ave sanctuaries %ere slightly different in the Protopalatial period too, regional differences

applied. Perhaps regional factors %ere still important in the 8eopalatial period and %ere

9eing expressed in the varying forms of Pillar Rooms found %ithin the palatial and villa

complexes.

TRIPARTITE SHRINES: EVIDENCE COMPILED

The Tripartite Shrine is a controversial element of inoan archaeology. The tripartite

system is certainly seen in inoan iconography as %ell as on mainland =reece. :o%ever,

identifying this shrine archaeologically has proved divisive. &t has 9een argued that the

architectural remains at 4nossos for the shrine are not valid, %hile others disagree on the

details and maintain the essentials are present. -ertainly the area it is found in connection

%ith is already defined as


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gathering such as the -entral -ourt at 4nossos and the court to the %est of the Tripartite

Shrine at 0athypetro. At 4nossos the proposed Tripartite Shrine is positioned centrally on

the %est side of the -entral -ourt. At 0athypetro, the potential Tripartite Shrine is in the

north%est corner of the complex. $uring the second phase access %as restricted. The

Tripartite Shrine is 9y no means as prolific as the Sunken and Pillar Rooms 9ut they are

perceived to 9e a part of the inoan ritual landscape.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

As seen through the examples a9ove, the inoans certainly conveyed a deli9erate purpose

through architecture using materials to o9struct and guide the person in a %ay they choose.

This seems to 9e the dominant feature consistent in all the palatial and villa complexes.

:o%ever, even architectural standards are not maintained for palatial or villas complexesC

they seem to have their o%n slant on the features. Palatial complexes use the features in

conDunction %ith other ritual elements. &n the villa complexes the features are more secluded,

a separate entity. The :ouse of the -hancel Screen and 0athypetro 9oth contain Sunken

Rooms in secluded locations. Again, their Pillar Rooms are either self contained ?Tylissos

:ouse - and Royal 0illa at 4nossos or associated %ith minimal and selective storage

?:ouse of the -hancel Screen and :agia Triada.

The extensive 8eopalatial 9uilding %ith the additional villa and larger palatial complexes

have lead scholars to propose a palatial dominance over the land. =iven the close proximity

of many villas to palatial complexes ?Tylissos is 9ut /km from 4nossos it is difficult to

9elieve these villa complexes could remain independent of palatial control ?Rehak F

Mounger +((, /5. The goal of this paper %as to explore the relationship of three features

?Sunken Rooms, Pillar Rooms and Tripartite Shrines in 9oth palatial and villa complexes

and to discover if there is any evidence of one complex sho%ing supremacy over the other. &


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have found no evidence for religious dominance 9y palatial rulers over villa complexes.

&nstead, villa complexes are using the features in a different %ay to their palatial counter;

parts. These features may have 9een kno%n to the inoan people 9ut they %ere perceived

and used differently 9ased on %hich complex they %ere found in and possi9ly %here they

%ere located regionally.


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Figures

&n the plans 9elo% the follo%ing key applies' Sunken Rooms highlighted in yello%

Pillar Rooms highlighted in 9lue

Tripartite Shrines highlighted in red

&ntro. . AP "> BR"8L6 A=6 -R6T6 ?$rahman +((1&

1 www.s!"#$s.s%&.#"!'"()*+)$,-')#(.*+/0)&ss#" 31 M)(&* 2,,
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>&=. . P@A8 "> 48"SS"S &8 T:6 86"PA@AT&A@ P6R&"$+

>&=. +. 8"RT:W6ST S8468 R"" AT 48"SS"S S:"W&8= A P"SS&B@6 PR"-6SS&"8 R"T6 ?:itchcock

+((1/

2A&ss#": 3, A(/ 2,,

3A&ss#" 2, A(/ 2,,


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>&= /. P@A8 "> T:R"86 R"" A8$ S6R0&-6 S6-T&"8 AT 48"SS"S ?"dyssey Adventures2

>&= 2. P@A8 "> P:A&ST"S &8 T:6 86"PA@AT&A@ P6R&"$ ?Pre7iosi F :itchcock , fig. )5

4Accessed' /( arch +((


30/35

>&=. ) P:A&ST"S $6TA&@ "> T:6 S8468 R""S ?:itchcock +(((, fig. +)

>&=. *. P@A8 "> :"S6 "> T:6 -:A8-6@ S-R668 &8 T:6 86"PA@AT&A@ P6R&"$ ?6vans +1, fig. ++2


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>&=. 5. P@A8 "> 0AT:MP6TR", >&RST P:AS6 $R&8= T:6 86"PA@AT&A@ P6R&"$ ?$riessen F Sakellarakis

15, fig. *

>&=. 1. R"MA@ 0&@@A, A8 &S"6TR&- R6-"8STR-T&"8 ?arinatos 5, fig. 2


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>&=. . TM@&SS"S :"S6 -, &S"6TR&- P@A8 ?Pre7iosi F :itchcock , fig. *1

>&=. (. T:6 S";-A@@6$ T:6 "8TA&8S# S6A@&8= >"8$ 86AR T:6 TR&PART&T6

S:R&86 AT 48"SS"S ?Pre7iosi F :itchcock , fig. ))a


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>&=. +. T:6 =RA8$STA8$ >R6S-" AT 48"SS"S?texas'

Bibliography

5A&ss#" 2, A(/ 2,,


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-adogan, =., 5*. !alaces of %inoan Crete. @ondon' Book -lu9s Associates.

$avis, 6. 8., 15. orlag.pp.*;55.

:itchcock, @.A., +(((. %inoan "rchitecture: " Contextual "nalysis. Paul Astroms >orlag.

:itchcock, @.A. F 4oudounaris, P. +((+.


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$rahman, T., +((1.

104622162 religious function in minoan archaeology analysis of religious function in sunken rooms...

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