Architecture of Crete and Mycenae

Crete and Mycenae are two Aegean civilization that reached their peak for their spectacular architecture. Crete reached it’s zenith in the middle phase of the Bronze Age civilization, while Mycenae was developed in the mainland of Greece during the late phase of the Bronze Age civilization. Mycenae rose after the decline of Crete. The architecture of Crete and Mycenae share several similarities as well as differences.
The palace at Knossos and the palace at Phaistos are the best-known Cretan buildings. A major difference between the palace of Knossos and the palace of Mycenae is the complexity of the plan. Cretan palaces do not show any evidence of conscious planning. The plan of the palace of Knossos is organically evolved around the large central court. The proliferation of rooms at ground-floor level were unsuited for domestic purposes. It is thought that they were probably used for storage. The main entrance at the palace at Knossos was defended by a guard-house which is one of the few fortified structures in Crete. In the palace of Phaistos also, the great courtyard was surrounded by several rooms on different levels. Their proliferation was not balanced by a boundary wall. Crete’s palaces were unfortified which revealed that this society was relaxed and easy-going. This is also possible that the Cretans considered their supremacy at sea protection enough. The palaces in Crete ,as well as in Mycenae, were served as centers of worship as well as government. It has been thought that Crete’s near-divine kings were largely concerned with commerce.
In contrast, the palaces in Mycenae are very simple. The main entrance in the Palace of Mycenae is from the courtyard through the porch that has columns on each side. The principal apartments which were situated at the ground level, were the simple halls. Mycenae is inaccessible and easily defended because of it’s geographical location. Mycenaean architecture has several examples of fortification. The royal residence at Tiryns is one of the best-preserved Mycenaean fortifications. It was guarded by immensely thick walls and a series of gates. The Lion Gate proclaims the military pride of the Mycenaean tribal chiefs. The Lion Gate is in the outer wall that surrounds The palace of Mycenae. It is made up of limestone. In the Lion Gate, An arch is made by corbeled stones above the huge lintel which creates a triangle. Two lions are carved in relief on both sides of a sacred Minoan column in this triangle. The mainland sites at Mycenae were fortified with huge walls of cyclopean masonry, constructed of massive, irregular blocks. Mycenaean bureaucracies were less interested in architectural amenities than those of Crete. Mycenaean practiced on the scale of estate management rather than of empire.
Palaces in Crete and Mycenae have similar decorative art in their palaces. The painted reliefs and frescoes are very common decorative art in Cretan and Mycenaean palaces. The bull is the most common motif in all the forms of the Cretan art and probably had great religious significance. A charging bull is painted relief near the main gate of the palace at Knossos. The cypress wood columns tapered downward and the base and capitals were rudimentary or featureless. Cretans seem to love color. Most of their walls were sheathed in alabaster and the frescoes and painted reliefs. Mycenaean decorated their architecture with reliefs, also. The facade of the Treasury of the Atreus is decorated with contrasting red and green marbles in the form of columns and a frieze of spirals. The Mycenaean art recovered above the royal shaft graves contain both geometric and figural motifs.
In conclusion, it is clear that the Cretan and Mycenaean architecture shared several differences as well as similarities. Crete has more complex organization of the structure , while Mycenae has more simple and organized structures. Crete does not have fortification while Mycenae used fortification in most of it’s monuments. The type of government and it’s concern about the architecture was also different from each other. Both Mycenae and Crete share similar art forms. Frescoes and painted reliefs are common type of art used in the palaces for decoration.