Earthquake, Volcano, Tsunami... Lecture at Getty Villa
By STAN PARCHIN
January 21, 2010
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| Minoan (1700-1400 B.C.). Palace at Knossos with Bull Fresco (detail). Crete. Photograph provided by Flickr. |
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| Egyptian, early Dynasty 18, joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III (1479-1458 B.C.) Hatshepsut as King. Western Thebes, Deir el-Bahri. Crystalline (indurated) limestone, painted. H. 195 cm (76.75 in.); W. 49 cm (19.5 in.); D. 114 cm (44.9 in.). © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. |
Recent archaeological evidence indicates that a series of natural disasters rocked the Bronze Age world of the eastern Mediterranean during the 15th Century B.C. The eruption of the volcanic Aegean island of Thera (present-day Santorini) had a profound effect on the history of Minoan Crete, early 18th Dynasty Egypt and Mycenaean Greece.
Classical archaeologist Joseph Alexander "Sandy" McGillivray delivers the lecture Earthquake, Volcano, Tsunami: Natural Disasters and Political Change at the Getty Villa's Auditorium on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. The presentation is free; a ticket is required. Call (310) 440-7300 or use the "Get Tickets" button on the Getty Museum's Web site.
McGillivray, a leading expert on Aegean archaeology, explores several questions related to the greatest natural disaster of the ancient Mediterranean region. He explores why Egypt's powerful and charismatic Queen Hatshepsut, stepmother of Pharaoh Thutmose III, wrested power from her regent. McGillivray asks why the Minoans suddenly appeared at Hatshepsut's coronation and paid homage to the ruler in a subordinate role. And he investigates why the Mycenaeans of mainland Greece were able to eventually conquer and dominate the Minoans.
The renowned scholar suggests that cataclysmic earthquakes, deadly volcanic ash and one or more tsunamis caused a chain reaction of events that changed the course of ancient history. McGillivray hypothesizes that Cretans at Hatshepsut's court sought her support in rebuilding their island civilization until her death. Afterwards, the Mycenaeans were able to easily subjugate the Minoans.
Sources
Andreadaki-vlazaki, Maria, Giorgos Rethemiotakis and Nora Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki (eds.), et al. From the Land of the Labyrinth: Minoan Crete 3000-1100 B.C. (exh. cat,). New York: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA), 2008.
Aruz, Joan, Kim Benzel and Jean M. Evans (eds.), et al. Beyond Babylon: Art, Trade, and Diplomacy in the Second Millennium B.C. (exh. cat.). New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press, 2008, 270-287.
McGillivray, Joseph Alexander. Minotaur: Sir Arthur Evans and the Archaeology of the Minoan Myth. New York: Hill & Wang, 2000.
Roehrig, Catherine H. with René Dreyfus and Cathleen A. Keller (eds.), et al. Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh (exh. cat.). New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press, 2005.
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