Influence Of Larnax On Ancient Greek

A larnax is a type of closed coffin used as storage for corpses or ashes in Ancient Greek times. Larnakes are usually small boxes, set on four legs, with gabled lids. The larnax originated from the Minoan civilization in the late Bronze Age around 1300-1350 BCE. Egyptian wooden coffins or chests influenced Greek larnakes. The Greek larnakes were made out of terra cotta and were highly decorated with naturalistic, flowing paintings. The larnax from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is a rectangular box with brownish orange decorations. On one side, there are three papyrus plants with two smaller papyrus plants between. On the other side, there are two larger papyrus plants and with a type of shell painted in between. Throughout the larnax, there are borders of vertical wavy lines. On one of the ends, there are two

columns each with three wavy lines. The other end contains a vertical column of spirals and interlocking “S"-shaped designs bordered by more wavy lines. There are about ten small holes on each side of the larnax, most likely used to tie rope through for transport. Finally, the gabled lid displays about six shells on each side.
The Minoans did not just invent the idea of the larnax on their own. There must have been some foundation of inspiration leading to the development of such beautiful coffins. This inspiration came from the Egyptians. The Minoan Civilization flourished on the island of Crete located on the Aegean Sea. The Minoans thrived off trade and used the Aegean Sea to their advantage. Due to their location, the Minoans were able to trade back and forth with Egypt. Evidence for this trading relationship is proved through the Egyptian vases found in Crete, which signifies direct contact with Egypt. This direct connection can also infer that the Minoans were influenced by the Egyptian funerary practice. Ancient Egyptian funerary practices were very elaborate and used highly decorated wooden coffins. Evidence of wooden coffins at Knossos suggests that the Minoans mimicked Egyptian coffins and then progressed to terra cotta coffins, otherwise known as larnakes.
The larnax from the Museum of Fine Arts contains various characteristics of Minoan art. In the Late Minoan period, flowers and animals were the most common characteristics of their art, however, the spirals, waves, and lilies were still very common motifs, which originated in the early Minoan period. As stated earlier, this specific larnax contains spirals, wavy lines, and multiple arcs, which decorate the body and lid of the larnax. These motifs may be decorative, or they may be personal renderings of naturalistic images, such as the sea. These specific spirals and waves on the sides and borders of the larnax symbolize the sea. In Aegean art, spirals and wavy lines are very common. The wavy lines, in particular, might directly symbolize the waves of the ocean. There is no need to over analyze this aspect of the larnax, because it is very straightforward. The wavy lines that border the decorations on the larnax may symbolize the sea, because the island of Crete was surrounded by the Aegean Sea. On the other hand, the spirals are a more abstract, naturalistic decoration. The Minoans traveled the Aegean Sea often because their economy thrived off trade. Other evidence suggests direct contact with Egypt, which requires long distance travel across the sea. The spirals on the larnax may symbolize a journey on the sea. The spirals are not as basic as the “S” shaped waves; they suggest something more intricate than waves. A type of “sea journey” would make sense due to the amount of time they spent traveling the Aegean Sea.
The most prominent decorations on the larnax are the papyrus plants, which are also called Minoan flowers. On one side of the larnax, there are five Minoan flowers, three big plants and two smaller ones in between. On the other side, there are two papyrus plants. These Minoan flowers symbolize “regeneration”, or Crete as the land of regeneration. Evidence suggests that the Minoans may have sacrificed animals and humans as a religious practice. If this is the case, the Minoan Flower may very well signify regeneration. If a human or animal is sacrificed, they believe that they will receive something in return from the Gods, and thus creates a cycle. This larnax, in particular, could have been the coffin of a human sacrifice. In order to honor their sacrifice, the Minoans may have decorated the larnax in Minoan flowers to pay respects for the sacrifice and to symbolize regeneration. Another possibility for the papyri is a Nilotic motif. A Nilotic motif is that is inspired by the Nile River in Egypt. Due to the relatively short distance between Crete and Egypt, Nilotic motifs may have been common in Minoan civilization. This would explain the papyrus plants, because papyrus grows in fresh water such as the Nile. Papyrus could not be native to Crete because the surrounding Aegean Sea is not fresh water, which means it could very well have came from the Nile.
The final important decorations on the larnax are the shells. It is obvious that these shells represent marine life. As stated earlier, the Minoan people needed the Aegean Sea to survive and it was very important to them. That is why decorations of marine life are so common in Minoan art. Minoan frescoes were grand wall paintings containing various marine life and wavy lines. Even the floors of some shrine were decorated in marine life. However, the shells on the larnax represent a cockleshell. These shells are commonly associated with the seaweed that grows on the shore of the Aegean Sea, thus leading back to the importance of the Aegean to the Minoan people.
What does this larnax reveal about the Minoan people?

This larnax shows that Egypt had an immense influence on the. Nearly all of the decorations on the larnax potentially symbolize aspects of Ancient Egyptian culture. If true, the Nilotic motif proves that the Egyptians had a large impact on the Minoans. The Nile River to the Egyptians would be like the Aegean to the Minoans. The Egyptian funerary practices may have influenced the Minoans as well. The Minoan people put forth serious effort into this larnax, which shows that the burial was of some importance. This suggests that the Minoans may have been very religious people. This could have been a larnax used in a religious burial or a human sacrifice. Either way, it proves the funerary practices were very important to the Minoans. Finally, this larnax proves the importance of the Aegean Sea. All of the naturalistic decorations on the larnax connect life and sea. The Aegean Sea was crucial to the success of the Minoans, and without the sea, they may have never existed. Overall, this larnax could symbolize a variety of different things. However, it was very important to the Minoans; that is for

certain.