Pre-Hellenic, Paleochristian and Pre-Romanesque Art History

Pre-Hellenic Art

Pre-Hellenic artistic styles emerged before Greek art and the civilization of Crete and the Peloponnese. Its significance lies in acting as a bridge between Egyptian and Greek art, establishing foundational characteristics that would later define Greek aesthetics. We emphasize the Cretan and Mycenaean eras.

Cretan or Minoan Art

Developed in Crete, this style reached its greatest splendor in the second millennium BCE, when Crete dominated Mediterranean trade routes. The name Minoan honors the mythological King Minos.

Mycenaean Art

Named after Mycenae, the major Achaean town and polis, this art flourished in the southern Peloponnese between 1500 and 1200 BCE. Its legacy is reflected in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey.

Paleochristian Art

The art of the first centuries of Christianity is essential to art history, as it established the forms and contents that became the basis for all Western art in the Middle Ages.

• Basilica: A broad, lengthened building used for markets or public trials. Its rectangular floor plan is divided into three or five naves.
• Presbytery: Located at the head of the basilica, ending in a semicircular apse housing the altar and the Bishop's chair.
• Baptistery: A central-plan structure containing a tank for baptism.
• Mausoleum: A space centered around a tomb.

Note: The strigil is a common geometric pattern of contrasting curves found in this period.

Pre-Romanesque Art

This term identifies artistic styles produced in Western Christian Europe between the 5th and 11th centuries. It serves as the foundation for Romanesque art, considered the first European artistic unity.

Background: It combines Greco-Roman classical heritage with Christian themes and Eastern influences. Due to the semi-nomadic nature of the era, construction focused on portable arts like gold and enamel work, which influenced decorative relief elements.

Regional Styles

• Visigothic Art: Characterized by cruciform basilicas, Corinthian capitals, and Byzantine horseshoe arches.
• Asturian Art: Reached its splendor during the reign of Ramiro I (842–850), also known as Ramirense art.
• Mozarabic Art: A synthesis of Visigothic and Muslim styles, featuring horseshoe arches and roll-bearing corbels.