Der minoische 'Hof' als Kulisse zeremonieller Handlung

In: Maran, J. (Hrsg.): Constructing Power. Architecture, ideology and social practice. Hamburg 2006

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Translation of abstract (English)

The nature of Minoan palaces has recently become a matter of lively debate. The present paper takes a traditional approach to this problem in that it adheres to the premise that the Minoan palace did serve as a royal residence and focuses on its role as a backdrop for ceremonial performance. The fundamental architectural concept of this mega-structure lies in the distinction between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, i.e. a private and a public sector. The clear division of urban space reflected and cemented social inequality. The Central Court, the ‘luxury hearth’ of Minoan society, with its highly sophisticated façades provided an adequate setting for ceremonial appearances of the king and was obviously accessible only to members of the elite. Such an area of restricted access, which was certainly invested with profound symbolic meanings, should not be downgraded to a simple place of assembly for any social group. The West Court, on the other hand, an open, public piazza in the immediate vicinity of the palace complex, was predestined to be a meeting point between the ruling elite and its subjects and played a crucial role in the legitimization of political power. The discussion closes with a re-evaluation of the miniature frescoes from Knossos, in which it is argued that this major iconographical source of information about erformative action depicted events outside the palace complex.