Art Blogging: Blue Monkeys

The Minoans were a Bronze Age culture centered in Crete from 2600 to 1450 B.C. One of the remarkable elements of their art is its playfulness. Much of ancient art is purposeful, such as encouraging veneration and fear of gods and kings. But the frescoes of Minoan art often display a more light-hearted tone. I think that a barometer of healthy culture is its ability to laugh.

One common motif in Minoan art is portrayals of pastel-colored monkeys swinging through the trees, as seen here in the Blue Monkey Fresco of Thera.