Archaeology of Minoan Crete

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Introduction

Ancient Crete - South East of the Greek Mainland - Mountainous - 8000ft Mount Ida - Mild Winters, Hot Summers

4000 years ago, Crete was the center of the earliest known civilization, equaling Babylonia and Egypt - Ended 1100 BC

Minos, Sea-King, first major naval power in Medditerranian, law-giver, inspired by Zeus.

Legends: Minos, Son of Zeus, Mother: Europa; Theseus and the Minotaur: Offspring of a bull and Minos' wife, Pasiphae.

Beneath Knossos, Labyrinth, constructed by Daedalus.

Minos conquered Athens - Every year Athens to send 12 boys and girls to the Minotaur.

Theseus, Prince of Athens, volunteered. Minos' daughter, Ariadne fell in love with Theseus. Made plan with Daedalus for Theseus to escape.

Tied thread to door, defeated Minotaur, escaped with Ariadne. Daedalus imprisoned with son, Icarus. Feathered wings, flew to Sicily. Icarus fell and died.

Minos followed Daedalus, but was murdered mysteriously. He sits as a judge in Hades.

Archaeology only reliable source. Few writings.

How can historical dates be put to events before written history?

1. Cross referencing regions. Cretans items found jn Egypt/West Asia.

2. Radiocarbon dating. Sample of dead organic material. Approximate dates.

Early Crete History

First inhabitants - Neolithic/Stone Age - Arrived 6000BC from West Asia - Early settlers were farmers: Crops, Cattle, Sheep, Goats - Mud houses - Handmade pottery

Obsidian tools, imported from Melos island - Spun/Wove Cloth - female idols of clay / Goddess?

After 3000 years, Asian settlers brought metal: Copper, bronze, silver, gold - Bronze Age for 2000 years: Minoan civilization.

Pre-palatial: 3000-2000bc - Early Minoan - Rapid strides in art and pottery

First Palatial: 2000-1700bc - Middle Minoan I & II - Large palaces, metalworking, pottery, earthquake collapse.

Second Palatial: 1700-1400bc - Middle Minoan III & Late Minoan I & II - Palaces rebuilt, culture spread to islands, Mycenae, luxurious, skilled. Earthquakes? Fires? Floods? Army? Abandoned.

Post-Palatial: 1400 - 1100bc - Late Minoan III - Knossos occupied by Myceanians - Knossos burnt, never rebuilt - Hybrid culture formed - 1100bc: Dorian Greek Invasion

Dorian Greeks - North of Mycenae - Pushed southward - Greek Dark Ages, 1100BC

Life in Minoan Crete

Royalty lived in palaces of several stories - Airy rooms, surrounded courtyard - Flat roofs - Piped water supply - Drainage - Flushing Toilets - Plastered walls w/ colorful frescos

King = High Priest - Palace contained workshops, storage for provisions, and armories

Food: Oil, grain, mutton, pork, goat, deer, boars, hare, birds, fish. Bread; barley, wheat, unleavened. Milk and cheese, no butter. Fruit; dates, nuts, figs. Olive oil, honey, wine, tea.

Clothing: Women; Flounced dresses, tight waists, short sleeves, bare breasts, elaborate hair, jewelry of gold and blue glass. Men; Loin cloth, kilt, belt, high leather boots, single ring.

Religion: Palace-shrines, open air, mountain tops, caves; Mother-goddess and son - Sacrificed bulls to them.

Sports: Men and women somersault over bull by horns - Boxing, wrestling by men - circle dancing.

Art: Nature, birds, animals, trees, flowers - Preferred small scale - Ivory, bronze, engraved gems, gold jewelry, stone vases - Adapted artistic style

Burial: Buried dead unburnt with possessions - Body in crouching position - Laid on floor or in large jars.

Language: Unknown before 1450. Not Greek.

Pottery: Extravagant shapes were popular in pre-palatial, beginnings of Kamares ware (red, orange, yellow on black) -

Aftermath and Rediscovery

After the fall in the Bronze Age, Crete remained a prosperous part of the Greek and Roman empires.

823-961: Saracens conquered

1210: Venice

1669: Turkish - Harsh, oppressive, poor

1821: Greek War of Independence, Crete rebelled Turks

1913: Crete joins Greece

Archaeology under Turkish rule had been nearly impossible.

Notes from "The Archaeology of Minoan Crete" by Reynold Higgins