History of Minoan Crete History of Minoan Crete Geography and Economy of Crete The island of Crete is located in the center of the eastern Mediterranean at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe. It measures about 200 Km from east to west, and between 12 to 58 Km from north to south at its narrowest and widest distances, making it one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean sea. Crete's largest modern town is Heraklion (35° 20' latitude, 25° 08' longitude) and its landscape oscillates between tall, rugged mountains, gentle slopes, and plateaus, which are framed by the Aegean coast line to the North, and the Lybian Sea to the south. The temperate climate of Crete with its short, mild winters and its dry, warm summers, along with the fertility of the Cretan plains produces sufficient food supplies to support an affluent local population, and for exports. The inhabitants of ancient Crete --whom we call Minoans-- produced a decentralized culture based on the abundance of the land's natural resources, and on intense commercial activity.

While the island appears today completely deforested, in ancient times timber was one of the natural resources that was commercially exploited and exported to nearby Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, the Aegean Islands and the Greek mainland. Besides timber Crete exported food, cypress wood, wine, currants, olive oil, wool, cloth, herbs, and purple dye. Its imports consisted of precious stones, copper (most likely from Cyprus), ivory, silver, gold, and other raw material. They also imported tin that was used in the production of bronze alloys. Interestingly, the nearest known tin mines appear as far as Spain, Britain, central Europe, and Iran. Besides raw materials, the Minoans also adopted from the surrounding cultures artistic ideas and techniques as evident in Egypt's influence on the Minoan wall frescoes, and on goldsmithing production knowledge imported by Syria. The Minoans had developed significant naval power and for many centuries lived in contact with all the major civilizations of the time without being significantly threatened by external forces. Their commercial contact with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia undeniably influenced their own culture, and the Minoan civilization in turn appeared as the forerunner of the Greek civilization.

The Minoans are credited as the first European civilization. Habitation and Chronology of Crete Archaeological evidence testifies to the island's habitation since the 7th millennium BC After the 5th millennium BC we find the first evidence of hand-made ceramic pottery which marks the beginning of the civilization Evans, the famed archaeologist who excavated Knossos, named "Minoan" after the legendary king Minos. Evans divided the Minoan civilization into three eras on the basis of the stylistic changes of the pottery. His comparative chronology included an Early (3000-2100 BC), a Middle (2100-1500 BC), and a Late Minoan period (1500-1100 BC). Since this chronology posed several problems in studying the culture, professor N. Platon has developed a chronology based on the palaces' destruction and reconstruction.

He divided Minoan Crete into Prepalatial (2600-1900 BC), Protopalatial (1900-1700 BC), Neopalatial (1700-1400 BC), and Postpalatial (1400-1150 BC). We do not have much information about the very early Minoans before 2600 BC. We have seen the development of several minor settlements near the coast, and the beginning of burials in tholos tombs, as well as in caves around the island. Prepalatial Minoan Crete (2600-1900 BC) Neolithic life in ancient Crete consisted of major settlements at Myrtos and Mochlos. During this period the Minoans had contact with Egypt, Asia Minor, and Syria with whom they traded for copper, tin, ivory, and gold. The archaeological evidence reveals a decentralized culture with no powerful landlords and no centralized authority. The palaces of this period are focused around communities, and circular tholos tombs were the major architectural structures of the time.

The manner by which the dead were buried in these tombs indicate a society without hierarchical structure. The tholos tombs were used for centuries by entire villages, or clans and older corpses and offerings were placed aside to make room for a new burial. Older bones were removed from the tomb and placed in bone chambers outside the tholos structure. Most of the tholos tombs were circular while in Palekastro and Mochlos they were of a rectangular in shape with a flat roof. Protopalatial Minoan Crete (1900-1700 BC) The protopalatial era began with social upheaval, external dangers, and migrations from mainland Greece and Asia Minor. During this time the Minoans began establishing colonies at Thera, Rodos, Melos, and Kithira. Around 2000 BC a new political system was established with authority concentrated around a central figure - a king. The first large palaces were founded and acted as centers for their respective communities, while at the same time they developed a bureaucratic administration which permeated Minoan society. Distinctions between the classes forged a social hierarchy and divided the people into nobles, peasants, and perhaps slaves.

After its tumultuous beginning, this was a peaceful and prosperous period for the Minoans who continued to trade with Egypt and the Middle East, while they constructed a paved road network to connect the major cultural centers. This period also marks the development of some settlements outside the palaces, and the end of the extensive use of tholos tombs. The palaces of the period were destroyed in 1700 BC by forces unknown to us . Speculation blames the destruction either on a powerful earthquake, or on outside invaders. Despite the abrupt destruction of the palaces however, Minoan civilization continued to flourish. Neopalatial Minoan Crete (1700-1400 BC) The destroyed palaces were quickly rebuilt on the ruins to form even more spectacular structures. This is the time when Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, and Zakros were built, along side many smaller palaces which stretched along the Cretan landscape. Small towns developed near the palaces and the dead were buried in pithoi and larnakes, along rock-cut chambers and above-ground tholos tombs.

For the first time smaller residencies that we call villas appeared in the rural landscape, and were modeled after the large palaces with storage facilities, worship, and workshops. They appear to be lesser centers of power away from the palaces, and homes for affluent landlords. During this period we see evidence of administrative and economic unity throughout the island, and Minoan Crete reach its zenith. Women played a powerful role in society, and the gold artifacts, seals, and spears speak of a very affluent upper class. The paved road network was vastly expanded to connect most major Minoan palaces and towns, and we have evidence of extensive trade activity. In the beginning of this era, Minoan culture dominates the Aegean islands and expands into the Peloponnese. We see its strong influence in the Argolis area during the Mycenaean time of grave circles, and in the southern Peloponnese, especially around Pylos. The Minoan culture's fusion with the Helladic (mainland Greek) traditions of the time eventually morphed into the Mycenaean civilization, which in turn challenged the Minoan supremacy in the Aegean.

For the first time, late in the Neopalatial period, the powerful fleet of the Minoans encountered competition from an emerging power from mainland Greece: the Mycenaeans whose influence began permeating Minoan Crete itself. Life on the island became more militaristic as evident by the large number of weapons which we find for the first time in royal tombs. The affluence of the culture during this period is evident in the frescoes found in the Cretan palaces and in Thera, Melos, Kea, and Rodos. The end of this flourishing culture came with the destruction of most of the palaces and villas of the country side in the middle of the 15 century, and with the destruction of Knossos in 1375. During this late period there is evidence in tablets inscribed in Linear B language that the Mycenaeans controlled the entire island, while many Minoan sites were abandoned for a long time. We cannot be certain of the causes for this sudden interruption of the Minoan civilization. However scholars have pointed to invasion of outside forces, or to the colossal eruption of the Thera volcano as likely causes.

Postpalatial Period (1400-1150 BC) With the destruction of Knossos the power in the Aegean shifts to Mycenae. While both Knossos and Phaistos remain active centers of influence, they do not act as the central authority of the island any longer. During the postpalatial period the western part of Crete flourishes. Several important settlements developed around Kasteli and Chania, while Minoan religion begins to exhibit influences from the Greek mainland. An examination of the changes in Minoan society during this period reveals that most likely Mycenae controlled Crete. During this period, Helladic god names such as Zeus begin to appear in tablets, new shapes develop in pottery, and vaulted tholos tombs appear for the first time. The tablets of Linear B which were unearthed during excavations provide the more concrete evidence of this theory. Sub-Minoan Crete (1150-1100 BC) Around 1150 BC the Dorians destroyed the Mycenaean civilization in the Peloponnese and by 1100 BC they reached Crete.

This period marks the assimilation of all remaining Minoan elements of Crete into the new Hellenic culture. This new culture eventually transformed into the Classical Greek civilization which had its center in Athens. Doric Crete Under Doric dominance, Crete social structure shifted from monarchy to aristocracy, and Archaic culture and art permeates the island. The old Minoan traditions remain influential, and the Spartan legislator Lykourgos studied the Cretan legal system before he created the laws that governed the Lakedemonian state. Knossos, Arkades, Dreros, Cortyn, Lato, and Lyktos become the most important centers of the island which continues to trade with Cyprus, Syria, and the Aegean. The art of Doric Crete exhibits orientalizing trends even during the "Geometric" period, possibly due to the islands proximity and close commercial ties with the East. The islands isolation prevented it from being an important player in the events which forged history during the classical and hellenistic eras, and eventually its culture declined and became a Roman province in 67 BC.

Some Thoughts on the Demise of Minoan Civilization One of the favorite themes for discussion among scholars is the possible causes for the destruction of the Minoan Civilization. Evidence of a violent end through fire and demolition is clear, but the clues to what caused such destruction have been elusive. Professor Marinatos was the first to suggest in 1939 that the eruption of Thera, along with the associated effects, was the cause for the catastrophe. The theory argues that the earthquakes destroyed the palaces, tsunamis obliterated the fleet and peers of the Minoans, and the volcanic ash of Thera covered the whole island destroying crops and suffocating animals. Many geologists have argued that the Thera eruption was of a colossal scale, and the effects described by Marinatos were possible. Others have disagreed. Recent data places the bulk of the ash deposits of the volcano to the East caried by the easterly jet streems of the area, with little effect upon the island of Crete (D.M. Pyle, "New estimates for the volume of the Minoan Eruption".

Thera and the Aegean World III, see bibliography ) The biggest blow to this theory came in 1987 from studies conducted at the Greenland ice cap. Scientists dated frozen ash from the Thera eruption and concluded that it occurred in 1645 BC, some 150 years before the final destruction of the Minoan palaces. Even so, the tsunamis and earthquakes associated with the Thera eruption could have still caused much physical damage to the Minoan fleet and infrastructure, and it would have affected the climate, the economy, and the politics of the region. However, it is doubtful that it could have caused in itself the end of the Minoan civilization. After all, the Minoan society had exhibited acute reflexes in its past history when it rebounded from other physical disasters to elevate its culture to even higher levels. So why did it not recover after the destructions of 1450 BC? Another factor that might have contributed to the end of Minoan civilization is the invasion and occupation of Crete by the Mycenaeans.

Their documented invasion took place around 1400, and in combination with the effects of the Thera eruption present a likely scenario for the final destruction of the Minoan civilization. In this theory, the Minoan fleet and ports were destroyed by the 50 foot waves and were never rebuilt. Possible climatic changes affected crops for many years, which in turn could have led to economic downfall and social upheaval. In this background, the foreign invaders from Mycenae provided the conclusion to a splendid culture which flourished for 1600 years. One question still remains however. How did the inhabitants of Mycenae escape the effects of the volcanic eruption, when the Minoan civilization was brought to its knees by them? Considering the topography of the Aegean, and accepting the enormity of the volcanic eruption of Thera, it is hard to understand how the Mycenaeans who were just as vulnerable were able to overcome the destruction, while at the same time they were able to preserve (or rebuilt) their fleet and to mount an ambitious expedition to conquer the vast island of Crete.

The questions regarding the destruction of the Minoan civilization linger precariously as the historical records do not provide a definitive answer, and it is these persistent questions which have shrouded prehistoric Crete with an aura of seductive enchantment. Minoan Civilization - Ancient History Encyclopedia Minoan Civilization by Mark Cartwright published on 02 September 2009 The Minoan civilization flourished in the middle Bronze Age on the Mediterranean island of Crete from ca. 2000 BCE until ca. 1500 BCE and, with their unique art and architecture, the Minoans made a significant contribution to the development of Western European civilization as it is known today. The archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans was first alerted to the possible presence of an ancient civilization on Crete by surviving carved seal stones worn as charms by native Cretans in the early 20th century CE. Excavating at Knossos from 1900 to 1905 CE, Evans discovered extensive ruins which confirmed the ancient accounts, both literary and mythological, of a sophisticated Cretan culture and possible site of the legendary labyrinth and palace of King Minos.

It was Evans who coined the term Minoan in reference to this legendary Bronze Age King. Advertisement The four principAl Minoan palace sites were at Knossos, Phaistos , Malia and Zakros . Minoan settlements, tombs and cemeteries have been found all over Crete but the four principal palace sites (in order of size) were at Knossos, Phaistos, Malia and Zakros. At each of these sites, large, complex palace structures of two or three stories and covering several thousand square metres seem to have acted as local administrative, trade, religious and possibly political centres. The relationship between the palaces and the power structure within them or over the island as a whole is not clear due to a lack of archaeological and literary evidence. It is clear, however, that the palaces exerted some kind of localised control, in particular, in the gathering and storage of materials - wine, oil, grain, precious metals and ceramics. The absence of fortifications in the settlements suggests a relatively peaceful co-existence between the different communities.

However, the presence of weapons such as swords, daggers and arrow-heads and defensive equipment such as armour and helmets would also suggest that peace may not always have been enjoyed. The palaces themselves covered two periods: The first were constructed around 2000 BC and following destructive earthquakes and fires, re-built again ca. 1700 BCE. These second palaces survived until their final destruction between 1500 BCE and 1450 BCE, once again by either earthquake, fire, or possibly invasion (or a combination of all three). The palaces were well-appointed, monumental structures with large courts, colonnades, staircases, religious crypts, light-wells, drainage systems, extensive storage magazines and even ‘theatre’ areas for public spectacles. The complexity of these palaces, the sport of bull-leaping, the worship of bulls as indicated by the presence throughout of sacred bulls’ horns and depictions of double axes (or labrys) in stone and fresco may all have combined to give birth to the legend of Theseus and the labyrinth-dwelling Minotaur so popular in classical Greek mythology .

The sophistication of the Minoan culture and its trading capacity is evidenced by the presence of writing - firstly hieroglyphic and then Linear A scripts (both, as yet, undeciphered), predominantly found on various types of administrative clay tablets. A further example of the culture’s high degree of development is the variety and quality of the art forms practised by the Minoans. Pottery finds reveal a wide range of vessels from wafer-thin cups to large storage jars (pithoi). Ceramics were initially hand-turned but then increasingly made on the potter’s wheel. In decoration, there was a progression from flowing geometric designs in Kamares ware to vibrant naturalistic depictions of flowers, plants and sea life in the later Floral and Marine styles. Magnificent frescoes from the walls and floors of the palaces also reveal the Minoans’ love of the sea and nature and give insights into religious, communal and funeral practices. Metal, stone, ivory and faience work also reveal a high degree of craftsmanship, examples range from fine alabaster jars to dynamic ivory sculpture in the round to minutely carved gold rings and seals.

Minoan civilization -- Minoan Crete MINOAN CRETE ONLINE SINCE 1998 Between 3000 and 1100 BCE a unique civilization developed and flourished on the island of Crete. The arrival of new peoples, new technologies and new ideas transformed the small pre-existing neolithic communities over a period of hundreds of years. By 2000 BCE the Minoans began to build palaces, conducted trade across wide areas of the eastern Mediterranean, developed a hierarchical society with centralised administration and produced wonderful pottery, jewellery, statues, carvings, frescoes and other artefacts. Remains of dozens of sites where the Minoans lived and worked can still be seen on Crete today. The aim of this web site is to provide a well illustrated introduction to all the major and many of the minor archaeological sites of Minoan Crete, using text based on excavators' reports as well as plans, photos and video clips. I hope that in the process you will also discover something of the life of the people who occupied these sites. This website is for anyone with an interest in Minoan civilisation -- tourists, students, archaeologists professional and amateur.

Teachers and students of archaeology may be particularly interested in some of the photos, videos and reports of lesser known sites which may not be easily obtainable in their own countries. Archaeologists, teachers and students are welcome to freely use the contents of this site within their educational institutions. THE VIDEOS ARE BACK ONLINE May 2016. Videoclips of fourteen archaeological sites, which I was forced to remove along with the photos by the Greek Ministry of Culture, are now back online. They are embedded in the relevant pages (click on the video camera icon) or they can be viewed by going to My Minoan YouTube channel . THE PHOTOS ARE BACK Summer 2015. In June 2013 I was forced to remove all my photos and videos from this site when I discovered that the Greek Ministry of Culture claimed copyright over all the archaeological sites in Greece and I was reported to the Ministry by Ms Tsipopoulou for not having permission to put photos or videos on the Internet. In September 2013 I submitted my application for permission to put my photos and videos back on my website. After what I consider to be an unacceptable delay of 22 months that permission has now been granted.

The photos are now back online. The videos will be uploaded in May 2016. Get the most from this site CHRONOLOGY OF MINOAN CRETE: A pop-up box will open. VIDEO CLIPS -- BACK IN MAY 2016 Fourteen high definition videos now uploaded. Click where you see the video camera icon. On some Android devices, video clips only play on Chrome. Download videos from My Minoan YouTube channel . LARGE PHOTOS ARE BEST Click on a small photo to get a full-screen version and see all the detail missing in small pics. Use the back button to return to the site page. Photos may be kept for personal use. SITE PLANS Many pages have a plan of the archaeological site. Click where you see the site plan icon. Pop up boxes may need permission to open in IE or if you have an anti-java script add-on active in your browser. DEFINITIONS Archaeological terms underlined with a series of dots are defined. Hover your mouse over the word to see the definition. Some of the sources can be found in the resources menu. ANDROID: Users of Android mobile devices are advised to use the Chrome browser to view this site properly.

CONTACT: Destruction of the Minoan Civilization The Destruction of the Minoan Civilization The Minoan Civilization flourished 5000 years ago Since the archeological pickax unearthed the first findings of the Minoan Palace in Knossos , almost 100 years ago, the cause of the destruction of the Minoan Civilization has been a subject of controversy and dispute among scientists. The Minoan Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose in Crete and flourished almost 5000 years ago, until it was destroyed in 1450BC. The Minoans were enigmatic people; educated, warriors and merchants, artists, and experienced sailors. Their maritime empire was vast. They were the first in Europe to use a written language, referred to as Linear A, which was finally decoded just a few years ago. They were different than Greeks and dominated the Mediterranean Sea, especially since they were not menaced by external forces from the Greek mainland or elsewhere. All of a sudden though, at the height of its power, the Minoan Civilization was destroyed and perished forever, leaving important samples and tokens of its grandeur.

The inexplicable end of this civilization made many archaeologists, among which Professor Marinatos and Evans, to associate it with the eruption of the Santorini Volcano. Is Crete or Santorini the lost Atlantis? Many scientists and archeologists associate Minoan Crete with the lost Atlantis, partially counting on the words of Plato, whose descriptions fit the findings and evidence of the Minoan Civilization. "Our records show how your city checked a great power which arrogantly advanced from its base in the Atlantic Ocean to attack the cities of Europe and Asia. For in those days the Atlantic was navigable. " - Platon Since Platon described the story of Atlantis, numerous myths, legends, and scientific studies have appeared. Many people believe that Atlantis is located in Greece –maybe in Crete, or Santorini. Or even at the Gibraltar. Or maybe, Atlantis is just a myth. In any case, this story fascinates and intrigues numerous people all over the world.

The Eruption of the Santorini Volcano and the destruction of the Minoan Civilization the eruption of the Santorini Volcano Somewhere between history and myth lie two historical events of immense importance that shook up and overwhelmed the Hellenic grounds: the destruction of the Minoan Civilization and the eruption of the Santorini Volcano, almost 3,500 years ago. Since Evans discovered the lost Palace of King Minos in Crete, archaeologists and scientists have been trying to connect the two events. The predominant theory regarding the destruction of the Minoan Civilization has been – for years – that it was provoked by something as violent and as sudden as the eruption of Santorini Volcano. Originally it was believed that the eruption took place in 1450 BC, when the Minoan Civilization perished, but newest findings and theories set it somewhere between 1627BC and 1600BC. The cosmogonic event of the eruption has perplexed historians for years. Until today, the scientific world is trying to explain and reconstruct the sequence of events that lead to the destruction of the Island of Thira (Santorini) and probably devastated the Minoan Civilization.

The Volcanic ash from the Santorini Volcano covered Akrotiri in Thira and reached the Cretan shores. Was it enough though to wipe off map the Minoans? Minoan Civilization destroyed by tsunamis The archaeologist Sandy McGillivray in Palaikastro, Crete For many years, the views and theories of archaeologists have diverged. Relatively recently though, new discoveries in Palaikastro in Crete give us enough hints for a plausible explanation. Archaeologist Stuart Dunn suggests that the volcanic ash from Santorini obviously shadowed Crete for a few days, but under no circumstances destroyed the Minoan Civilization. The archaeologist Sandy McGillivray, who studies the Cretan Civilization and its destruction, called in Hendrik Bruins from the Ben Gurion University in Israel to examine the soil in Palaikastro and the coastal sites of Crete, close to the famous palm forest in Vai. Hendrik Bruins took some soil samples which showed sea microorganisms and species, in places that no known phenomenon could explain their existence. The experts found deposits of stone and pottery, in pieces or powered, and lots of lumps of volcanic ash.

They also discovered foraminifera, tiny marine organisms, usually found only on the seabed, and coralline algae, elements that cannot be seen on the mainland. The tsunami expert, Dr Kostas Sinolakis Many kilometers away from Palaikastro, in Amnissos, the port of Knossos, the scientists examined findings that also contained ash, marine species, cattle bones, floor and wall plaster, pumice and seashells. They figured out immediately that this could be explained only by a massive and sudden inflow of water and they called in Kostas Sinolakis, a tsunami expert. The only way they could have been deposited on the land of Crete was by a tsunami. The tidal wave caused by Santorini Volcano travelled and hit the shores of Crete, destroying the plantations, the crops, the ships and commerce, devitalizing and deviating the Minoan Civilization. The Minoan ports and infrastructures were destroyed by the 50 feet waves and were never rebuilt.

a Minoan city hit by the tsunami Based on highly accurate and specialized software, Dr Sinolakis managed to reconstruct and enact the way that this tsunami travelled across the Aegean building a full picture of its scale and impact. Using radio carbon techniques they compare the geological findings with the eruption era; all pieces are finally falling into place. The conclusion was horrifying: not only one, but several successive tsunamis, of more than 50 feet were hitting the Cretan shores, every thirty minutes. Minoans could not have known what fate had written for them. We can just imagine the terror; these people had run away, maybe some of them were coming back to help the wounded or find family members; they were there watching more waves coming in. This was something that happened over and over again, destroying completely the northern and eastern shores of Crete. Crete is a large island though; the palaces and settlements in the interior of the island were almost intact, as were the south and west coast.

Invasion by Mycenaeans - Complete destruction of the Minoan Civilization Mycenean sword found in a tomb in Chania Archaeologists have now enough evidence to believe that the reputed Minoan Civilization was severely damaged and affected by the eruption of Santorini Volcano, which destroyed their fleet. Prosperity and safety of the Minoans relied on their ships; since their main means of existence and defense were afflicted, Minoans became an easy prey for the Mycenaean invaders that came to island from the Greek Mainland. Minoans did not disappear overnight; they became ripe for attack by ferocious enemies. In Palaikastro, archeologists found depredated and ravaged statues and monuments, while in Western Crete, closer to Chania, tombs of the same era with bodies and weapons not belonging to the Minoans were unearthed. Many years passed until the Minoan Civilization was completely destroyed. It is estimated that the palaces of the Minoan Civilization were destroyed almost 150 years after the volcanic eruption.

Even if we never discover if Plato’s words were allegoric or prophetic, or if Atlantis ever existed, the studies and combinations of evidences give us satisfactory and realistic answers on the downfall of one of the most important European Civilizations. Ancient History/Greece/Minoan Civilization - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Ancient History/Greece/Minoan Civilization Jump to: navigation , search The location of the island of Crete within modern Greece. The Minoans were a Bronze Age civilization that flourished on the Greek Aegean island of Crete from around 3000 to 1100 BCE. By around 1450 BCE the Minoan palace culture had collapsed and the vacuum was filled by the Greek mainland Mycenaean culture whose ascendancy is mythologized in the story of King Agamemnon who led the Greek expedition to Troy. The name Minoan was coined by the British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, who from 1900 to 1906 excavated the palace at Knossos, which he believed to be the capital of the empire of the mythical King Minos.

Contents History[ edit ] The controversial restoration by Sir Arthur Evans of the ruins of the palace of Knossos. Greek archeologist Nikolaos Platon devised a chronology of the civilization based on excavations of Minoan palaces. He divides the civilization into the following eras: Prepalatial period for girls (3000-1900)[ edit ] Archaeological evidence shows that Crete may have been inhabited as early as the seventh millennium BCE. New settlers skilled in metallurgy arrived by the end of the fourth millennium BCE, and replaced the earlier Neolithic peoples. Protopalatial period (1900-1700)[ edit ] The first large palaces, most notably at Knossos and Phaistos, were built during the Protopalatial period, leading to more urbanized life and centralized political authority. Around 1700 BCE the major palaces were all destroyed perhaps due to natural causes, such as an earthquake, or perhaps an invasion from Anatolia. Neopalatial period (1700-1450)[ edit ] After their destruction, the palaces soon were rebuilt, giving rise to the Neopalatial period.

This period represents the apex of Minoan civilization. Population increased, new settlements were built, and impressive art, architecture, and technologies (such as plumbing) were developed. Despite these many advances, the Minoans suffered some sort of catastrophe around 1450. Final Palace period (1450-1380 BCE)[ edit ] Many theories have been put forth to the cause of this sudden and rapid decline. Theories include a massive volcanic eruption of Mt. Thera on the nearby island of Santorini, internal strife, or an invasion of the Myceneans from mainland Greece. A combination of these factors may be reason for the Minoan collapse. Minoan power and influence in the region had effectively ended by 1420 BCE supplanted by the Myceneans. Excavations reveal that pottery and writings from Crete after 1450 resemble those of mainland Greece more so than those of pre-1450 Crete. Knossos then served as the administrative center of Mycenean Crete, until it was destroyed by fire in 1380.

Postpalatial period (1380-1100 BCE)[ edit ] After the destruction of Knossos, economic and political influence shifted to the town of Khaniá. Despite this, Cretan civilization began to further decline, and many Minoan sites were abandoned. Khondros is one of few new sites to be settled during this period. The last Minoan site to fall was the isolated mountain town of Karfi, which was able to resist assimilation into the Mycenean culture until the early Iron Age. The widespread use of iron tools (brought by the Myceneans) rather than bronze ones (used by Minoans) is one of the main indications archaeologists used to determine the date of the final Minoan collapse. Culture[ edit ] Bull-leaping, featured in this famous fresco from Knossos, was a religious ritual. The Minoan culture featured a very distinctive religion, art style, and language. The Minoans were also pioneers in naval exploration, establishing several colonies on the Greek mainland and other Aegean islands, such as Akrotiri on Thera. Minoan cultural influence spread throughout the region, including over the Mycenean culture.

Religion[ edit ] Many conclude there to be evidence of animal and human sacrifice in Minoan Crete during the palatial period. Recent Minoan scholars have disputed the ideas and the focus’ of past Scholars. However, these sources are blurred and we should not come to any conclusions as yet, to whether sacrificial rituals did exist in Minoan Crete. Although the Minoan religious system had come under much consideration and debate, it had never been fully explored, or written about in much depth. That is until 1921 when Sir Arthur Evans wrote his works on Minoan religion. Evans portrayed Crete as having an interconnection and a oneness. This was sustained by the idea of them all worshiping one god and this “culture as a whole…shows an essential unity,” (Arthur Evans PM 1:13) portraying the culture as a whole was more important than sacrificial rituals. Evans is known as the advocator to this idea of unity and worship of a sole God. However, Minoan Crete was the perfect example for one to take and write about as it was secluded from other cultures as a lone island.

However, though you could infer this there is evidence of them having a key trading port as in the ‘flotilla fresco,’ it clearly shows many boats leaving from Crete. You could infer there to be evidence of them only worshiping one God, as there is a what looks like a Neolithic figurine of a goddess. This source is provided to us by the Spartan Museum. It portrays a woman holding two snakes suggeting her divineness, as it is believed to be a godess. The significance of the snakes around the arms is widely unknown however, they have survived for decades and in great numbers which shows the significance of it. The importace to sarcaficial rituals is collosally important to link with them only worshiping one god. This is due to polothestic cultures utilising sacrifce for example rome to get good with the gods and get them in there favour. However, this is not evidance to lure us into any conclusion. This is due to her coming across as if shes in an altrered state, holding in both hands snakes which highlights the unrealiablity of this theory. In the temple there were also many objects and another woman in the surrounding picture.

One object shows a bowl/vase suggesting libation either from or to one or the other woman. However, in this image we see no evidance of any type of animal sacrafice. In the Toreador Fresco currently placed in the Palace of Knossos there is what looks like an image of three men and a bull. We should assume that “every depiction of a bull on a seal or fresco is to be associated with a supposed sacrificial ritual,” (Cromarty, 2008,). However, it could also be a depiction of a sequence in changing a young boy into a man. This is due to the end figure being more pronounced than the others suggesting adult hood. Another example of sacrifice is labeled a sacrifice by the Agia Triada sarcophagus. This pictorial image shows a slaughtered bull in the middle with two terrified animals under it. We should take into account the double axe which is normally associated with bull sacrifice. Another interesting aspect is the appearance of a woman in this image as well. This has become a reoccurring theme throughout Minion Crete. We see her hovering her hands over the what appears to be an animal of the bovine variety which suggests prayer and worship.

It also presents her as a priestess rather than a goddess which proves controversy towards the Neolithic figurine of a goddess we believed we previously saw. Of late it is to be believed that Aarcheologists have found evidence of a sacrificial ritual, which included the sacrifice of animals, whose broken bones were found under a deposit of rubble. This was along with a woman’s bones being found which links back to the priestess’s conduction of the religious ceremonies and rituals. However, I quote from Maria Andreadaki Vlazaki “We have yet to reach a final conclusion, since the bones need to be studied further, especially as the latest finds, which include the woman’s skull, were found only recently.” This causes problems due to the unknown fact of what time these people lived in and as to whether it was around the time period being studied. Though sacrificial rituals were an important part of the religious system there where many other important parts to it as well. Many outdoor shrines have been discovered some in caves, others on hill tops. There are depictions of women dancing around the trees, shaking the branches suggesting a sort of religious ceremony, further highlighting the role woman played.

Household shrines and shrines at tombs have also been discovered and this presents a real religious background to Minoan Crete. Artifacts indicate that religious practice involved dance, procession, sacrifice and offerings, which where all key factors of the religious system. To further the theory of processions occurring or ceremonial events we gain and insight in the Saffron Gatherers fresco. This pictorial image shows two clear woman dancing around a monkey (cannot be confirmed) type figure. This further amplifies their role as they have appeared numerous times in sources. Art[ edit ] An example of pottery from Knossos. Excavations have revealed frescoes, statues, and pottery. Pottery was the dominant art form of the Minoans from their arrival on Crete up until the Neopalatial period, when pottery-making technology allowed for a standardization of design. Fresco-painting soon rose in prominence, and focused heavily on religious and naturalistic themes. Bulls and snakes, both religious symbols, featured prominently in many works of art, as do other non-religious animals. Perhaps the most famous of the Minoan frescoes is one depicting the religious ritual of bull-leaping, which was found in the palace of Minos.

Interestingly, no frescoes depict any of the many gods. Architecture[ edit ] Minoans also pioneered many architectural methods. Cities featured roads paved with stone, sewers, and plumbing. The most-recognized type of Minoan architecture is the palace. The construction of the first palaces (the famous palace at Knossos was one of the first) ended the Prepalatial period. Palaces were centers of government, allowing the dozens of individual communities to come under centralized political authority. Palaces also were used to store crop surpluses, and house shrines to goddesses. Economy[ edit ] The Minoan economy was very diverse. Several crops were cultivated, such as wheat, barley, grapes, olives, and figs. They raised several animals, including cattle, goats, and pigs. Bees were kept for honey production, as were donkeys and oxen for plowing purposes. The Minoans also had an established shipping industry, as evidenced by the many colonies they established throughout the eastern Mediterranean. They were involved in the tin trade. As bronze tools and weapons made from tin and copper were replaced by superior iron ones the Minoan economy in trading tin declined.

Their trade network extended from Mesopotamia and Egypt all the way to Spain. Language[ edit ] A tablet with Minoan script. Minoan civilization featured several written languages. During the Prepalatial period, a primitive hieroglyphic script was used, but fell out of use by 1700. A writing system called Linear A developed during the Protopalatial period, and continued to be used through the Neopalatial period. Linear A featured many symbols, each of which represented a syllable, word, or number. Linear A was used for record-keeping, and some religious functions. Linear B was the script used for government records. After the Mycenean conquest, Linear A was replaced by Linear B, which would eventually evolve into what is now the modern Greek language. Linear B was deciphered in the 1950s, but Linear A and the hieroglyphic texts have yet to have been completely translated. Minoan Civilization Palace of Knossos by Ancient Images The Minoan Civilization is the culture that flourished on the island of Crete, in the Aegean Sea, during the III and II millennia BC.

It is named after King Minos, who was recorded in Greek tradition as a prehistoric king of Crete. Minoan culture is divided into three periods: Early Minoan (2900–2000 B.C.), Middle Minoan (2000–1550 B.C.), and Late Minoan (1550–1200 B.C.). The Minoan civilization was first recognized as distinct from the Mycenaean civilization of mainland Greece by Sir Arthur Evans, the British excavator of its largest site, the palace of Knossos. Other palaces have been excavated at Phaistos, Mallia, and Kato Zakros, and new discoveries indicate the likelihood of a palace at Khania in western Crete. Minoan settlements have been found on other islands of the southern Aegean—notably Thera, Melos, Kythera (Cythera), Keos (Kea), and Rhodes. Minoan exports are found throughout the eastern half of the Mediterranean region.

Little was known of the prehistory of Crete before 1900, when Evans began his excavations at Knossos in the central sector of the island near the north coast. He uncovered the greater part of the huge palace between 1900 and 1905, but work by the British School has continued up to the present, and it is now known that a substantial town lay outside the limits of the palace area. Near the south coast is the almost equally large palace of Phaistos, situated on an isolated hill in the great plain of the Messara. The royal villa of Haghia Triadha (Hagia Triada), about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) away, is now some distance from the sea but in antiquity may have been much nearer. These sites were excavated in the early years of the 20th century by the Italian School. The palace of Mallia, to the east of Knossos , is a little smaller but was an equally important administrative center. This was excavated by the French School. Still farther east, a whole small town was revealed at Gournia by an American expedition.

Minoan Mysteries - Greece and Beyond Minoan Mysteries Kowloon Walled City Park Minoan Mysteries The Minoan civilization, based on the island of Crete, achieved political and economic dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean at their height of power. They were a sophisticated culture that was generally peaceful and enjoyed the profits of a healthy trade economy. Trading ties existed to Egypt and the Turkish coast, as indicated in the writings on Egyptian temples and by artifacts found. They have also been linked to the Atlantis legend (see Akrotiri) described by Plato. After the Minoan civilization collapsed, the Myceneans from the mainland filled the power vacuum. Greece is seismically active, and a series of quakes may have helped to spell the doom of Minoan civilization. All of the palace sites, which were unfortified, have repeatedly burned down. The palaces were not fortified either. Earthquakes can cause fires to start from cooking fire, oil lamps (may have used beeswax lamps though, not olive oil as suspected earlier), etc., although the Minoan usually rebuilt. Finally, some series of events overtook the Minoans, and they never did fully rebuild from that calamity.

Go to the ruins of Akrotiri on Thera. The Minoans left no written histories, although they had two types of writing known as Linear A, and a Linear B. Clay accounting tablets have survived (baked accidently in the fires that periodically destroyed palaces), and tell of their economic wealth. Linear B has been deciphered, but Linear A has not. While the writing looks like scratches on clay, hand writing styles can be discerned from studying enough tablets to say that it was either the same person at one or more sites writing or that students from a certain school learned to write with a particular hand. If it is the same writer, then it poses interesting questions about travelling scribes or accountants moving from one palace to another. Crete appears to have been first inhabited during the Neolithic period (new stone age), from the 6th millennium BC. The earliest people may have come from Asia Minor and they were early agriculturalists with domesticated animals. These people had good craft making skills and made burnished pottery that was often decorated with incised geometric motifs. Metal working was unknown and tools and weapons were made of stone, including obsidian from the Cycladic Island of Milos .

Simple figurines have been found that suggest they worshipped a female fertility goddess. The Bronze Age arrives in Crete via new immigrants, and they use bronze for creating jewellry, tools, and weapons. The use of bronze rapidly spreads on the island and the new mix of peoples becomes the Minoans. Not much is known about the Pre-Palace settlements, but there were strongly built houses of stone and brick A few settlements are at Vassiliki and Myrtos. These Pre-Palace period people left many tombs behind that have provides many artifacts from the period. There was a variety of tombs, including large vaulted tombs on the plain of the Messara, cist tombs cut into the rock at Mochlos, chamber tombs at Agia Photia, Sitia, and grave compounds at Archanes, Malia, Palaikastro and Zakros. The arts and crafts continued to develop and the pottery styles include the famous Vassiliki wares. The Vassiliki style pots have striking mottled decoration, produced by the firing, and sophisticated shapes, like the "teapot" and the tall, beaked pitchers.

The first polychrome pottery makes its appearance towards the end of the period. Jewellry making, particularly gold smithing is outstanding, and early examples of seals tones made of ivory and steatite appear. The Mother Goddess is still being worshipped. Sir Arthur Evans who excavated the palace at Knossos named them the "Minoans" after Minos, the legendary king of Crete. Very little was known about Minoan Crete prior to the late 19th century AD, and a great deal of the work was done by Sir Arthur Evans. The Minoan civilization lasted about 1200 years from 2200 BC to about 1000 BC (with the last two hundred years or so in a period of great decline). They reached the height of their prosperity around the 18th - 16th centuries during the Second Palace Period. The palace at Knossos appears to have been the center of Minoan government. The memory of the Minoans survives only vaguely in Greek myth. Ancient authors speak mainly of Minos, the king who had his capital at Knossos.

Minos was a wise lawgiver, a fair judge, and a great dominator of the sea. Homer calls him "..companion of mighty Zeus." Thucydides mentions he was the first man to hold sway over the Aegean with his fleet, and Plato mentions that Attica peninsula (Athens, etc.) paid a heavy tribute to Minos. The legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, Daedalus, etc., are all concerning Minos, a son of Zeus. Th Minoan domination of the sea was due to their fortune in having the island home of Crete, which was the crossroads that linked the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Trade in goods and ideas allowed for the growth and development of their advanced civilization. Their arts and crafts were without comparison against many of their contemporaries and had unique charms and variety. Minoan Time Line Neolithic 6000- 3500 BC, Bronze Age 3500 - 1100 BC. EM = Early Minoan, MM = Middle Minoan, LM = Late Minoan.

3500 or 3300 BC Pre-palace period 3300 - 2200 BC EM I Hand made pottery, but more skillfully fired. Patterned, burnished Beak Spouted Jug 2900 BC EM II Mottled red, orange and black Vasilikiware. Myrtos is from this period. Vasiliki is a communal type ruin - forerunner of the later palaces? 2300 BC First palace period 2200 - 1700 BC EM III Pottery of white spirals on a dark background develops into thin, polychrome Kamaresware.Use of potter's wheel to do this. Production of fine bronze daggers and weapons. Beginning of foreign contact. 1900 BC MM IB/IIA Old_Palace Period. Great strides in bronzework and other metal work. Superb goldwork being done. Harder seal stones being used. Extensive foreign contacts. Egyptian scarabs found on Crete. 1750 BC MM IIB Seal cutters workshop found at Mallia. 7000 seals found in a deposist at Phaestos.

Hieroglypic deposit at Knossos. 1700 BC Second palace period 1700 - 1500 BC MM IIIA New Palace Period. Great palatial destruction via earthquake. Huge blocks at Knossos hurled from south facade into 'House of Fallen Blocks'. All palaces rebuilt. Most ruins seen today are from this period. Efficient plumbing and drainage systems.Marine style pottery and other excellent pottery (later pottery with more repetitive patterns). Prosperous, with many large pithoi magazines. Linear A in use. 1600 BC Increasing influence on mainland Greece. 1500 BC Third palace period 1500 - 1200 BC LM IB Knossos less affected by destruction and repaired. Mycanaean influence increases. Knossos flourishes for several more generations. 1450 BC LM II Post Palatial Period. Widespread destruction at the end of LMI period. Most sites never reoccupied. Shrines have snake tubes and clay femal figures with upraised arms and cylindrical skirts (see Knossos). Larnake burials in chest introduced. Linear B used. Heavy Mycanaean Influence.

1400 BC LM IIIA Some evidence for a further destruction at Knossos but parts of the palace are still used. 1300 BC Post-palace period 1200 - 1050 BC LM IIIC Geometric. Mycanaeans and Minoans lose dominance. Dorians enter the picture. The 'Polis' or city-state appears. First Palace period 2200 - 1700 BC Power began to be centered around kings. The first large palace centers came into being. Excavation has revealed four large palaces at Knossos, Phaestos, Malia, and Zakros so far. The skimpy remains of these palaces are typically discovered beneath the later palaces as the Minoans rebuilt upon the same sites. All the features of Minoan architecture are already present. The buildings are arranged around a central court and have fine facades of closely fitted stone blocks with monumental entrances. Inside, they are multi-storied and have workshops, storage magazines and sacred rooms. The finest example was uncovered in the west palace section at Phaestos. The palaces workshops are also producing fine wares already.

The gorgeous Kamaresware pottery dates to this period and the style is named after the cave of Kamares where it was first discovered. Kamaresware is exquisitely made pottery with polychrome motifs of rosettes, spirals and hatching vibrantly painted on a shiny black background, and was produced in a variety of vase shapes (see picture at left). The workshops also produced fine vases and vessels of stone and faience; seal stones of precious or semi-precious stones, with hieroglyphics and dynamic natural scenes; elegant weapons and tools; vessels of bronze or silver; jewellery of marvellous technique ("the Bee Pendant" from Malia); and charming miniature sculpture. The Minoan religion is centered around the Mother Goddess, and the use of sacred symbols such as the sacred horns and the double axe becomes prevalent. Hieroglyphic script, which quickly developed into a linear A, was used in the palace archives. The first palace centers and the settlements of Crete were reduced to ruins possibly by earthquakes . Second Palace period 1700 - 1500 BC Minoan Civilization reached its zenith in the Second Palace Period.

Magnificent new palaces were built upon the ruins of the old ones. The cities around them expanded. Many lords in rural villas controlled areas in the same way as the feudal lords of the Middle Ages. Their ships carried both the products of Minoan and other societies throughout the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean to trade. The new palaces were multi-storeyed and complex. They had great courtyards with grand porticoes, broad staircases, processional paths and monumental entrances. Many rooms could be opened for air circulation and sunlight to enter via pier and door partitions making the rooms quite bright and pleasant in the summer. Benches and thrones were found in royal rooms. There were many interior light wells to allow light in through all levels of the palace via the roof. Bathrooms and water supply and drainage systems allowed for a easier style of life. Sections of the palaces were royal quarters, sacred areas (pillar crypts, tripartite shrines), audience and banquet halls. Large areas of these palaces were set aside as storage areas (magazines), and workshops also existed within the palaces. Wonderful fresco painting decorating the walls with fresh, lively scenes in an array of colors.

Gypsum was a common building material used for wall siding and floors. The marine style of pottery developed with flowing elements including stylized octopuses and seaweed. This is a jar about 3 feet high in the marine style with stylized seaweed. octopus. Octopus flask. The floral style also developed inventive plants and open flowers. Frescos depicted landscapes with animals along with scenes from religious and social life. Bull jumping and other festivities were shown on the frescos. Faience work, decorative plaques, figurines such as the snake goddesses, royal gaming boards, detailed gold and silver jewellery and vessels were produced in the workshops of the day. Some very fine bronze work was achieved during this period. The main deity is still the Mother Goddess, who is portrayed in different forms such as the "goddess with the snakes." The Bull was also worshipped as a powerful symbol of fertility beside her. Deities were worshipped in sanctuaries of the palaces, various dwellings, the peak sanctuaries, and in sacred caves. Many of the features of Minoan religion passed into the cycle of the Greek mystery religions.

Most of the tombs were cut into the soft rock and had a square burial chamber and a sloping dromos. Some were still vaulted tombs with a circular or rectangular chamber. The still undeciphered Linear A is now in use. There are about 200 surviving texts on clay tablets apparently deal with accounting and inventory information. The tablets come from the archives of palaces such as Knossos or villas and were preserved by firing in the fires that destroyed the palaces. The Phaestos Disk, with its unique hieroglyphic text, belongs to the first phase of the second palace period. All of the centers of the second palace period were destroyed around 1450. The terrible volcanic eruption of Santorini had large impacts on Crete depending on how the ash fell, but did not have enough effects to destroy the palaces or the Minoan way of life. The eruption of Santorini may have destroyed some coastal towns and shipping, and would have depressed the economies of the eastern Mediterranean though. Terrible palace destructions did happen though (probably through earthquake again).

Life resumed only at the palace at Knossos, which was reconstructed and served as the residence of a new Mycanaean (Achaean) rulers from the mainland. Their presence is inferred by the appearance of the very archaic written Greek language of Linear B and by the appearance of Palace Style pottery. Changes were made in the arrangement of the palaces, and the Knossos Throne Room and many surviving frescoes (such as the Corridor of the Procession also at Knossos) date from this period. Bulls head found at Knossos. Snake goddess figurine found at Knossos. Third Palace period 1500 - 1200 BC After the final destruction of about 1380, none of the Minoan palaces were rebuilt. Even the palace at Knossos was not rebuilt, although the city around it stayed alive. The Mycenaeans built their megara on other sites, some of which survived on the ruins of earlier royal villas (Agia Triada) and houses (Tylissos). Mycenaean centers were spread throughout all of Crete and many existed down into Greek times.

The new civilization was Minoan, but its character was archaic Greek. The palaces were replaced by the austere Mycenaean megaron. Pottery styles were simpler and more uniform by repeating the same shapes with simpler decoration and patterns. Even the frescoes became more rigid in appearance. There was no substantial change in religion though. Post-palace period 1200 - 1050 The last phase of this period was a time of decline and disorder caused by the movement of many peoples in the East Mediterranean. The forerunners of the Dorians may have begun to arrive in Crete. Sub-Minoan Period 1100-1000 BC Crete entered upon the purely Greek period of its history with the arrival of massive waves of Dorians at about 1100 BC. The Protogeometric period that followed (1100-900 BC) unfolded alongside the Sub-Minoan, as the earlier Minoan cultural traditions continued on especially in the mountain areas of central and eastern Crete. Many mountain top settlements existed due to their defensive locations. The use of iron, and cremation of the dead became general.

Are The Minoan Palaces Really Palaces? There is some controversy around the actual purpose of the Minoan Palaces. Sir Arthur Evans, who first extensively excavated the site of Knossos, was the first to call the large structural ruins a "palace" at the beginning of the 20th century. Some archeologists suspect that the palaces were really temples, so they were not palaces at all. However, we know very little about the exact political and governmental structure of the Minoans as there are no written records that survived. Still, archeology has given us many clues or well founded educated guesses. Study of the archaeological remains of the palaces revealed they served as religious and economic centers. Religion is evident as large amounts of cult equipment and areas are found in the palaces. In addition, frescoes with religious representations abound in the palace of Knossos (few frescos have survived in the other palaces). The economic aspect comes from the large storage magazines found at the palaces so they were obvious centers for regulating the flow of goods and storing them. However, there is a connection between religion and economy too, as the magazines and workshops are close to the palace shrines.

The large concentrations of magazines in the west wings of all the palaces, which was also the major cult area of the palaces, also supports this idea. The connection between religion and economy suggests the system was theocratic where the economy and government was controlled by the priesthood. Such systems were well known in Egypt with the Pharoahs as god-kings, and Mesopotamia with its temple states. There may have been king, or a priest-king or priestess-queen, or a board of priests running Minoan society. A king may have ruled in the palace with his administration carried out by a priesthood. A king may also have shared power with a priesthood too, but all these governing relationships are just suggestions. The palaces may have been palaces for royalty and a temple, but we only know for sure that there are luxurious quarters, large halls, workshops, storage areas, and religious shrines in these structures. Mesopotamian Temples and Minoan Palace Comparison The land of Sumer of the third millenium BC was divided into city states. Each city had the temple of the deity to whom the city belonged at its center.

The temple was primarily the dwelling of the god, but also a ceremonial center, a treasury, a town hall, a store house and a commercial center. In addition it housed the priesthood and the temple workers. Both Minoan palaces and Mesopotamian temples had: A general resemblance between the Mesopotamian temple and the Minoan Palace in layout and design. A substantial section was occupied by the workshops and magazines. In the Sumerian economy,controlled by the priesthood to a large extent, the temple acted as a redistribution center. It amassed wealth from the land it possesed and from tribute. This wealth was then redistributed to the population as wages for their services. Rations of flour, beer and even clothing were given as wages, as we can tell from the written records of the temples. Regarding the rituals and ceremonies that took place in the precinict of the temple, sacrifices and cult meals were among the most frequent ones. Banquet areas and cult eating areas (possibly bench sanctuaries in Minoan Palaces exist in both types of buildings for ceremonial communal meals.

Kings emerged in 3rd millenium Sumeria because of the increasing military threat that these people faced from the invading tribes of the desert and the mountains, so kingship with the Minoans is not out of the question either. Minoan Sources There are many sources, but more detailed overall works on the Minoans tend to be scarce, and often very opinionated. Recent stuff is usually found in archeological journals in university libraries. Blue Guide to Crete by Pat Cameron. Best general overall source to archeological sites and info. The original source. Arthur Evan's massive 3 volume dig report on Knossos, which laid a great deal of groundwork. It is detailed but made prior to the field developing real excavation reports, and there have been new interpretations since on some of the material. Researchers really digging here usually end up having to look at the original field notes in pen and pencil. Art and religion in Thera : reconstructing a Bronze Age society / Nanno Marinatos, Athens : D. & I. Mathioulakis, 1984.

Excavations at Thera / Marinatos, Spyridon Nikolaou, 1901-, Athens : s.n., 1968-. Thera and the Aegean world III : proceedings of the third international congress, Santorini, Greece, 3-9 September 1989 / editors: D.A. Hardy, with C.G. Doumas, J.A. Sakellarakis, P.M. Warren London : Thera Foundation, 1990. Massive 3 volume set. Knossos A Labyrinth of History. The British School at Athens, 1994. A New Guide to the Palace of Knossos by Leonard R. Palmer. Minoan and Mycenaean Art by Reynold Higgins. Minoan Civilization by Stylianos Alexiou. Minoans: Life in Bronze Age Crete by Rodney Castleden. Has annoying habit of calling all the periods New Temple. Seems technically correct overall, even if you don't agree with his theories. Guide ot Cretan Antiquities by Costis Davaras.

Sources on Minoan Religion It was Evans, of course, who also laid the foundations for the study of Minoan religion. In 1902 Sir Arthur Evans published the important article "The Mycenaean Tree and Pillar Cult." prior to the rich finds he would later make. M. P. Nilsson's The Minoan-Mycenaean Religion and its Survival in Greek Religion (1927,1950). Axel W. Persson's The Religion of Greece in Prehistoric Times (1942). B. Rutkowski's Cult Places in the Aegean (1971, 1986). G. Gesell's Town, Palace, and House Cult in Minoan Crete (1985). Articles by K. Branigan and P. Warren discussing new material, Warren's most recent piece is a summary of current trends for, ""Minoan Religion as Ritual Action" (1988). C. Renfrews shrine of Phylakopi on the island of Melos in the Aegean K. Kilian, have introduced new methodological approaches to the study of prehistoric religions.

Minoan and Mycenaean religions are coherent autonomous and distinct systems, not primitive versions of later Greek religions. PLATO AND THE ATLANTIS MYTH Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who speaks of the legend of Atlantis. It appears in his two books, Timaeus and Critias. It is speculated that he heard the story from relatives who were friends of a Greek politician named Solon. It was Solon who had visited Egypt and heard it there from a priestess. In Critias, Plato said that Atlantis was founded by a mix of gods and mortals. The god Poseidon married the mortal woman Cleito and she gave birth to five sons and founded Atlantis. The Atlanteans were superhuman race that was wealthy, enlightened, and advanced with an invincible military that conquered all the lands around them. They built spectacular temples and palaces and lived well. Their human instincts eventually bested them and they became very proud and greedy. The gods decided punish the Atlanteans by destroying Atlantis in a huge earthquake. Overnight the civilization disappeared. This link leaves this site. Click here to read Critias by Plato, where Atlantis was originally described.

Note that Atlantis is intended as a story to illustrate a point, and that this is not proof of its existence. The cult status of Atlantis is due in large part to a man named Ignatius Donnelly and his book Atlantis, The Antediluvian World, published in 1882. Donnelly describes a prehistoric world destroyed in a cataclysm so that its people fled and founded the civilizations of the ancient Egyptians and the Maya of Central America (note that there are over a thousand years from the destruction of Thera/Santorini and the appearance of organized Maya city building states - so where the heck did the advanced Atlanteans go for a thousand years in this theory?) "Atlantis" Eruption Twice as Big as Previously Believed, Study Suggests "Atlantis" Eruption Twice as Big as Previously Believed, Study Suggests Richard A. Lovett for National Geographic News August 23, 2006 A volcanic eruption that may have inspired the myth of Atlantis was up to twice as large as previously believed, according to an international team of scientists. The eruption occurred 3,600 years ago on the Santorini archipelago, whose largest island is Thera.

Santorini is located in the Aegean Sea about 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of modern-day Greece ( map of Greece ). Photo: Volcano Eruption Wipes Out Ecuador Villages (August 17, 2006) The massive explosion may have destroyed the Minoan civilization based on nearby Crete. Writing in this week's issue of the journal Eos, a team of Greek and U.S. researchers estimate that the volcano released 14 cubic miles (60 cubic kilometers) of magmasix times more than the infamous 1883 eruption of Krakatau (Krakatoa). Only one eruption in human history is believed to have been larger: an 1815 explosion of Tambora, in Indonesia, which released 24 cubic miles (100 cubic kilometers) of magma. (Related story: "'Lost Kingdom' Discovered on Volcanic Island in Indonesia [February 27, 2006].) The researchers, partially funded by the National Geographic Society, obtained the new data by conducting the first seismic survey of the seabed near Santorini.

(National Geographic News is part of the National Geographic Society.) Previously, scientists had been forced to guess the size of the eruption based on ash deposits found in Turkey, Crete, Egypt, and the Black Sea. A Hundred Feet Thick Using techniques similar to those employed by oil companies to search for offshore deposits, the research team found a ring of volcanic deposits extending all the way around the Santorini archipelago. The deposits averaged 100 feet (30 meters) thick and extended about 19 miles (30 kilometers) in all directions, says Haraldur Sigurdsson, a volcanologist at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, who led the research. During the eruption, the material that formed the deposits would have plunged into the sea as pyroclastic flowshot, fast-moving mixtures of gas, ash, and molten rock. As these hit the water, they would have kicked up massive tsunamis.

Question: The Minoan civilization was based on which island ?
Answer: CRETE