The Minoans

(2000 B.C.E - 1450 B.C.E.)

Crete

 The earliest civilization associated with Greece was on the island of Crete  It is the largest island off mainland Greece.

Knossos

 The famous Minoan civilization was discovered by Arthur Evans,  He is an archeologist who discovered the remains of a palace at Knossos.

Knossos

 This palace was thought to be the palace of King Minos

alluded to in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides.

The throne room at Knossos

 The Minoan civilization is named after King Minos who legend told, dominated a large part of the Aegean Sea

with his powerful Navy.

The queens apartment at Knossos

 His palace had over 800 rooms including apartments for the king & queen, a temple, workshops, and a school.

The Palace Knossos

 It was also both government house & storehouse for taxes

collected in the form of olive oil, wine, & grain.  Cretans exported bronze utensils, olive oil, wine, and vases.

 They had indoor plumbing with piped in water and flush toilets.  This did not become common again for 3600 years.

 They developed systems of writing - Linear A, and Linear B.  These scripts were discovered on clay tablets by Evans.

The Palace Knossos

 The palace was decorated with frescoes depicting

scenes of nature, Minoan life, and entertainment such as boxing and bull-leaping.

 The many roomed palace & images of bull-leaping may explain the Legend of the Minotaur.

The Legend of the Minotaur  King Minos demanded an annual tribute of seven

youths and seven girls from Athens (mainland greece) to sacrifice to the Minotaur (Monsterous man-bull).  This took place in a maze (the labyrinth).

 A hero, Theseus, destroyed the bull with the help of the Kings

daughter, Ariadne.  She provided him with a magic sword and a chord to find his way out of the maze.

 Minoans had trade with the mainland Greeks (Mycenaeans) so

Greeks must have visited.  Some might have participated in bull leaping rituals, and died.  The Greeks eventually had a hand in destroying the Minoans culture and taking over their lands.

 Minoans grew and prospered, but their civilization ended in 1450

B.C.E.  A volcanic eruption on a nearby island may have been the cause.  This may explain the legend of the lost continent of Atlantis.